American tourist murdered in Toledo village
Tonight a suspect has been charged with murder in the death of a young American backpacker in the Toledo District. Reports to News Five indicate that twenty year old Julia Armstrong Minard, a native of California, had entered Belize through the western border with Guatemala on Thursday, November tenth. Originally travelling with a group, Minard went off on her own and by Sunday she had arrived in Indian Creek, located some twenty miles north of Punta Gorda. Minard befriended some of the locals and began to socialise with them at a village bar. But sometime late last night, something went terribly wrong. Around eleven-thirty police were called to the area where they saw the lifeless body of a young woman lying in the bushes just off the Southern Highway. Around her neck and on both arms were bruises and abrasions, causing authorities to suspect strangulation as the cause of death. Nearby, a knapsack with Minard's passport and driver's license were found. Based on eyewitness accounts, police detained twenty year old Agripo Ical and have charged him with murder. At this point the suspected motive was sexual assault. The body of Julia Minard has been transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where it awaits a post mortem examination.

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/nyc-girl1117,0,2015647.story?coll=nyc-topheadlines-left

Enough bickering, how about some heartfelt condolences for this girl's family. No one should have to go through what they are going through.

Hopefully they'll start enforcing the death penalty when the little scumbag is convicted (I can hear the bleeding hearts already.)

from CH7TV-
American Backpacker was Strangled

Forensic specialist Hugh Sanchez performed a post mortem examination on the body of Julia Minard this afternoon. The 20-year-old resident of Brooklyn Heights in New York was killed in Indian Creek Village on Sunday. Today, the post mortem confirmed that she died of manual strangulation.

7NEWS is reliably informed that at this point, based on the physical examination, doctors cannot confirm if she was also raped. Fluid samples have been sent to the lab for testing to make a determination on this. Her mother and her uncle are in Belize to oversee the post mortem and to make arrangements to fly her body out. They have hired local professionals to take care of all legal and medical matters. Ellis Arnold is their local attorney and Dr. Arturo Gamero was retained to sit in on the post mortem examination.

As has been reported, Minard was backpacking through Belize with a group of friends and arrived at the Western Border last week Thursday. She separated from the group on Sunday when she arrived in Indian Creek Village in the Toledo District. She was seen socializing with some men from that village on Sunday night. When she was leaving, one of the men strangled her to death. Villagers heard the commotion and when they responded they found the young lady dead, dressed only in her underwear, as her attacker ran off.

Police say that attacker is 19-year-old Agripio Ical. Ical has been arrested and charged for murder. He is on remand at the Hattieville Prison.

Anita

First NOBODY has questioned whether Lan is respected or not, of course he is the only point made is that he of lately is focusing more on the negative aspects where as previously he would be much more like marty is today posting both good and bad in a equal fashion.

I am not sure how long you have been frequenting this board but my commnet is aimed at the past 2 YEARS and not a few months and it is clear to see that Lan has shifted his focus when choosing his choice of news to post.

As a marketer myself it is very clear to see the reasoning behind this and it is very smart however the shift over the past couple of years is clearly seen by those that have been on the board since its creation.

again lets clear a few pointS up

Is Lan respected ABSOLUTELY
Is Lan good for Belize ABSOLUTELY
Is lan a excellent information source on Belize ABSOLUTELY

Should Lan post a few more positive reports on Belize as well as some negative to show an even picture

ABSOLUTELY


regards

Gaz Cooper

Lan's post is ABSOLUTELY relevant...might save the next happy go lucky backpacker who believes there is no danger in remote Belize. Backpackers are vulnerable when traveling alone in isolated areas.

What all travelers (everywhere, of every age) need to remember is that behaviour is a language. One should read up a little on local customs and know what their own behaviour says to to the local people.

For those of you headed to rural Belize - please note.............
In most of rural Belize, women (especially young ones) are expected to behave in a certain "proper" way - no drinking, no smoking, no bars, no bathing suits, no dancing with men they are not engaged or married to, no dating at all.
In these areas, proper young ladies do not go to bars (period). Most single young women in bars in these areas are hookers. The message a young female traveler gives by going into a local bar and talking to local men is that she is here for sex. It's difficult to undo that impression by simply saying no to a come-on. A drunken man who believes he's been "mislead" in public has lost face. Loosing face is a big thing here and if you combine it with booze, violence can ensue.
Straight-forward advice on hte consequences of certain actions in certain places is consistent with good travel-guiding. It saves lives.

Good advice Diane. However it must not be overlooked that the rapist committed crimes under the laws of Belize, and that's why he was apprehended and possibly charged with rape and murder. The victim was very young and ignorant of the negative effects of certain behavior, or perceived behavior, and the info you offer will be extremely valuable to other tourists. It is also good to know that just like in all towns and cities in the US and other places, there are some "men's" bars on AC and in other more touristy areas of Belize, that are best left to men, as the same perceptions may exist by the patrons of those particular bars.

Thank you Diane! It is our duty as human beings to help prevent further incidences like this one. My heart goes out to the girl's family and I again, thank Lan for being able and willing to give pertinent information on this board, I have been subjected to all kinds of crap myself and luckily for me, it does not bother me.