YOUNG AMERICAN WOMAN MURDERED IN TOLEDO According to Belize police and other sources, a 20-year-old woman from the U.S. was murdered in Indian Creek village in Toledo District Sunday evening, November 13. The woman, described as a backpacker who had been studying Spanish in Guatemala, arrived in Belize on Thursday, November 10. According to a police spokesman, she went to Toledo on Sunday, had a few drinks in Indian Creek with local villagers, and was found dead, apparently from strangulation, late Sunday night. Allegedly she also had been raped. Police say they have arrested a suspect. Indian Creek, a Ketchi village of about 600 people, 25 miles north of Punta Gorda near the Southern Highway, is near Nim Li Punit Mayan site.

--Lan Sluder

SIN, I write books, not PROMOTING anything but presenting the facts, good and the bad.

Guess it's kinda difficult for some folks, especially in your line of work, to understand that.

--Lan Sluder

crime happens everywhere, its good to know the facts.

Lan: When's the last time you wrote anything good about Belize? seems like your're fixated on the bad stuff. Some kinda sickness with you?

The guy is reporting the news. What's wrong with that?

It's a warning if nothing else.

Jesse, are you interested in having a someone write a book on Belize with all the current and correct facts on Belize? If so would it be excepted from a young person's perspective who truly experiences Belize and has spent an extended period of time here?

It seems most Belize books are very outdated, and yet even when a new book is published it is already outdated but it seems most books are several years behind.

Jesse, of the seven books on Belize I've done, and the hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines, I'd say 98% or 99% of the information is positive or simply reports facts, neither positive or negative.

Maybe 1 or 2% of my material discusses things like crime, corruption, etc.

As I say I'm not in the business of promoting real estate, timeshares or anything else, nor do I put a positive spin on everything in Belize, but I suspect that over the last 15 years my books and articles have directly or indirectly encouraged tens of thousands of travelers to visit and experience Belize.

There's a tremendous amount about Belize that is wonderful -- 99% of the people, the culture, the reef, sea and the cayes, the Mayan sites, the rainforests, etc. -- but there are also dangers and difficulties, and I think it's tragic to mislead people, whether visitors, retirees, or investors, into thinking that everything is perfect. If I or my family were coming to Belize for the first time, or to invest, I'd want a realistic appraisal of the risks as well as the rewards.

It's also too bad that somebody who has an "official" role on the forum is permitted to make personal attacks against members here. This is not the first time you've done it.

Anybody who has the time and inclination can write a book or an article on Belize, and these days, it can be published and distributed at relatively low cost. If somebody has an idea and the grit to actually do the work, go ahead write that book or article, whether it's positive, negative, or neutral, and get it out there in the marketplace and see how it is accepted.

--Lan Sluder

You're right Lan, for many years you were a positive force on matters of Belize, but lately you seem to have changed the tone of your messages to become mostly negative. This is particularly hurtful to our community because you are a respected authority on Belize.

I really like Lan's work and reporting. Keep it up Lan, you have always been an excellent source of info on Belize.

It is good to be knowledgeable about the good, the bad, and the ugly if you are interested in a country - whether it be to live there or to visit (or for whatever other reason!).

I, too, am tired of some of these perceived personal attacks as one ignorant comment was directed at one of my posts a while back. So, I take it with a grain of salt and consider the source.

Lan, you know as well as I do that there are some people living in this country that don't want to know anything, unless it shines in San Pedro on a rainy day! I thank you, we need to know these things as should the tourists that come here. Maybe the girl would have been fine if she would have been told, in no uncertain terms, that it is not a good idea to hang out by yourself anywhere after dark by yourself and especially not under the circumstances you describe.

You just don't get it eh Kippe? My comment to Lan was not that he shouldn't report the murder, but that he has slacked off on his usual flow of positive posts.

You're backpeddling now Jesse. How could Lan possibly put a positive spin on the incident he reported? Best to report such things as kippe says. Its not some kind of sickness, as you have suggested to Lan, to report truthfully about the good and the bad.

So where's his usual positive posts?

Try looking at his posts on these recent dates: 11/06/05; 09/22/05; 09/21/05; 08/26/05. Informative, Belize friendly, good information on all parts of Belize. You tend to be a bit quick to call down members Jesse. Open discussion is a good thing, that's why people find this board so valuable. Get outside and have some fun.

Not that Lan needs us to defend him - but I agree that the overwhelming majority of his posts have been informative, helpful, accurate and generally positive. Last "negative" post I saw was back in July re: crime on the island and even that had a pretty positive slant in that it reported the majority of crime was property vs. violent. Also agree with Lan's comments that it is unfortunate that Jesse seems intent on repeatedly posting negative comments directed at at a few select individuals. Perhaps Jesse doesn't realize how much it undermines his credibility. LaurieMar's adivce is the best - consider the source - on both fronts

Lan, why not report the rest of the news? since you don't write books but rather report fact?

Other headlines from yesterday:
Majority of Governance Commission resigns

American tourist murdered in Toledo village

Suspect detained in San Narciso shooting

O.W. mother charged with neglect

Suspect in car break-in caught in the act...
...while washing machine thief gets three years
(ha ha ha)

P.U.P. endorses candidates for Belize City mayor, council

Convicted murderer gets life in prison

Diabetes Association promotes healthy lifestyles

Milt getting acclimatized in Utah
(yeah, we got a Belizean in the NBA!!!)

Kremandala tops Benque United in RFG play

SIN, it would appear that Lan reported news involving a tourist because this is where tourists come for information on Belize. Why the hostility toward Lan?

Update:

At least the cops were on the case.

Police in the Toledo District have charged 20-year-old Agripo Ical with murder in connection with the discovery of a woman's body Sunday night. The body was found at about 11:30 p.m. on the Southern Highway in Indian Creek Village, about 25 miles from Punta Gorda. The body has been identified as that of a 20-year-old U.S. national. Reports are that marks on the neck indicate the woman may have been strangled. A post mortem examination has been scheduled.

Intersting that only 2 posts on Belize Forums about this topic

http://www.belizeforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=19;t=000167

Why ask why?

I think those doing research on Belize would easily find all the bad news they needed (especially about Indian Creek - a huge destination).

If one feels so obligated to be the "forum news reporter", then so be it. But please relay all the good news as well. We do have a lot of good news also.

But bad news sells and makes one feel the need to buy a "unofficial" guide to Belize - so you don't get strangled in Toledo. Kinda' like CNN exploiting peoples fears.

SIN

Some of you have way too much time on your hands.

thats what living AC will do to you (lol)

Wow. I count at least seven posters here who would have been whacked (as I was before) for disagreeing with the moderator.

I must note that I concur with the majority that Lan's done a great service to the tourism business in Belize (which those of you who argue with him depend on for your incomes) over the years. His posting of this event is nothing more than sharing of information.

At least it's not "Nancy Grace" sensationalism, but simply relating the facts as they're reported.

woof woof

FYI, see also the thread on Casa Picasso being named one of the few "Fodor's Choice" restaurants for Winter 2006. Among other things, I write the Belize part of Fodor's Belize & Guatemala (2005, 2006 and previous editions) and am doing the new Fodor's Belize, the first time Belize has its own Fodor's guide, which will be out next year.

--Lan Sluder

On which page will be the strangulation incident?

Take a breather, SIN. You're supposed to be dead, anyway. I saw your gravesite not too long ago. :rolleyes:

his inner retard is agitated.

Jesse, I get a whole lot more than you think! And yes, it makes sense that those that report on Belize have more negative news to tell these days then they used to, this country is changing fast and unfortunately not for the better, wonder why?

Don't forget that Jesse thinks he knows everything and what's best for everyone. He'll delete your post if he doesn't like it or doesn't agree with it. Looks like he's now focusing on Lan, who is looked upon as a knowledgeable and respected resource, and rightly so, on all things Belize as they relate to tourists, retirees, etc.

I wonder why most people OUTSIDE of Belize consider Lan a trusted source when most of those INSIDE feel otherwise?

I guess we just don't get it.

SIN

I don't understand why some of you Americans who have moved to Belize are upset about the murder of this woman being posted here. There was nothing said that Belize is necessarily unsafer than any other places in the world. Everybody knows this kind of stuff happens everywhere, no matter how beautiful and tranquil Belize may be. It sure won't discourage most of us from traveling there, but to me it is a newsworthy piece of information.

I dont normally get into stuff like this but I do have to back jessie up on this one, we have both been around for a long long time, even before this message board was a reality and both of us read it daily.

I personally have read many posts by Lan and never said anything to anyone but did NOTE that over the past couple of years Lans posts seem to be on the more negative aspects of Belize and this may be the fact that the past couple of years crime has incresed, so that may be part of the reason but it is VERY CLEAR that Lans posts are more geared to negatives these days than the days gone by where his posts were positive.

this post is not meant to be an attack on you Lan just an independant observation of what i have seen you post in the past years.

regards

Gaz Cooper

Lan's my hero!

What's funny is Marty posted, and rightfully so, information about four tourists going missing in the sea, and nobody jumped his behind. Marty is one of the least negative guys around as we all know, but he at least knows everyone is interested in foul-ups, mistakes and just news that relates to tourism, good and bad. Lan is the same. I don't agree Gaz, he hasn't gone on some negative tangent. He is respected by people also living outside of Belize because we have all from time to time relied upon his excellent info. He will email you back with his opinions and experiences just because he is a proponent of Belize and really wants people to visit and experience all that it is. Yes, I am a fan of his work.

Anita: I was thinking the same thing about the diving incident in relation to this post.

Slain Girl's Family Arrives in Belize

Family members of Julia Minard, the 20-year-old American woman who was killed on Sunday in Indian Creek Village in the Toledo District arrived in the country from the United States this afternoon. They are here to oversee her post mortem which is scheduled to be performed tomorrow. Minard's body has been transferred from Punta Gorda to the morgue in Belize City.

As we've reported, Minard was choked to death in the bushes outside of Indian Creek. Villagers found her dressed only in her underwear. While rape appears to have been the intent, only a post mortem will confirm whether that did occur.

Police have arrested and charged the man believed to be responsible for her murder, 19-year-old Agripino Ical.

Cute cartoon
"Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"
"Sarcasm is the means by which we hide our hurt feelings from ourselves."

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.