AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Caye Caulker Woman Killed In Caye Caulker;Suspect Husband Flees

Tonight, Sergio Morran is believed to be on the run with his 7 year old son - after his wife was murdered on Caye Caulker today.

We say "on the run" because he is a suspect in the tragic homicide - which happened early this morning. Daniel Ortiz went out to Caye Caulker and he has this story.

Daniel Ortiz reporting
The upstairs house in the area of Caye Caulker, known as "Black Neighbourhood", seemed tranquil at its location overlooking the coast. That, coupled with the freshly laundered clothes swaying in the wind, would mislead a casual observer into thinking that it was just another Wednesday afternoon.

But that was the furthest from the truth, as cordon tape, along with the mass gathering of police officers and onlookers signaled that terrible violence had been committed there.

27 year-old Julia Morran was killed inside that house - her home - early this morning.

Her body was discovered inside and after almost 3 hours of crime scene processing, police removed it to be transported off the island to the KHMH morgue.

The family waited dutifully and patiently, but when they saw her body, it became too much for her cousin.

They have to come to terms with this and other glaring facts, that her husband had a loud argument with her, and that he was nowhere to be found when the body was discovered.

Their neighbour described what he saw and heard this morning.

Benedict Lopez - Next Door Neighbour
"The guy came in about 12:30AM and knocked on the door. She did not open the door so he kicked it open then he locked it, after that we didn't hear anything. About 45 minutes later my wife and I opened our door after we heard a confusion and we heard struggle in the house. I heard when the girl said 'Sergio, please don't do it.'

The Sergio he's referring to is her husband, Sergio Morran, who is wanted by police for questioning.

The neighbour said that he heard these words and thought that they were having another of their fights, and he thought it more prudent to stay out of their business

They became concerned this morning when she didn't open up the house as usual

Benedict Lopez
"I didn't hear anything after that until this morning when we got up my wife and Miss Betty were talking and I told them 'uno shetup' because that girl is inside dead. Because the guy went like 3:00am, he and his son in full black - everybody saw when he took the water taxi, they have him on camera."

Lopez went to check on her and found her dead from multiple stab wounds. He and his family called in the police

Sgt. Delfin Zuniga - OC, Caye Caulker Police
"Upon the police arrival at the residence the door was locked, force was used to open the door. Upon the police arrival inside they noticed a female was known to be Julia Moran, date of birth 19/04/85 - Belizean waitress of Black Neighborhood, Caye Caulker village. She was observed apparent stab wounds."

Benedict Lopez
"The body was terrible, it was cut up, had two slashes on the face, her wrist and her hand was cut that it had almost come off. Last two fingers were cut - she was fighting for her life. She was stabbed up - it's a disaster."

Lopez says that this is not the first quarrel he heard between the couple. He says that they seems to have major marital problems.

Benedict Lopez
"They're nice people, friendly people - I always talked to them. But like I said they had a little mishap in between, cheating on each other which is wrong - that is their problem but when it comes to this it's a different thing. I will miss her and I'm sorry I didn't go to the station. There's a God above that I didn't go because I heard when the guy said 'I'm going to kill you today'.

But while that makes for strong witness testimony, police must provide solid evidence. They say that they've made some headway.

Reporter
"It was made to understand that the murder weapon was found, would you be able to say or confirm that at this time?"

Sgt. Delfin Zuniga
"What happened is that we found the knife on the bed. We're looking for her husband, Sergio Moran, he's a Guatemalan where we think he can assist us in this investigation."

Daniel Ortiz
"We understand that he may have left the island. Can you tell us what police information is on that?"

Sgt. Delfin Zuniga
"Well we haven't gotten any other information other than - sometime this morning about 4am he was seen somewhere at the Caye Caulker water taxi area and we're not sure by what means he left the island but checks made on the island so far and he hasn't been found."

Daniel Ortiz
"Are you able to tell us if you believe that this gentleman may have committed this crime."

Sgt. Delfin Zuniga
"The investigation as I mentioned is preliminary and we are just seeking him because we think that he can assist us in this investigation."

Reporter
"Anything else you'd like to add at this time?"

Sgt. Delfin Zuniga
"Well we'd just like to ask the assistance of the public if they should see this individual to feel free to call the nearest police station."

Morran, who is a Guatemalan national, is believed be heading for the border.

Channel 7

Article in the San Pedro Sun HERE.

Murder suspect on the run with his son

An all points bulletin, issued for the apprehension of Sergio Moran, whom it is strongly believed brutally killed his wife on Wednesday in Caye Caulker, remains in effect tonight. Moran is suspected of butchering twenty-eight year old Julia Moran, who was hacked and stabbed multiple times with a machete inside the couple's home on the island's Black Neighborhood. The grisly murder reportedly succeeded a heated argument the pair was embroiled in sometime around midnight. Since the discovery of Moran's corpse beneath a heap of clothing on her bed the following morning, her husband has been on the lam. Along with him is their nine year old son, whom it also believed my have witnessed the incident. The police department has also notified its counterparts in neighboring Guatemala about the possibility of Moran crossing over into the country. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Sergio Moran is asked to contact the nearest police station.

Channel 5

This is so sad, especially for the child, I sure hope they catch him.

Did they ever find him or the son? It shocks me that he made it off of the island in the middle of the night unnoticed. With property being sooo expensive on the island, how does the crime still say so high? Murder, rape, home invasion & theft doesn't typically take place in higher income areas especially if they are secluded like an island.