AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News Marisela Gonzales found murdered off Marina Drive in San Pedro

San Pedro Police have found the body of an unidentified Hispanic female in her 20's with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The body was found off Marina Drive, heading to the dump. San Pedro has not recorded a homicide in over a year.

Ambergris Today

The San Pedro Sun has been following up on the news of a female body found in the dump area south of San Pedro Town. While police have not been forthcoming with any relevant information, some sources are indicating that it is being investigated as a murder, and that the victim has been identified. Family must be notified before such information can be revealed. Police also believe she was murdered by someone very close to her.

San Pedro Sun

UPDATE: According to information reaching our newsroom, the victim was identified as 28-year-old Marisela Gonzales of the DFC Area. Unconfirmed reports are that one person is in police custody for questioning.*

San Pedro Sun

Two persons in custody following the murder of Marisela Gonzales

Just after 9AM on Monday, October 12th, workers at the Marina Area south of San Pedro Town made a gruesome discovery when they stumbled upon a woman's lifeless body lying face down in a bushy area. Following a police investigation, the deceased was identified as 28-year-old Marisela Gonzales, and her cause of death was determined to be from an apparent gunshot wound. A criminal investigation began, leading to two persons' apprehension, one being the victim's husband, David Gonzalez.

According to police, the victim was last seen alive with her husband on Sunday, October 11th. Police said that possible bloodstains were observed on Gonzalez's vehicle and residence and have detained Gonzalez for questioning about the murder. No motive has been established, but police hope to get some answers. Marisela Gonzales' husband is the licensed holder of a firearm, and police are trying to establish if that was the firearm used in the homicide.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

Mother Murdered On San Pedro, Husband Is Suspect

In San Pedro a 28 year old mother was found dead on the edge of the town dump. MARISELA GONZALEZ was semi-nude and had a gunshot wound to the body.

And, tonight police have her husband detained. The head of CIB, Eastern Division told us more today:

Supt. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Eastern Division
"The caretaker of the dumpsite was exiting from the area when he tumbled down over a female body that was seen motionless. Police responded to the area where they observed a female to have a gunshot injury to the body. She was later identified as Marisela Gonzalez, a twenty-eight-year-old Belizean. She was last seen alive earlier in the night whilst in the company of her husband. Police have since conducted an investigation and I can tell you that at this present moment, the husband is in police custody being interviewed."

Reporter
"Sir, did the husband at any point make a report to say that she was missing?"

Supt. Alejandro Cowo
"There was an initial report that was made to an officer and based on that information which we obtained from him, we did a follow up which led us to where the body was located."

Reporter
"In terms of the gunshot injuries, does the husband or anyone close to her has a weapon that would match? Are you able to say?"

Supt. Alejandro Cowo
"Well the husband is the owner of a firearm, a licensed holder. We suspect the possibility that it might be that firearm that was used."

Reporter
"Any idea why Miss Marisela is dead today sir?"

Supt. Alejandro Cowo
"Well that is something that we are trying to ascertain from the husband, who is being interviewed at this time."

Reporter
"The husband is detained. Are you able to say if he is the prime suspect in what transpired?"

Supt. Alejandro Cowo
"Based on our investigations we believe that he might be one of the persons as police also conducted an investigation and made checks at the residence and on a vehicle where possible blood trails are observed. Hence the reason he was detained."

Reporter
"You said residence."

Supt. Alejandro Cowo
"Possibility we believe that actually the incident took place at the residence and they use the vehicle to transport her to where she was found."

The couple shared a child. We are told one other person is detained along with him. We'll keep following those case closely for an arrest.

Notably, this is San Pedro's first murder since June of 2019 - the end of an almost 16 month respite from killings.

Channel 7

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Vigil for Marisela Gonzalez

Residents on Ambergris Caye are demanding justice for the death of Marisela Gonzales after pictures posted earlier on social media captured what appears to be the accused, David Gonzalez, outside the San Pedro Police Station. An impromptu drive through on golf carts was organized by local residents. Other residents are organizing in small groups of ten at Central Park where they are planning to march to the Police Station.

David Gonzales charged with the murder of his wife, Marisela

David Gonzales was formally charged for the murder of his wife, Marisela Gonzales, on Wednesday, October 14th. Marisela's lifeless body was discovered on Monday, September 12th, in the Marina Area south of San Pedro Town.

The news that her husband David was charged for her death brings some relief to the family, who hope that the body will be transported to Belize City for a post-mortem. Afterward, they look forward to giving her a proper funeral service.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

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Husband Charged For Killing Wife

Last night we told you about the murder of a 28-year-old mother. It happened on Ambergris Caye where Marisela Gonzalez's body was found on the edge of the town dump, semi-nude and with a gunshot injury.

And tonight, her husband, David Gonzalez, has been charged with her murder.

Still, her family is making a plea for justice and asking for support from every San Pedrano.

In a facebook video post today her aunt lamented the fact that the family has yet to be allowed to prepare Marisela for burial. Cherissa Halsall translates:

Rosie Najaro Marroquin, Aunt of the deceased
"We're asking the people of San Pedro to please help us and support us in this case in which we've found ourselves. I'm Marisela's aunt. Marisela Gonzalez her husband was David Gonzalez and he's the one who committed this crime. He has already been detained but we need to (do something) with the body and the police don't want to move it and we want to know for what reason they don't want to move the body. The body is already very, very, very bad because we've been able to see it. I was able to see it on Monday at three in the afternoon. The body was already swollen, it's already at the point of decomposing. I don't understand why the police are taking so long supposedly looking for more evidence. What evidence? If they already have the evidence they already know who's responsible. I don't know who else they want to blame but we as a family ask the people of San Pedro for support in our quest for justice. We ask for there to be justice because it's not fair that Marisela's death goes unpunished. Give us justice because if not this will continue against women."

And Wednesday evening Marisela's family hosted a drive-by vigil in her memory, and in solidarity with the fight against domestic violence and femicide. It started at 5:00 pm at Central Park.



Channel 7

Live Interview with Commissioner of the Police Chester Williams. Joe Chung was arrested last night for standing up for Marisela Gonzalez.

Murder suspect, David Gonzalez, arrested and charged for the crime of murdering his wife Marisela Gonzalez, was seen today being transported to Belize City by San Pedro Police by water taxi. He is expected to be arraigned in Belize City Magistrate's court today. Gonzalez was transferred via San Pedro Belize Express from Ambergris Caye to Belize City.

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A Call For Justice For Marisela Gonzalez By Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission of Belize issued a press release today stating that it joins the family of Marisela Gonzalez and other members of the public in their resounding calls for justice in the violent and tragic death of Marisela Gonzalez. The release went on to say that, "Violence against women is universal and cuts across socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. While domestic violence is overwhelming condemned in rhetoric, and prohibited under the laws of Belize, violence against women in the country remains disturbingly widespread.

There is an urgent need for proper training of frontline responders in gender-based violence and gender sensitivity. Victims often complain about the unresponsiveness of police officers to complaints about breaches of their protection orders. Rural and low-income women face particular difficulties in accessing formal protection mechanisms. Furthermore, harmful social norms further entrench the subjugation of women in the household, leaving women particularly vulnerable to intimate partner violence.

It is clear that violence against women exists on a continuum that involves individual, institutional and societal factors. As a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, Belize is duty-bound to adopt a holistic approach and respond to all forms of violence against women and girls by implementing legislation, policies, programs, and services that respond to the particular needs of women and girls. The Government is also obligated to act with due diligence to prevent, investigate, and punish any act of violence against women.

The Commission, thus, echoes the calls of the family of Ms. Gonzalez and the public at large and implores the Government of Belize to act with due diligence to investigate, prosecute and sanction all of the persons involved in the death of Marisela Gonzales."

The Commission also urges the Government to enhance its efforts to combat domestic violence by-

• a) �Providing the necessary support to frontline responders to properly implement the Domestic Violence 
Act and related national policies; and 

• b) �Supporting the proposal of the Police Department to change the location and setting of the Domestic 
Violence Unit. 


Lastly, the Commission further urges the Government to amend the Domestic Violence Act to:-

• Provide for emergency orders to enable persons to obtain protection on an urgent basis through telephone or other electronic means;
• Provide for sanctions for officers who fail to diligently respond to complaints about domestic violence and breaches of the protection orders; and
• Remove "the need to preserve and protect the institution of marriage and to give protection and assistance to the family as a natural and fundamental unit of society" as a relevant consideration when determining whether to grant an order under the Act.

David Gonzales charged with the murder of his wife, Marisela

San Pedro Town continues to mourn the brutal murder of young mother Marisela Gonzalez, who was found dead at a dump site on Monday, October 12th. Two days later, her husband David Gonzalez was charged for her death. Residents honored Marisela's memory with a candlelight vigil by the Central Park. The evening ended with the arrest of an island resident who denounced domestic violence while passing by the police station. His reaction was in response to other residents' claim (and photos) that the accused murderer was seen outside the station and escorted to his home by police. The public saw this as some sort of special treatment, an allegation that police are denying.

ComPol explained what happened. According to him, police wanted his help in locating a missing digital video recorder, which is believed to have key footage of what may have transpired in the home of the couple. It could not be located and the ComPol is appealing to the public to locate it.

The vigil included a memorial service and saw family members, friends and supporters calling for justice and denouncing domestic violence. An altar with candles and pictures of Marisela was set by the clock tower near the park, where everyone present paid their respects to the deceased. Afterwards, a group of persons in golf carts reportedly drove by the police station in a peaceful way. According to reports, one person was taken by police and was apparently held for instigating a riot. According to sources, after an overnight in the police station, he was released on bail. Police did not confirm if a charge was made, as reports were that charges were being sought.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

Did Island Cops Give Gonzalez Special Liberties?

And while the arrest is straightforward enough and comes just days after the body was found - the San Pedro community is irate - both at the murder, and at what they feel is police special treatment for this accused man.

Last night, a Facebook furor erupted on the island when residents claimed that police had allowed murder suspect David Gonzalez to go home, shower, and even pack a night bag for his trip to Hattieville.

Today, the Commissioner said the community had it all wrong:

Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police

"I saw where the public got a bit outrageous last night when there was some picture circulating with the accused husband on a golf cart going home and I myself when I saw it initially, I was upset because with the way this entire ordeal went down and the fact that the husband seems to have no remorse and is noncooperative with the investigation, he should not be afforded any kind of privilege and so I quickly got in the phone and I spoke to Mr. Noble and inquired from him why was it that the individual was seen on a golf cart and he had said to me that they took him home because there is surveillance camera at the house but when the police went to retrieve the video footage, there was no DVR. So, the officers took him back to his home last night to search because we have received information that indeed, it had been hidden somewhere in the yard or some nearby yard. So, he was taken there for the purpose of conducting that search. So if that is the case, I have to accept Mr. Noble word for it, I don't think he needs to lie to me about that, then I have no issue with it because we need to find the DVR and I want to appeal to the public in San Pedro, if any knows the whereabouts of this DVR or where the husband may have hidden or thrown the DVR, please let us know because we believe it has footage that significantly help out investigation."

Reporter

"Wasn't it a matter of him getting any special treatment because of his social status out there?"

Chester Williams

"From what I gathered from Mr. Noble, no."

This evening, the PUP's United Women's Group released a statement calling for justice on behalf of Marisela Gonzalez.

Their press release says, quote,

"The United Women's Group (UWG) strongly condemns this act of violence which has led to the loss of another special woman, allegedly at the hands of her spouse…we expect that her killer will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law"

End quote.

They are joined by the Human Rights Commission of Belize who is also calling for justice on behalf of Marisela.

Their statement also adds, quote, "

The Commissioner urges the Government to enhance its efforts to combat domestic violence by providing the necessary support to frontline responders to properly implement the Domestic Violence Act, and related national policies; and supporting the proposal of the Police Department to change the location and setting of the Domestic Violence Unit.

" End quote.

They are also hoping that the government amends to Domestic Violence Act to provide for emergency orders to enable persons to obtain protection on an urgent basis, through telephone or other electronic means.

Finally, they want to remove the part of the Domestic Violence Act which says,

"the need to preserve and protect the institution of marriage, and to give protection and assistance to the family as a natural and fundamental unit of society".

Channel 7

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Accused Murderer David Gonzales is Arraigned for Killing his Wife

The San Pedro man who is accused of murdering his wife was brought to Belize City this morning for arraignment at the Magistrate's Court. David Gonzales is facing a charge of the killing of Marisela Gonzales.� The twenty-eight-year-old mother of one was shot to the head and her body disposed of at a dumpsite on the island where it was found by a worker on Sunday. She was last seen alive with Gonzales the previous day. On Wednesday night, the accused was seen being carted to his house; that move heightened the calls for justice for Marisela, a victim of domestic violence. Here is News Five's Duane Moody with a report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Early this morning, accused murderer David Gonzales was brought to Belize City under heavy police guard via water taxi. He was escorted to the Magistrate's Court where after ten o'clock, he was arraigned before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett for the brutal killing of his wife, Marisela. No plea was taken and Gonzales was remanded to the central prison in Hattieville until December sixteenth when he is to reappear in court.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

"I am not going to speak to the confidence in the charge. I am sure if there weren't sufficient evidence to charge, then, we would not have levied charge against the husband. But may I say that there is multitude of reports that the husband has been abusive to the deceased wife. And the police investigation unearthed certain things and it was based on that that the police eventually laid charges against him."

The partially nude body of Marisela Gonzales was discovered on Sunday morning near a dumpsite in San Pedro Town. She was last seen alive in the company of her husband on Saturday, October tenth. Her father, Venancio Guzman says that the couple had been married about two years and shared a daughter, but he only recently learnt of the abuse she suffered.

On the Phone: Venancio Guzman, Father of Deceased [Translated] [File: October 14 ^th , 2020]

"She was a young girl when she went with him. Afterwards, they got married - it's about two years now since he married my daughter. He asked me for her hand as her husband and I gave them my blessings. I didn't know the type of person he was. He showed a beautiful, smiling face to us. Eventually, we started to catch up because my two sons worked with him and one of them asked Mari to return with them because her husband was mistreating her. He used to even take out his gun. He didn't care. The thing is that he treated her so badly and my son asked for her to return to live at his house that he was building. I didn't know all of those things - until now I am finding out just how abusive her husband was to her. I used to call her every two three days and I used to ask her, 'daughter, how are you? Are you okay?' and she would reply, 'yes, dad, I am ok' but she was clearly not okay. I think he had threatened. This Sunday that he killed her, I believe she was coming from a beach somewhere in San Pedro. They were together and someone saw how he was mistreating her. She was in the back of the vehicle and he was treating her like an animal.� I think he killed her in the night."

In San Pedro, an impromptu drive on golf carts was organized by local residents, while others in small groups of ten gathered at the Central Park - they demanded justice for the twenty-eight-year-old mother of one. That same night, however, there were concerns from residents when the accused murderer was seen on a golf cart. According to Commissioner Chester Williams, Gonzales' arrest was not made as a result of public pressure, but evidence that was gathered through police investigation. He explains why Gonzales was removed from the station.

Chester Williams

"There was some picture circulating with the accused husband on a golf cart going home. I myself when I saw it initially was upset because with the way how this entire ordeal went down and the fact that the husband seems to have no remorse and is uncooperative with investigation, he should not be afforded any kind of privilege. So I quickly got on the phone and spoke to Mister Noble and inquired from him why the individual was seen on a golf cart and he said to me that they took him home because there is surveillance camera at the house, but when police went to retrieve the footage, there was no DVR. So the officers took him back to his home last night to search the surroundings because we had received information that the DVR may have been hidden somewhere in the yard or some nearby yard. So he was taken there for the purpose of conducting that search."

Gender based violence has been one of the top four reasons for murders. ComPol Chester Williams says that victims often times find it difficult to come forward and it would appear that this was one such case.

Chester Williams

"When it comes to domestic situations, it is extremely difficult and while some of us may sit and condemn a woman who comes forward and makes complaint of her partner, it is more devastating for those women who do not have the courage to come forward because the woman who comes forward at least they get a chance to speak to someone and vent and those who do not come forward suffer in silence and I think the deceased wife was one of those such persons. And, again, I don't think that any woman or child should suffer the way she did at the hands of a husband who was supposed to be there to love and care for them."

Channel 5

Charged with Murder, David Gonzales appears at San Pedro Magistrate Court; case adjourned

David Gonzales, accused of killing his wife Marisela Gonzales in October 2020, was back on the island for his scheduled appearance at the San Pedro Magistrate Court on Wednesday, June 9th. Gonzales is serving time at the Kolbe Foundation-Belize Central Prison after being formally charged with Murder last year. After his hearing in San Pedro Town, the case was adjourned, and he is to return to court on July 29th.

Gonzales was transported to the island via a water taxi. People at Central Park said they saw the islander escorted to the San Pedro Police Station, where the court is located. He was handcuffed and did not appear to be in a good mood. Gonzales's case is expected to continue rolling into adjournment as the Magistrate Court does not have the jurisdiction to offer him bail due to the Murder charge. The only place that may grant him bail is if the matter is taken to the Belize Supreme Court.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun