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It's a connection that has raised eyebrows even in the Police Department and Jules Vasquez has the story from San Ignacio:

Jules Vasquez Reporting

The body 20 year old Suzenne Martinez was found here in this overgrown abandoned lot on 18th street in San Ignacio.

Her body had been thrown in this drain - and she was left there face up.

The chilling part is that her family home is on that same street - about five hundred feet away.

She was found dead at 6:10 am - that's around when her brother Jamid usually goes to work. He knew his sister had been reported missing the night before - and he approached the scene with trepidation.

Jamid Martinez - Suzenne's Brother
"Well, this morning 6:30, as I was looking to go to work, I saw police far up the street by the corner. I got that bad feeling that it was my sister. When I got there, they didn't want me to see her, and I told them that I knew that there was something that they found, and I wanted to know if it was my sister. So now, they asked me if I was sure, and I told them that I was. They told me that they found a female's body, and I begged them that if it was her to allow me to see, and I wouldn't touch her. When I looked better, I saw her; it was her."

And nothing could have prepared him for the condition he saw her in:

Jamid Martinez
"She was partially naked, and she never had on any pants, only underwear. Her blouse was up; the upper part of her body was showing, and a lot of liquid was coming out of her nose, like they were choking her. So, as I saw her, I recognized her. They killed her, and they probably raped too. She had a lot of bruises on her body, which were visible especially because of her complexion - all on her legs."

Those who live nearby said they didn't hear anything unusual last night.

But her parents knew something was wrong when Suzenne didn't get home as usual at 8:30 and when she didn't answer her phone, the worrying began - they made a missing persons report at midnight and six hours later she was found dead:

Jamid Martinez
"Whoever did this to my sister, that's not fair. That's really not fair, to take an innocent girl's life. Look at what happened to Jasmin Lowe; they haven't even done anything about that, and now my little sister, it can't happen. I just want them to find out who did this."

And police have made compelling progress - with impressive swiftness:

Superintendent Ralph Moody - Officer Commanding San Ignacio Police
"We have one male person detained, who is a suspect in this case. I must say also that we believe that this person is of interest concerning the murder in Belmopan."

He's talking about the murder that happened here at Robert Lewis's home in the Maya Mopan area of Belmopan, an incredible connection that would suggest a madman on a killing spree - two homicides in two days.

And it's not just a casual connection, police found this suspect - who is from the Maya Mopan area of Belmopan - with concrete evidence at a family member's home in San Ignacio.

Superintendent Ralph Moody
"We recovered several pieces of jewelry, and we have prints matching the prints in that area along with the female."

Police believe it was a random attack and robbery.

Marion Ali - Love News
"So, was this a random attack and robbery?"

Superintendent Ralph Moody
"I believe so."

Marion Ali
"Was she also sexually assaulted?"

Superintendent Ralph Moody
"I cannot say so; what I can say is that her pants were below her knee, and part of her blouse was pulled up. Her underwear, to me, it looked to be intact. There is no sign of bruising on her body - no signs of marks - with the exception of one foot print that matches the suspect's boots. That print on the female was over her private area, over her legs."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you able to say if this person had access to a vehicle, or might it have happened right around that location."

Superintendent Ralph Moody
"Our investigation is not revealing that there were any vehicles involved at this present moment."

And while the police wheels turn rather quickly - just so at the family's home on 18th. street, the machinery of mourning and loss has kicked in.

Just hours after she was found dead, her father Hamid - a public health inspector for 22 years and her brother, Jamid, were putting up tents outside the home for the wake - and her family and friends only have a memory of a future now forever lost for a girl everyone called Purple:

Sheree Flores - Friend of Suzenne
"Purple, as we called her, she always had this smile on her face. Susenne was my best friend. She never made anything bring her down; nothing ever held her back. She was determined; she was always giving me motivation. Susenne was one of the best persons you could ever have a friend."

This is a picture of her having lunch at UB yesterday - Her face showing no indication of worry or trouble.

Sheree Flores
"Med lab was her passion. She had plans of going abroad, studying and furthering her career. That was it. Suzenne had her head on her shoulder; she knew what she wanted in life."

Jamid Martinez
"Her dream was to be involved in forensics. That was her dream; she loved science. I told her to push through and study. She never had any problem with anyone."

Miriam Ochaeta - Cousin of Deceased
"We never know where this kind of thing will hit. What can we do today; withdraw all our children who are UB students who go to school at night because we are fearful for their lives? That wouldn't be logical, realistic, or a sensible thing to do. We are traumatized."

Sheree Flores
"I have known Suzenne for quite some years now, and she isn't the type of person who has enemies. So, I wouldn't be able to tell you who would do this to her. Suzenne is a very calm person; she always tries to stay away from trouble. She was never out, never doing anything wrong. Suzenne was one of the most loving people; she was my best friend. It hurts a lot to know that this was done to somebody so innocent."

The case is now being jointly investigated by Belmopan and San Ignacio CIB since one person is the main suspect in both homicide cases.

So who is this person? Well we cannot release his name if and until he is charged. But we can confirm that the Maya Mopan resident was released on bail just last week Thursday. He had been charged for sexual assault - and according to reports - he has at least one other similar case pending for a rape and robbery on Belmopan in 2011.

His link to the two cases? Well, he was found at his sister's home in San Ignacio this morning with what is believed to be Suzenny's cell phone - but it had another chip. He was also found with other personal possessions of hers, but not her laptop computer which is still unaccounted for.

And he was found with other items - including jewelry - which are not for Suzenne and may be related to the Lewis murder in Belmopan. Presently, those are being examined to see if they are from the Lewis home.

It's a huge, developing story and we'll have more on it in tomorrow night's news.

In a footnote, which will either make you jump for joy or hand your head in weary dismay, San Ignacio police thanked the community for assistance in apprehending a suspect just 6 hours after the body was found. This was largely facilitated, we gather, by a private citizen who loaned police his full size SUV - since their vehicle was in Belmopan for an early morning operation.