7 News Belize

Couple Cruelly Killed In Corozal
posted (December 15, 2014)
5 days ago on Wednesday the 10th. December, we told you about a chopping which turned into a murder right before the eyes of Corozal Police. Well, now they must now solve a chopping double murder!

It happened right outside of the quiet village of Paraiso, at the north end of Corozal Town. A few hours after it happened, our news team arrived. Here's what we found - we warn you, it's a gory sight so if you are sensitive - you may want to take a break from watching this one:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Though it doesn't look like it right now, this modest dwelling on the outskirts of Corozal's Paraiso Village was bloody scene of a violent double murder. The owner and the woman he was rumoured to have a brief relationship with were savagely hacked to death by a machete wielder.

The lady, now identified as Heidy Atherly, was found here next to this plantain tree in the yard. In the house, villagers found 49 year-old Salvadoran Fernando Rivas, a Salvadoran cane cutter. He too had multiple chop wound.

Clemente Bareda - First Responder
"We woke up like 5:30 and I heard like the lady was fighting with the man. After that, we heard the woman screaming at the end. We got our bikes and went around my house, but when we got there, they were both already chopped up to death."

Supt. Andrew Ramirez - OC, Corozal Police
"About 7:15 on the 14th Decemberm Corozal police acting on information visited a farm which is located about three quarter miles out of Paraiso Village in a farm land, they found the body of two individuals; a female which was located by some plantain trees and that of a male inside a house. The identity of the female is unknown at this time. However, the victim, the male has been identified as Fernando Pinela Rivas. He is a 49 year old Salvadoran cane farmer of the said village. They have severe chop wounds to the upper part of their bodies especially in the neck area, both of them and also on their fingers, hands were severely chopped. Corozal conducted a swift investigation and so far we have a person on interest who we believe can assist in this investigation. At this point in time we will not release his name until at the end of the investigation of there is any charge."

Reporter
"Has police establish a motive?"

Supt. Andrew Ramirez - OC, Corozal Police
"At this time the investigation is showing that jealousy is a contributing factor in relation to the death."

The first responder also recounted to us that for the past 2 weeks he has seen Heidy Atherly in the company of Fernando Rivas.

It's very important to note that Heidy Atherley was described variously to us as mentally ill or mentally challenged. In the chopping murder five days ago, the accused was also mentally ill. There is no photo of her.

At this moment, jealousy is being looked at the main motive for this murder, and a 67 year-old Salvadoran Farmer has been detained for questioning.

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