But, while the authorities are investigating her killing, she has an entire host of family, friends, and co-workers back in Chicago who are mourning her loss.
Our colleagues from ABC 7, the TV station she worked for, spoke with her father back in Illinois, and he lamented the loss of his daughter, the second child that he's had to bury. He fought back tears as he reminisced about his daughter:
The main person of interest, the Guatemalan who police picked up in the immediate area last week has been arrested and charged with illegal entry, and he has been criminally arraigned. He's 24 year-old Victor Manuel Franco Menjivar, resident from Benque Viejo's sister town across the border, Melchor De Menchos, Guatemala.
He's pleaded guilty to the immigration charge, and he has been fined a thousand dollars. He's since been handed back over to police for further interrogation as to why he was in the area when police were looking for Anne Swaney.
Her murder added to what had already been a bad month for the Belize Tourism Board. No doubt, with the murder of Canadian Matthiew Klinck , and now the murder of Swaney who was a Tourist - the tourism product called Belize is getting a very bad name. Add to that the fact that leading tour operator and resort owner Bradley Paumen is implicated in a murder plot, and the picture ones gets of tourism in Belize right now is not flattering. Today, the BTB sent out a damage control statement saying, quote, "violent crime in Belize has seen a double digit reduction in the past year. Over one million people visited Belize last year, and while it is extremely rare for a tourist to fall victim to a violent crime, we will remain committed to the safety and security of all people who visit." The statement adds, quote, "part of the reason this horrible crime has garnered such media attention is because violence against visitors to Belize is so uncommon." It concludes by saying, quote, "In the coming weeks, we plan to reach out to stakeholders and visitors…to ensure we are doing everything we can to provide visitors with the carefree, relaxing visits they have come to expect." End quote.
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