7 News Belize

Husband Kills Wife, Then Himself
posted (February 19, 2018)
In a city that has been numbed by so much violence, it is the rare crime that can still evoke a strong wave of public concern. And so it was on Saturday when police found the bodies of a husband and wife locked inside their Belize City home in the Saint Martins area. Both had been shot to the head.

43 year-old Jason Emmanuel, and his 46 year-old wife Hermelinda Emmanuel were the victims. Police found a weapon beside the husband's body, and that's when a narrative started to form.

It is believed that Jason killed his wife, Linda, and then committed suicide, but at this time, there is no absolute confirmation of this.

Our news team has been following this tragic story that now has 2 families grieving, and wondering what went wrong between late Friday night, and Early Saturday morning. Daniel Ortiz has that story:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
From all indications, 43 year-old Jason Emanuel and his wife, 46 year-old Ermelinda Pinks-Emanuel, lived a very private life. These photographs of the couple, very brief snapshots into their relationship, suggested that they were happy together.

But on Saturday, something terrible happened behind the closed doors of their Rose Lane Apartment in Belize City.

Ermelinda was found dead on their matrimonial bed; she had suffered a gunshot injury to the left side of her head. They found Jason's body on the floor of the bedroom,. The cops found a gunshot wound to the right side of the head. They also found a 9mm pistol right beside Jason's body.

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Police processed the scene there where they recovered a firearm beside Mr. Emanuel's body, and likewise, they found 2 expended shells, and several ammunition on the bed, and inside of the magazine."

Immediately, that suggests that this may have been a murder/suicide that was committed Sometime late Friday, or early Saturday.

But, the police spokesperson was uncomfortable with that suggestion being put to him.

Reporter "Going back to the murder/suicide incident on Saturday, can you share with us?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, OCB Belize City
"I did not say say it's a murder/suicide."

ASP Cowo's demeanor clearly suggests the delicacy with which they want to proceed, not wishing to offend either of the 2 grieving families who lost loved ones in this deadly domestic dispute.

But while the cops aren't willing, without proof, to concede that this was what happened, it's certainly what many believe at this time.

Daniel Ortiz, reporter
"We have to ask, do you and your family think that he killed her, and then killed himself? That's the speculation in the streets, but nobody knows for sure."

Voice of: Patrick Meighan, Ermelinda brother
"Thinking back, there was one time when I used to live with them, when I was a little bit younger, she took me in, I was staying there….There was one time, he was taking us home. He was cursing, saying everything, and he made a threat, and he said that, 'Linda, you don't know me. I would kill you, kill him, and kill myself. That way, nothing will come out of it.' And, it was, yes a couple years back, not knowing that this man would live up to his promise."

The cops also gave neutral details which indicates that the shooter had to be one of the two spouses.

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"We understand that the house was locked from inside. Both persons had their keys, so we suspect that something might happened between the couple that was inside of the room. At this moment, I cannot tell you which one of them, conducted - or did any - or injured anybody. At this moment, we're still looking at that angle, and based on what the post-mortem will indicate to us, probably afterwards, we can comment on it."

So, what leads Linda's family to believe that he was the shooter?

Voice of: Patrick Meighan
"For one, we know that he was intoxicated because of the way they found him. There was - it was - he threw up in the room, and what's not. He had bands on his hand from some event or club he was, while his wife was at home sleeping in her bed. He was out there doing whatever he was doing, what he always does."

And from their account, they also saw other warning signs, indications that any loving family would allow disputing couples to resolve on their own, instead of getting into their business.

Voice of: Patrick Meighan
"At first, everything looked normal. But, as years go by, you started to see little things. As I far as I know, I didn't see any physical abuse, and in any relationship, you will have your ups and downs, you'll have arguments. So, it could turn out being more verbal than physical."

Daniel Ortiz
"Did you ever get the sense that maybe there was a bit of too much control being exerted on your sister by her husband?"

Patrick Meighan
"Yes, there was. He's insecure, and I don't know. Maybe it's because of the type of wife he has, how beautiful she was, make him feel that type of way, but he was an insecure person. And he felt that - I don't know how the explain it. But, he was insecure."

Linda's family said that his behavior is a stark contrast to hers.

Voice of: Patrick Meighan
"She did what was to be done as a wife. She was at home. She took care of her home, cooks, cleans, and do whatever needs to be done inside, while on the weekends, or whatever, he goes out and party."

Daniel Ortiz
"We understand that she was a career woman as well, that she was that she was a member of the Belize Coast Guard."

Voice of: Patrick Meighan
"From me growing up, knowing myself, she worked in the Government service, and up to this day, the last place she was at the Coast Guard. She was dedicated to whatever job she was placed at. Whatever was given to her, she executed it as best as she could at a professional level. That's the way she used to work. She doesn't leave her work for no one to talk about it. She tries to do it flawless, so that when you look back, I did that, and I did it well. That was the kind of woman she was."

We got in touch with Jason's friends and family, but they told us that they would prefer not to speak at this time.

Of important note is that police believe that the couple bodies were inside their bedroom for several hours before they were discovered dead. Linda's family told us that she had made plans to spend time with them on Saturday. When she didn't show up, and she wasn't answering her phone, they went to her house to check on her. We understand that her sisters spotted their bodies through the bedroom window, and they called the police. When the cops arrived, they broke open the door, and that's when their Rose Lane home became a crime scene.

This case has re-opened the discussion about domestic violence, and several prominent Belizean women have shared their views on social media.

They are joined by the PUP's United Women's group, which sent out a press release.

Their statement, says, quote "This tragedy... has once again revealed the need to re-engage in the conversation on domestic violence, to sustain the discussion and to advocate for changes to be made in the law and in our culture. When a spouse kills another, it is the worst form of domestic violence. It is murder. When that spouse then commits suicide, it doesn't end the cycle of violence... Ms. Linda's life was savagely taken and cut short."

The Pinks family tell us that Jason and Hermelinda did not have any children. But he does leave behind a son from a previous relationship.

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