Child stimulation month started today, March first. But, tonight, instead of being celebrated, our first three stories will show that in the frightening wave of depravity and urban violence - defenseless, blameless children are being victimized and harmed.
The first story is one of the most unfortunate we've reported in more than two decades of the news. It's about a 17 month old toddler from Maskall who is critical in the intensive care unit at the KHMH - after suffering what appears to be multiple traumatic events of sexual abuse and violence.
We have received credible reports which say the toddler was molested - but there are also injuries pointing to a physical abuse. Tonight her stepfather is detained at the Ladyville police station pending investigation. But, at this time he has not been charged - and tonight - to protect the child - we can't show you anybody's face.
It's a tough case, because the infant appears to have been in a domestic setting where she did not always receive the most vigilant care. Courtney Weatherburne went to Maskall to find out more.
Residents of the quiet Maskall community in the Belize district are all astounded at what can only be described as one of the most despicable human acts.
Voice of Resident
"Everybody shock, this is shock for Maskall."
A 1 year old baby girl was severely beaten and sexually molested at her village home. About a month ago, the child's mother moved in with her common law husband – the baby's stepfather.
They seemed like a happy family, the mother set in her daily work routine.
Voice of Resident
"The young lady goes to work in the morning and I'm not sure what time bus but most of the times she comes back on the last bus. The last bus reach here around 10:30 after 10 so. I know the young man's mother take care of the baby while the young lady goes to work."
But yesterday, that wasn't the case. Our information is that the baby's step grandmother had to go to Belize City to run some errands and she left the baby with her son at their house from 8:00 in the morning and returned around 5:00. It is during that time that the baby was abused. Residents say they didn't hear or see anything out of the ordinary.
Voice of Resident
"I was out in the yard yesterday evening and I didn't see anything out of the way to say is abnormal."
But the family and residents found out later that something was very wrong. When the step grandmother came back in the evening, her son – the baby's stepfather raced over and told her that the baby was not responding.
They then rushed the baby Maskall Health Center and then over to the KHMH.
Our information is that the culprit penetrated the baby vaginally and anally allegedly using a finger. The baby also had bruises on her body as well as bruised blood in her eye – indicating that the baby was struck to head. It is a devastating case – more so because the baby can't talk yet. So there's no way of finding out from the child who the culprit is. Police have detained the stepfather at this point because he was the last person in care of the baby. But residents say they just can't believe that this man – a person they have known all their life – would do something so vile.
Voice of Resident
"I could never expect something like this to happen because the young man doesn't strike me as somebody. When you see he, he always the play or if he is not playing, he is playing his music. I wouldn't never though that something like that, this cruel to a baby so small and innocent not even know anything about life yet. It just sad I can't really... I know him from he is small and his pa was a really strict person with him, it really shocking, really shocking that he would, I don't think he would do something like this but yet you never know what people are capable of doing, you never know what they have up in them."
Courtney Weatherburne
"He also comes from a very religious family as well."
Voice of Resident
"Yes his mom and his dad are Jehovah's Witness and he even grow up in it because I know for a fact his mom always take each and everyone of them to church with them every Sunday."
It is certainly hard to fathom and even put into words what was done to this baby girl.
Voice of Resident
"It really really hurt me to see that baby damaged for life now."
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