Early this morning, San Pedro police recorded their first murder of the year when they found a woman bleeding from the neck at the entrance to an apartment complex in the San Juan area. The 23 year old worked as a waitress at a local bar and investigators believe that Honduran Johana Samantha Mendez's killer waited for her at the entrance to her apartment. So who would want her dead and why? Emanuel Pech travelled to San Pedro to look for answers:
Investigators in San Pedro are still grappling with the case of 23 year old Johana Samantha Mendez Barrios a Honduran National who was fatally stabbed early this morning. The incident occurred around 5 am here at the Parish Apartment Complex in the Boca del Rio area. The owner of the complex who refused to speak to us on camera said that she has known Johana for the past two years; since she started renting with her. In all her years of knowing Johana she said she always appeared to her as a friendly person who kept to herself. So who would want her dead? That's what authorities are trying to find out.
Supt. Sandra Bowden - O. C. San Pedro/ Caye Caulker
"This morning sometime between 5 and 5:45am, police was called out to the Basil Parish Apartment Complex in the San Juan area of San Pedro Town where they found one female with a cut wound to her throat. She was assisted to the hospital where she later died at the polyclinic."
The attack started here inside her room. There was no forced entry and police say that the key to her room was found still lodged inside the lock. Neighbors said they heard strange noises coming from her apartment but by the time anyone came out to help the damage had been done and her attacker had already fled the scene.
Voice of: Witness - Honduran Murdered
"She was just walking down the stairs. I followed her and she was knocking on her friend's door."
Her bloody finger prints still mark her friend's doorsteps, a reminder of the violence she experienced. But why? Well one of her neighbor's alleges that she said they attempted to rape her.
Voice of: Witness - Honduran Murdered
"I asked her what happened and then she said that they tried to rape her."
Emanuel Pech
"Those were her last words?"
Voice of: Witness - Honduran Murdered
"She just says I'm dying."
Emanuel Pech
"What did you see?"
Voice of: Witness - Honduran Murdered
"She was holding her neck and bathing in her own blood. Then her friend was holding her trying to stop the bleeding."
Emanuel Pech
"You guys attempted to call the police."
Voice of: Witness - Honduran Murdered
"About 5:04, we attempted to call the police, but then like 5:06 - 5:10, we call again. They said they were on their way but never came. So, the neighbor brought his golf cart and that's when the police came. She was still alive."
By she got to the hospital there was nothing that could have been done. Authorities say her blood was diluted from recently consuming alcohol. Johana is a Honduran National and has no known relatives in country. The only connection she has in Belize is that she worked as a waitress here, at the Compadres bar, an establishment known for its after dark commercial activities. Still police have no motive or suspects for her murder.
Supt. Sandra Bowden - O. C. San Pedro/ Caye Caulker
"At this time the investigation is still young. We have some information that we are working on and as soon as we have more, then we would be able to give an update."
Reporting for 7 news Emanuel Pech.
Police have a main suspect, a male who they believe was harassing her because she didn't want a relationship with him. Police believe she was also robbed of more than five hundred dollars.
We are told that Johana Samantha Mendez had a 2 year old child in Honduras. The Honduran Embassy is communicating with her family in Ceiba. Notably, the first murder in San Pedro last year was also a Honduran female who was a bar worker.
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