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And in news of another high profile missing persons case…

On Tuesday, you heard from Jose Espat and Anisha Young’s family. Espat revealed all the evidence he has gathered so far and called on the police to step up and do their job. Well today at the press briefing, Cowo addressed a couple points Espat discussed including DNA testing.  He assured the family that the police will update the family if they get any new information on Young’s case.

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"I will tell you that we don't have an update in regards to that investigation and we act upon information that we receive. The last information that we had received, it was went along with the family members to that same specific area and we did a complete search of that area for an entire day and I do not know if they have received any other information but I think that I met with them last week Friday and I discussed with them the status of the investigation and I explained to them certain things. Yes I do understand their frustration, however they know that Mr. Williams has assured them and I have assured them that in the event they have any other information, they can always contact us and give us that information. So we are always there to assist them."

Reporter
"Did the family indicate to you that they would prefer to pay for the DNA testing to be done because they don't want to wait 6 months to have a result come back while the case is going colder?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes the person of Mr. Espat, I believe that is representing the family has approached and he has asked if we can provide them on the information of the fee for the DNA to be conducted. I have informed that it is something that we do not deal with it, it is the forensic lab. I cannot tell them if it’s 1 thousand, 2 thousand or 3 thousand dollars, I do not know the figure but I had advised them that they can seek help from the forensic department, they are the ones that normally take these samples abroad to do the different DNA testing. I had also mentioned to him and I know that the lab is willing to give them a sample if they do want of the remains that were found, if they want to do an independent analysis. However, in the event that is done and if we have a breakthrough in the case, that cannot be used as part of the evidence, it has to follow the police procedures and the guidelines that we follow."