7 News Belize

Woman Security Guard Murdered, But No Robbery Attempt, Was Talbott Targeted?
posted (June 17, 2019)
Another security guard has been shot and killed - the second in 8 days, and this time it's a woman. 40 year old Cerberus security guard Marcia Talbott also known as "Coco" was on duty at the Bowen and Bowen Crystal Bottling Company in Ladyville. Early Sunday morning gunmen crept up near the compound and opened fire on the security booth, hitting Talbott twice to the head and striking 45 year old Bermudian Landing resident Mansa Baptist to the back. Talbott was killed instantly and Baptist is at the hospital. Courtney Weatherburne has more on this ruthless attack and the possible motives. Here's her story.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
It might have seemed like an ordinary day at Bowen and Bowen's Crsytal Bottling Company in Ladyville but really, there is nothing normal about coming to work and finding out that one of the security guards was shot and killed on the compound while the other is hospitalized. Security guards Marcia Talbott and Mansa Baptist were on duty on Saturday night and at around 4:00 Sunday morning, gunmen pounced on them - shooting Talbott to the head, killing her and hitting Baptist to the back.

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"At the entrance of the gate about 2 yards away from the gate there is a small security booth and inside of the booth police found the motionless body of a female person who was later identified as Marcia Sherie Talbott, security guard for Bowen and Bowen and about sixty feet away from her, there was another guy by the name of Mansa Baptist, also lying on the ground with apparent gunshot wounds to his body."

"What police believe is that whilst they were conducting their security work inside of the Bowen and Bowen compound, persons entered from behind the fence, like from the BDF camp, and as a result proceeded and fired shots at the two persons causing the death of Ms. Talbott and injuring Mr. Baptist."

At first glance, this attack may seem like just another robbery or burglary gone wrong but that is not the case. A statement released by Bowen and Bowen states, quote "Neither factory compound in Ladyville keeps cash or valuables, and there were no signs of attempted forced entry." The police confirmed this and are looking at a work dispute between Talbott and Bowen and Bowen employees as well as a dispute over an estate involving Talbott as possible motives.

ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC, CIB
"The building was checked and there is no sign of entry into any of the buildings inside of the compound and what we understand so far is that she had been recently receiving threats in regards to some dispute at work and that is one of the possible motives that we are looking at this moment."

Reporter
"When you say disputes at work you mean that the security company or at Bowen and Bowen?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"With the employees of Bowen and Bowen."

Reporter
"There are also rumors out there that she was the next of kin for someone who had died quite suddenly, her ex-husband, but with whom she remained legally married. This is street talk, but is there anything to that that she was the next of kin or the executor of an estate of a deceased person?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well yes, I am aware that her husband passed away, I think it is like three months now, and there was some dispute amongst the family member as to the estate that the man left behind as he, at the time of his death, was living with someone else and not with the deceased. I know that they were going through some legal dispute in the court in regard to the estate that the man left behind."

Reporter
"And she was supposed to appear in court this week, am I right?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"I believe so."

Reporter
"Is that also an angle that you all are looking at?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes it is another angle that we are looking at."

When we spoke to Talbott's family in Double Head Cabbage, her sister said they know of no dispute Talbott was involved in, only that she did not deserve to die in such a cruel way.

Stephanie Talbott, Sister
"No, not really. She didn't tell us that she was going through any problem or anything. we don't know about any threat or anything. She didn't tell us anything like that. We don't know why they killed her or who killed her, but we want justice, because she was a jovial person and she didn't deserve to die that way. That's all we are asking. We are hoping the police could help us in finding giving us justice, because it's hard to lose a loved in that kind of way - that kind of fashion. She loved to play softball. If you had met her, you would have liked her. It can't be any worse because we lost our father and it was on father's day that we lost her. So it's just too much to bear."

Talbott did not have any children. As for Baptist, he took a surgery and he is stable and responding. In terms of the case, Talbott's family says nothing was stolen from her. And as you heard, there was no attempt to break into the compound. The police have no suspects and they are reviewing the surveillance cameras to assist in this case. We will keep following the story.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize