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Burrell Boom Couple Ambushed And Killed, Was It Car Deal Gone Bad?
posted (January 21, 2025)
Two families are left shattered and bewildered after a double murder in Crooked Tree. The victims were a couple: 40 year old Adelita Gillett and 37 year old Felix Martinez, residents of Burrell Boom who were reportedly on their way to pick up a large sum of money that was owed to them by a car dealer.

While specifics on the motive are unclear at this time, what their extended network of friends and family know is that this couple did not deserve such a callous death. Though their families and neighbors declined interviews, they explained off record that Gillett and Martinez were focused on bettering themselves and making the best life possible for their child.

It's a tragedy with few answers to a cascade of questions, and one that has left a little boy without both his parents. Courtney Menzies spoke to colleagues of the victims and has this story.

40 year old Adelita Gillett and 37 year old Felix Martinez's story began over a decade ago when they met and started dating. But that story ended last night when their bodies were discovered in a vehicle near mile 31 on the Phillip Goldson Highway.

The couple and their 10 year old son lived in Burrell Boom and would normally go right home after work. This led their family members to wonder what they were doing in Crooked Tree. Initial reports say that they had paid over 30 grand for a vehicle back in October and never got it. When they demanded their money back, the car dealer reportedly told them to meet him. It seems this couple was lured to their deaths and ambushed inside their vehicle. Their Chevy Equinox bore bullet holes one both the driver's and the passenger's side.

But their family, friends, and neighbors all say the same thing: this couple was quiet, ambitious and lived a peaceful life. Gillett began working at Brodies' pharmacy 20 years ago and she worked her way up to being the pharmaceutical manager. Her colleagues say that yesterday was a normal day up until they got the news.

Maslin Hower, Marketing Supervisor
"My initial reaction, it was unbelievable. It was quite shocking, I saw the news at first and when I initially saw the report, I didn't see the picture and the names were not yet released. But after the names were released, I could not believe it. It was just surreal because we just saw her at work yesterday, so it was just devastating."

"Just coming to work today, the office was not the same. It was not a regular or normal work day because someone was missing. Her not being here, it's definitely a missing piece to Brodies, I mean having dedicated 20 years to the company, she played an integral part of the team and of the organization on a whole so definitely we're still in communication, we're still meeting to see how best we can celebrate her life, celebrate who she was and her contribution and endeavors to the company."

There were black bows placed outside her office door and on the door of the pharmacy on Albert Street. Her coworkers told us that Gillett's shoes won't be easy to fill.

Kenisha Goodings, Marketing Officer
"She is the type of person that is hands on as a manager, she's very involved with her staff and any staff member that works directly under her or even indirectly that has the opportunity to work with her will let you know that she leads with optimism and positivity. She tries to make the work environment as peaceful as it needs to be while still being a manager and letting you know let's get the job done but let's have fun while doing it, she was like a really positive person, a light to have in the office, she would interact with anybody and she was just… again it's devastating to have to experience this."

"Speaking of yesterday, I think for all of us it was a normal day at work, no one expected to have to sit with this news and experience this tragedy. Speaking to her personality and us in marketing, we're responsible for a lot, posters, banners. She'll walk in the office and be like, I need this, this, this, this and this, and then she'll end it off on a high note: if you guys have the time. Something fun. She's always, like I said, when it came to her work, she gets the job done but she lets you know, don't take life too seriously."

And on top of that, she was also dedicated to her son.

Maslin Hower, Marketing Supervisor
"She was a devoted mother. Her baby boy was her pride and joy. She went above and beyond for him. I can clearly recall, when she was prepping for his birthday party, everything that he wanted, she went out of her way to ensure that his days was exceptional. So her boy was everything to her."

And Martinez was also devoted to their child. He had started working at Brodies - which is where they met - but continued his education and recently began working as a business analyst at Belize Bank. And when he wasn't working, he was playing basketball. John Marsden, who played with him often, spoke to us about how he felt when he got the news.

John Marsden, Friend of Deceased
"Probably knew Felix, probably about 10 plus years. And just like everybody, disbelief, shocking. I mean, when they tell me, it was like I was on my way to work out and I literally just stopped and like, are you sure it's Felix, Felix, because literally Felix would have been working out with us last night."

"We have a group that goes every Monday and Wednesday to play ball together and Felix was one of those peoples. He played on the Island Ballers as over 35 team and many tournaments that we go around, Felix goes with us to play with us."

"So that was a big shocker."

Marsden also told us how he will remember his friend and fellow baller.

John Marsden, Friend of Deceased
"Him and his wife, they're always together. Every way you see Felix you would see her, everywhere you see her you would see her young little child. My heart goes out to the little child. He was always with them. They were always together. Like I told people like, Felix wouldn't want his wife with him, but I knew she would have not wanted to be not with him there. She would have wanted to be with him."

"Felix as a person, cool, cool guy, mein. The man, I've never seen Felix mad, and I've known him over the years. We basketball, we always have quarrels. Whenever we quarrel, you would see Felix go sit on a side, cross his foot, and say, we you all finish quarrel I am here, let us play back."

"When we are playing game and quarrell with each other Felix would go and sit on the end of the bench and say, it's just a game, guys. Let's go we are playing this for fun. Let's us play this and win the game, it' an easy game."

"We would always called Agent Zero. Man, was a talented basketball player. love the basketball game. And the basketball world will miss the man very much."

According to a post by the Commissioner of Police, they have one person in custody who had a "financial issue" with the couple. He added that there is nothing to indicate that the couple was involved in any criminal activity.

We note that while some media houses initially reported this crime as a murder/suicide, police have confirmed that it was indeed a double murder and a targeted attack - what would be called a hit.

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