19-Year-old Rapes and Holds Ex-Girlfriend Captive for Days

Across Belize, reports of domestic violence have been making headlines, and tonight, another disturbing case has surfaced. Police say a woman endured a horrifying ordeal between October twenty-second and twenty-fourth. She claims her nineteen-year-old ex-boyfriend, Jessie Garbutt, held her captive and raped her repeatedly. According to the victim, she went to his home and was told she couldn’t leave unless they had sex. After the assault, she managed to briefly contact a friend, but the call ended when Garbutt allegedly took her phone. ASP Stacy Smith says police finally rescued the woman after her common-law husband filed a missing person’s report.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On the twenty-eight of October  2025, police formerly arrested and charge Jesse Garbutt, a nineteen-year-old Belizean of Orange Walk, for the crime of rape being three counts. and the crime of kidnapping. The arrest of Mr. Garbutt follows a report made by a female who stated that she would have visited Mr. Garbutt’s residence and upon seeking to leave, certain demands were made of her.”

 

Reporter

“How did police know because, she tried to call for help, but he’s prevented her. How did police end up finding out that she was being held there?”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“What preceded police’s arrival at that location was a report of a missing person being made by the common law husband of the particular female, and upon checking possible locations, miss the victim in this instance was located and she would have indicated certain thing to the police at that time, and having recorded a statement from her and provided it to the office of the DPP for directive. The officers were directed to live the charges that were levied.”

 

Reporter

“What is her condition like?”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“Relatively well, physical condition, at least superficially.”