Police Rescue Kidnapped Girl in Stann Creek

After months of uncertainty, a missing teenage girl is finally safe, but the danger may not be over. Police say a joint security operation in the Stann Creek District led to the rescue of a kidnapped fourteen year old Guatemalan girl who had been reported missing since January. While authorities successfully recovered the child during an early morning operation, the main suspect slipped away and is still on the run. Tonight, police are sharing new and troubling details about the case. ASP Stacy Smith has more.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Tuesday twenty-first April at approximately 3:45 a.m. a joint Belize Police Department and Belize Special Assignment Group, BSAG, successfully executed operation Safe Return at a farm located behind San Roman Village in the Stann Creek District. The operation resulted in the successful rescue of a kidnapped Guatemalan female minor being fourteen years of age. This female minor was reported missing in Peten Guatemala in January of 2026. The operation was launched after intelligence was received as to the location of the minor and given the terrain involved, a decision was made to involve the Belize Special Assignment Group. The team of officers visited the location, however the suspect who is now being sought, namely Jose Gilberto Duarte, was able to flee. However we were able to rescue the female. As a part of the investigation, we have also communicated with our Guatemalan counterparts and we have also involved the Human Service Department in relation to victim care and repatriation.”

 

ASP Smith confirmed that the minor had no relations with her captor and that she was being held against her will.

 

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