Convicted murderer, Jared Ranguy, was given three life sentences this morning by Hugh Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim. Ranguy pleaded guilty to the murders of his mother, Karen Skeen, his sister, Teena Skeen, and his stepfather, Robert Vellos, in Ladyville in November 2012. In court, the relatives of the deceased persons sobbed as Ranguy admitted that he killed the victims without provocation.
His guilty plea came after having gotten a sentence indication, meaning that he decided to plead guilty without going to a trial.
Justice Nigel Pilgrim ordered that these sentences run concurrently, meaning Ranguy must serve 37 years before being eligible for parole. His nearly 12 years on remand will be deducted, so he will face a parole board after serving an additional 25 years.
In an interview, Krystal Holder Skeen expressed that while Ranguy has not shown true remorse, his sentencing brings them closer to peace. She questioned why Ranguy did not feel the need to offer an oral apology in court.
Attorney Orson Elrington has been ordered to pay a fine of fifteen thousand dollars by the General Legal Council (GLC). Of that amount, five thousand dollars will be paid to Pastor Dozie. Elrington is instructed to pay the fine by August 30th, 2024.
Elrington was also ordered to pay forty-six thousand dollars, five hundred and eighty-eight dollars, to Pastor Dozie on or before the close of business on July 19, 2024. If Elrington does not pay the fine or the amount due to Pastor Dozie on the due dates, he will be suspended from practising law until payment in full is made.
On April 19th, the General Legal Council found attorney Elrington guilty of grave professional misconduct for breaching rules 4, 14, and 22.
The case arose from a complaint by Pastor Dozie, who alleged that Elrington settled a claim without his consent. Dozie provided evidence, including original documents and WhatsApp conversations, while Elrington failed to produce original engagement letters and relied on a paralegal for client communication. The Council found discrepancies in Elrington’s testimony and referred the case to the police for further investigation.
Dozie had retained Elrington in 2023 to file a claim against the Social Security Board for denying his application for a survivor’s grant. Elrington negotiated a settlement of $46,588 but did not pay any portion to Dozie. Elrington claimed Dozie did not provide bank account details, but Dozie confirmed he never approved the settlement terms and did not give banking details.
The Council found inconsistencies in Elrington’s documentation, noting that signatures on the alleged second engagement letter appeared identical to the first, suggesting possible forgery. This raised concerns about Elrington’s credibility and conduct as an attorney.
News Five has reached out to Elrington for comment.
It was a weekend of tragedy across the country after several fatal road traffic accidents resulted in the death of eight individuals. Southern Belize saw the deaths of three people on Friday, while four perished near Carmelita on Sunday morning and lastly, one person was killed near Harmonyville also in the wee small hours of Sunday. In the North, two families are now grieving the loss of their loved ones after a collision on the Phillip Goldson Highway resulted in the deaths of two parents and two sons. They are, Cecelio de Jesus Arana and his son Alan Arana of Orange Walk Town, as well as Aurora Angelita Chi and her son, Gustavo Chi of Palmar Village. This incident is one of several fatal road traffic accidents that occurred over the weekend, totaling to eight deaths. A.C.P. Hilberto Romero tells us that police are still investigating the cause of the accident. Here’s more on that.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
If you happen to be driving along the Phillip Goldson Highway, you may spot something out of the ordinary on the ground around mile forty-five. What may appear to be litter at first glance, is a small memorial to pay tribute to the lives lost over the weekend in a deadly road traffic accident. A total of four people were killed and at least two were injured. A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander of the Eastern Division details the incident.
“On Sunday, the fourteenth day of July, 2024, there was a fatal accident between miles forty-five and forty-six on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Police responded where they saw a Mitsubishi Montero vehicle and a Pontiac SUV extensively damaged. Persons were treated and taken to the K.H.M.H. At the scene police also saw the lifeless body of a female. At the conclusion, police then visited the hospital where it was confirmed that Cecilio Arana, Aurora Chi, Gustavo Chi, and Alan Arana all passed away as a result of the fatal RTA. A police officer Andy Garcia, received serious injuries and is being treated And he’s in critical condition at this time.”
The grey vehicle was being driven by forty-one-year-old Cecilio Jesus de Arana and was heading in the direction of Belize City. The black SUV, which was travelling in the direction of Orange Walk, was driven by thirty-nine-year-old Jesus Chi. Police are still investigating the cause of the collision.
Reporter
“Any idea what led to this RTA?”
Hilberto Romero
“Again, this matter is under investigation. The scene was processed, sketch plan was drawn. And we will review the file thereafter to see who is at fault and if any charges will be levied. All persons are receiving treatment at this time.”
The deaths of the four individuals have taken significant emotional tolls on their families, who are now grieving the loss of two beloved family members at the same time. Among those impacted are also friends and community members. Gustavo Chi, one of the deceased, was a teacher at Orange Walk Technical High School at the time of his passing and hailed as an active community member. We spoke with Alberto Tutt, a former student of Chi, who spoke fondly of his teacher.
Alberto Tutt
Alberto Tutt, Former Student of Gustavo Chi
“Mister Gustavo Chi was my literature teacher in first and second form. And to be honest, he was the best teacher in Orange Walk Technical High School and I mean that in the most respectful way possible because he was always so energetic and he always made sure that his students did his work even if he yelled at us every now and then. But he did his best to make sure that we gave our best at performing our best at every piece of work he would give us. Especially when it came to reading books he would encourage all of his students to read books even if they weren’t demanded by the school and that’s why we all loved him at Orange Walk Technical High School.”
Tutt explained that the news of his teacher’s demise spread quickly among the students, who were shocked and saddened by the sudden passing.
Alberto Tutt
“It hit very hard when we found out that he died yesterday morning and everyone was calling me saying that mister is dead. I was like, wow, that’s odd. So it was very heartbreaking news yesterday in the morning. He was a very creative person. He always loved filming his little TikTok videos every now and then. Or he would, we would ask him to participate in a video and he would gladly do it with us. But the most that he could do, or even if he was tired, he would show that he wasn’t tired, but he was very clearly tired most of the time.”
Police officer, Andy Garcia, was critically injured in the incident and is currently receiving treatment at the K.H.M.H. Garcia’s family and colleagues have appealed to the public to make a blood donation to the hospital to contribute to his recovery. Britney Gordon for News Five.
On Friday night, tragedy struck the Tush family of Aguacate Village, while they were on the Southern Highway returning home from a night of celebrating a child’s birthday. Twelve family members left the village that evening inside a Toyota pickup truck and made their way to Punta Gorda Town for dinner to celebrate Michael Tush’s fifth birthday. On their way back, the pickup truck driven by fifty-one-year-old Jose Tush collided into a Ford F- 350. Forty-Three-Year-Old Emilio Lizama was driving that vehicle. Upon impact, the passengers of the Toyota were violently flung from the pickup. At the time there were seven minors, including one teenager and four adults, inside. Unfortunately, three people succumbed to injuries sustained from the collision. They are fifty-one-year-old Jose Tush, his daughter seventeen-year-old Renita Tush and five-year-old Michael Tush whose birthday the family was celebrating. We spoke with one family member over the phone about the tragedy.
On the Phone: Primo Tush
On the Phone: Primo Tush, Relative of Deceased
“They were heading from Punta Gorda, heading to Aguacate Village and when they were between Elridgeville and Jacintoville they encountered someone on a bicycle and after passing that person on the bicycle they encountered a vehicle coming in the opposite direction with no light and then all of a sudden the driver turned on his light and flashed it directly in front of my brother which caused brief loss of his vision and that led to him losing control of the vehicle. They live in Aguacate Village, but it was the child that died birthday. It was his birthday so they decided that as a family they would head into town for dinner and that is when this happened. So far there are still two in the hospital, one is in Punta Gorda Hospital, and one is in K.H.M.H. in a very critical condition.”
Reporter
“How old is that at K.H.M.H.?”
On the Phone: Primo Tush
“The one at K.H.M.H. is six years old. When I got the message, I was very heartbroken. I was not expecting it because the last time I spoke with my brother was like two days ago. He asked me to come home, please come home and that is what ran through my mind. He asks me to come home and it is very heartbreaking. Of course we want justice for my brother and the minor and teenager that passed away. We need good investigation to get to the bottom of this. Losing three family members is not something easy. It is very hard and my sister-in-law is still in shock right now and we are trying to come together to come together and support each other. So, we are asking the relevant authority to look into this matter seriously and we are asking them to please assist us in speeding up the postmortem examination so that we can lay my brother and nephew and niece to rest in peace.”
Anyone wishing to assist the Tush family with mounting medical expenses can contact them at six, two, nine, eight, six, three, two.
We also heard from Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero on this tragic incident. A.C.P. Romero revealed that the driver of the second vehicle remains hospitalized. Police are waiting for the survivors to be released from the hospital to probe further into what exactly transpired.
“On Friday the twelfth day of July 2024, police responded to a fatal road traffic accident between the villages of Eldridgeville and Hacintoville in the Toledo District. Upon arrival they saw a Ford 350 pickup and a Toyota pickup excessively damaged, several person’s received injuries, they were taken for treatment. Day after, police visited the hospital where Renita Tush, Jose Tush, Tyrone Tush were all pronounced dead at the Punta Gorda Hospital. Investigation is being carried out into this fatal road traffic accident. The other driver is receiving treatment at this time.”
Reporter
“And then, investigators identified maybe any weather conditions or any conditions of the road that you believe may play a part in this accident in anyway?”
Hilberto Romero
“No, at this time, statements will be recorded as several persons are injured or getting treatment at the hospital, and at the end of the investigation we’ll make a determination on what will happen next.”
Reporter
“Was It a matter of losing control or overtaking?”
Hilberto Romero
“The information is that the person was overtaking and did no make it in time and collided into the other vehicle.”
Reporter
“Are you able to say which one of the drivers that is, or which one of the vehicles?”
Hilberto Romero
“The person that was overtaking at the time was Jose Tush.”
News Five was contacted by a source at the Southern Regional Hospital. The person explained that in the early hours of this morning, two individuals were involved in a traffic accident four miles outside of Dangriga. The incident prompted an urgent response from local medical staff.
The person explained that nurses on duty at the time heard the vehicle’s horn and immediately recognised the situation as an emergency. They swiftly opened the front door with a hospital bed to assist the patients, who were then placed on beds and secured inside the facility. The door was locked to prevent other patients from gathering in the area.
Despite these precautions, attempts were made to force entry through another door and window. The police were contacted after midnight and arrived at the emergency room after 2 a.m.
Due to the severity of their injuries, the patients needed to be transferred to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). The nurse and driver left without security escort. Meanwhile, threats were made against the staff by individuals attempting to gain access to the emergency room.
There were three female nurses and two doctors on duty at the time. Although security personnel were present, they were unarmed, necessitating the call to the police. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was informed of the incident this morning and has pledged to look into the matter.
Adding to the challenges faced, it was noted that the emergency room’s security camera was not operational at the time of the incident.
A tragic road traffic accident in Toledo claimed the lives of three family members, including a man, his daughter, and his grandson. Twelve people were involved in the incident, with two minors still hospitalised and one in critical condition at KHMH.
The accident occurred as the family travelled from Punta Gorda to Aguacate Village. The crash was triggered when an oncoming vehicle with no lights suddenly flashed its lights, causing the driver, Jose Tush, to lose control while attempting to overtake. The collision resulted in extensive damage to both a Ford 350 pickup and a Toyota pickup.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero provided details, stating that police responded to the accident between Eldridgeville and Jacintoville on July 12, 2024. Several individuals sustained injuries and were taken for treatment. Renita Tush, Jose Tush, and Michael Tush were pronounced dead at the Punta Gorda Hospital. The family was out celebrating Tyrone’s fifth birthday.
Jose and Reinita Tush
ACP Romero noted that the driver of the second vehicle remains hospitalized. The police are waiting for the survivors to recover before probing further into the circumstances of the crash. Romero confirmed that the accident occurred due to overtaking and that the investigation will continue to determine the final details.
Primo Tush, a relative of the deceased, expressed the family’s heartbreak and called for a thorough investigation. He urged authorities to expedite the postmortem examinations to allow the family to lay their loved ones to rest.
If you want to assist the family with funeral expenses, you can deposit a donations into Belize Bank account number 231010010160000.
Christopher Coye, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment, represented Belize at a meeting of Central American Governors convened by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Guatemala City earlier this month. The gathering focused on the “America En El Centro: Development Program for Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic – 2024-2030.”
Minister Christopher Coye
The programme aims to address significant regional challenges such as low productivity, social disparities, fiscal constraints, and climate vulnerability, complementing national efforts by fostering cross-border development across Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. Key priorities include enhancing productivity and economic integration, bolstering climate resilience, and promoting opportunities for women and youth through targeted investments.
During the meeting, Minister Coye emphasized Belize’s interest in establishing a new road infrastructure between Central America and Southeastern Mexico (Yucatan and Quintana Roo) via Jalacte, Belize, to serve as a vital logistics corridor. This initiative seeks to improve market access to Southeastern Mexico and CARICOM nations, potentially unlocking substantial trade and investment opportunities for Belize and the wider region. Additionally, Minister Coye expressed Belize’s intention to join the regional electricity transmission grid system (SIEPAC).
Minister Coye also engaged in discussions with Mr. Francisco Lima Mena, Secretary General of the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIECA), regarding Belize’s aspiration to become an observer member of SIECA. This status would enable Belize to actively participate in and stay informed about regional economic integration efforts, including initiatives such as the Regional Master Plan 2035 on Mobility and Logistics.
The People’s National Party (PNP) is urging the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Infrastructure to take decisive action by allocating the necessary funds for the proper demarcation of lines on the Thomas Vincent Highway.
The plea comes after this weekend’s fatal traffic accident, which claimed three lives. The PNP says the heartbreaking incident has underscored an urgent need for immediate government intervention.
The PNP says attention is needed for the stretch near Elridgeville village where the recent accident occurred, described as dangerously dark and lacking essential traffic markings.
“The absence of lights and highway markings has tragically contributed to Friday night’s incident,” stated the PNP via a press release.
“It is unacceptable that the highway lines have not been repainted in over twenty years,” the PNP added.
The PNP is demanding that effective measures be implemented immediately to safeguard lives along this critical route.
The 2024 Miss African Queen Pageant was held in Belize City on Saturday, with six contestants participating.
Hypolita Usher was chosen as this year’s Miss Afrikan Queen. The first runner-up was Xenobia Young, while the second runner-up was Jessel Lauriano.
This annual event aims to deepen Belizean women’s connection to their African roots by celebrating physical traits linking them to the continent and showcasing cultural diversity through attire and dance.
Usher represented Uganda because she was drawn to the country’s appreciation for full-figured women and cultural similarities with Belize.
The event not only celebrates African ancestry in Belize but also underscores its pervasive influence in daily life—from traditional practices in fishing and agriculture to the shared languages and music that bind communities.
