No Leads, 48 Hrs. After Child Disappears From School

It’s been over twenty-four hours since thirteen-year-old Lizy Suntecun vanished from her school compound in San Jose Succotz—and the search is growing more urgent by the hour. With no leads and no sign of the young girl, her family is clinging to hope, while residents of the village have rallied together, forming search parties to help bring her home. Lizy, who lives in Melchor, Guatemala with her mother, crosses the border daily with her younger siblings to attend school in her father’s village. But what started as a routine school day took a troubling turn when she reportedly left the compound during lunch, telling friends she was going with an aunt. Since then, nothing. News Five’s Paul Lopez traveled west today to find out more. Here’s his report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

It’s now been a two-full day since thirteen-year-old Lizy Suntecun vanished from the San Jose Roman Catholic Primary School, and concern is growing. According to the school’s principal, Jenri Castanaza, Lizy was part of the school’s lunchtime feeding program and had no reason to leave the compound during lunch hour. But somehow, she did and hasn’t been seen since. As the hours tick by, the search intensifies and questions mount: how did she slip away, and where could she be? 

 

Jenri Castanaza, Principal, San Jose R.C. School

“Lizzie who is a part of our feeding program sat in school and had lunch. We usually keep our back gates closed at tis time since we only have one school warden. She waited until twelve forty-five when we opened the gate since other students are returning from home and that was the time when she walked out of the school compound and left. When we noticed she was missing, the class teacher informed me that she was not in class and we immediately reportedly it to the parents, because it is not normal for her to go missing since she is a part of the program and does not leave to have lunch anywhere else.”

 

School officials say Lizy left through a back gate that’s usually unsupervised during lunch, telling a friend she was going with an aunt. But she never returned. Now, her family and authorities are zeroing in on a white pickup truck that witnesses say she was seen entering just outside the school compound. As the hours pass, her loved ones grow more desperate, hoping for any sign that Lizy is safe.

 

Oralia Rosado, Grandmother of Missing Child

“The principal went to classroom to ask if you have seen Lizzy and one girl say, Lizy told me that at twelve forty-five her aunt will come and get her. But she does not have an aunt. I don’t know why she say that. I don’t know why there is a person who take her. From now it has been two days and we have nothing if somebody take her, we don’t know that.”

 

Reporter

“What have you all done over the last two days in your search for her?”

 

Oralia Rosado

“In that day we went straight to Corozalito because there is a person who has a pickup, a white pickup and we speak to the lady she say she does not have any children going to standard five. She told us about her friend that lives at the back. When we reach there the house was closed and plenty dogs so we don’t go. We informed the police. I know a CIB was speaking to the mother like two hours and a half. They called the father speaking to him again and from then the police, nobody has done nothing.”

 

Lizy lives in Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala with her mom. She and her two siblings travelled across the border daily, with the assistance of their dad in village, to attend school. A small group of village residents, led by Armando Cocom, formed a search party today in support of the family.

 

Armando Cocom, Resident, San Jose Succotz

“Like how you say it has struck the community. The community is mourning right now. They are suffering with the family and any assistance given to them would be really appreciated. It is very sad that this is happening in our beautiful village. It is not the first time I am doing this, I have helped other families sin regard of this matter. I have kids and I would not like something like this happening to anyone of my kids. We need to take this and try and assist the families, because it is a serious matter and we should be working together and assist the family in this matter.”

The San Jose R.C. School compound is not equipped with surveillance camera. According to principal Castanaza, monitoring sixty children participating in the feeding program is a challenge for the kitchen staff, a hand full of teachers who stay behind and a single school warden. Principal Castanaza says the entire school is shocked and saddened by Lizy’s disappearance, while acknowledging the need for increased security on the compound.

 

Paul Lopez

“There are reports of a white vehicle. Did anyone from the school, perhaps one of your teachers, saw her enter a white vehicle?”

 

Jenri Castanaza

“Unfortunately, no one saw her leaving. The only reports I have received is from the classmate who told me the people waiting on her was in a white vehicle. According to the student, it was a female, a male and a child that was in that vehicle.”

 

Oralia Rosado

“We ask the people all over Belize, make they help us. If somebody see something please call me. My number is six, six, one, fifty-eight, fifty-five.”

 

Tonight, the search continues, and the questions only grow. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.