A disturbing alleged incident near Santa Rita Park in Corozal has ignited widespread public concern over community child safety, after a local mother took to social media to accuse a former member of the Gilharry 7 group of involvement in an attempted child abduction.
According to the mother’s account, the frightening encounter unfolded when two men driving a van approached her teenage daughter and niece. She claims one of the men attempted to hold an unidentified substance close to one of the children’s faces before the confrontation escalated. Shaken by the experience, the mother streamed the incident live on social media to share her account, publicly naming the accused as a former Gilharry 7 member.
As of the latest update, however, Belizean law enforcement officials confirm no formal official report has been filed with police. Acting Staff Officer ASP Stacy Smith explained that while the mother did attend the Corozal police station on the day of the alleged incident, she was too overwhelmed by emotion to provide a formal, documented statement. “Commander Mendes of the Corozal Police Formation has directed officers to actively locate the mother and the two children to record their official statements and move forward with appropriate investigative steps,” Smith confirmed in a statement.
The mother, however, has raised sharp criticism over the police response to her report. She recounted that after she initially contacted authorities, officers promised to dispatch a mobile patrol unit to Santa Rita Park to collect evidence and survey the scene. But when she arrived at the park ahead of officers, no patrol ever showed up to the site, leaving her feeling abandoned and unsupported. “I called 911 to follow up, and officers insisted the patrol was already there, but there was no one at the park,” she shared in a phone interview. “I just couldn’t get any meaningful help from police.”
In a swift response to the public allegations, the Gilharry 7 organization has moved to distance itself from the accused, confirming that the man is no longer affiliated with the group. Representatives added that the former member has been struggling with documented mental health challenges, and the group has extended a formal apology to the affected family for the alleged incident.
Even after receiving the apology, the mother of one of the alleged child victims says she remains committed to pursuing full accountability and justice for the frightening encounter. The incident has already sparked broader conversation across the local community about gaps in child safety protocols and the responsiveness of local law enforcement to reports of threats against minors.