St. Matthews Village, Cayo District, Mon, May 10, 2021– A mother and her 3-year-old son were reportedly burned to death in the village of St. Matthews when their home was set on fire. Her ex-common law husband is the prime suspect.
According to police reports, this heinous act of arson-turned-murder occurred sometime before 11:00 o’clock on Friday night. The house of 36-year-old Kendra Middleton was burnt to the ground, while she and her three-year-old child, Aiden Perez, were inside. They both perished.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, the blaze had already destroyed the house. Upon examining the building, the police found the charred remains of Middleton and her son inside one of the house’s bedrooms. Based on the initial evidence they gathered, the police believe this was no accident.
Neighbors of Middleton claim that at the time of the incident, around 10:30 p.m., her ex-common-law husband, Demas Joel Mendez, was seen at the home, demanding that she let him enter. The police believe that, after being denied entry to the house, he set the house on fire, causing the brutal death of Middleton and her 3-year-old son.
Middleton’s family believes that another sequence of events might have occurred. Dana Lewis, the aunt of Middleton, says that the family, after examining the scene, observed large pools of blood — indicating that Mendez had gained access to the building, killed the two occupants, and set the home ablaze to cover his tracks. Senior Superintendent of the Police Department, Hilberto Romero, refused to indicate in detail what was observed at the site, but he dismissed the scenario described by Middleton’s family.
Lewis said that she had learned of her niece’s death via a phone call on the day after the fire. Upon arriving at the site the aunt was shocked and filled with rage, after seeing the alleged perpetrator at the scene. Reports say that Mendez, after denying his involvement, later turned himself in and confessed to the crime.
Lewis claims the relationship was very abusive. She further stated that Mendez had said that if he couldn’t have Middleton, no one else would get her. Kendra had previously made reports of domestic abuse to the Police Department. Sr.Supt. Romero said the matter had been investigated after those reports were made, but refused to refer to any specific policing efforts that had been made. It was notably stated, however, that no restraining order was apparently in place at the time of the incident.
“Kendra was a very jovial person, outgoing, always giving jokes,” said Lewis. Despite their intense grief, Lewis said, “We would like to say thank you to everybody that supported, prayed, texted and called. The love has been so outpouring.” The family continues to ask for prayers for their beloved Kendra Middleton and Aiden Perez.
Mendez has since been arrested and charged with two counts of murder and a charge of arson.