Photo: Jared Ranguy

by Roy Davis

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Mar. 30, 2023

The trial of Jared Ranguy, 36, charged with triple murder, was set to start today in the court of Justice Ricardo Sandcroft, but it was adjourned until May 2 when Ranguy fired his attorney, Orson “OJ” Elrington, after he had declined Elrington’s offer to plead guilty to the charges. Elrington, who was appointed by the court, was at least the fifth attorney assigned by the court to represent Ranguy, who fired all of them.

Ranguy, who will be represented by another attorney, Leslie Hamilton, when he returns to court to answer the charges, will be brought back to court tomorrow for mention. Justice Sandcroft told Ranguy that regardless of what occurs tomorrow, his trial will proceed on the adjourned date.

The charges against Ranguy arose from an incident that occurred about 3:00 a.m. on November 25, 2012, at the residence of his victims and himself, located on Marage Road in Ladyville. He allegedly shot his sister, Teena Beth Skeen, his step-father, Robert Vellos, Sr., and stabbed his mother, Karen Skeen-Vellos, multiple times. The police reported that when they arrived at the house they found the deceased victims lying on the floor in their bedrooms. The accused killer reportedly attempted to make it appear that it was a case of home invasion. But, according to the police, their investigation revealed that it was an inside job.

Ranguy has been in prison since 2012, and he was offered a bail of $30,000 with 2 sureties of the same amount, which he has been unable to meet.

While he was in court today, he stood in the dock and told Justice Sandcroft that he has been put on suicide watch, but he loves himself and he has no desire to kill himself. “I read my Bible every day,” he said.

The attorneys who have represented Ranguy prior to the appointment of Hamilton are Leroy Banner, Leslie Mendez, Rachel Juan, Arthur Saldivar and OJ Elrington. Crown Counsel Portia Ferguson is representing the Crown.