Photo: Jared Ranguy, accused of triple murder
by Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Mar. 27, 2023
One of the most shocking murder stories in Belize’s history is concluding as the accused triple murderer, 36-year-old Jared Ranguy of Ladyville, Belize District, goes to trial after spending over a decade remanded behind bars at the Belize Central Prison.
According to a previous Amandala article published in 2012, at around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 25, police responded to a call as gunshots rang out in the Ladyville area, and when they arrived they witnessed Ranguy, armed with a machete in his hand, screaming.
When police searched the home, they discovered a black bag containing a silver and black Taurus pistol loaded with one live round, an orange knife with a 7-inch blade, a T-shirt, and black trousers – all hidden in the attic. All the items found were covered with blood.
Also in the home were the bodies of three persons, Ranguy’s mother, 51-year-old Karen Skeen-Vellos; her husband, 72-year-old Richard Vellos; and her daughter, 32-year-old Teena Skeen.
Ranguy was initially given a triple murder charge and was scheduled to appear in court the following year. However, almost a decade has passed and the case has yet to be heard until now.
Today, Monday, March 27, 2023, he appeared before Justice Ricardo O’Neil Sandcroft in the Supreme Court in Belize City with his attorney, OJ Elrington, who asked the judge what would be the sentence if Ranguy were to plead guilty.
Sandcroft responded with three life imprisonment terms with the possibility of parole only after serving 40 years, which will be 30 years due to his having served 10 years on remand. He then adjourned the case for Thursday, March 29, when Elrington will indicate whether his client will plead guilty and accept the sentence or fight it.
If he pleads not guilty, a triple murder trial will begin against Ranguy and led by the crown counsel, Porsha Staine-Ferguson.