SAN IGNACIO, Cayo District, Tues. Feb. 11, 2020– Javan Moody, 23, a laborer of Lords Bank, Belize District, has been remanded until May 13, for the murder of his girlfriend, American national Ariana Jones Bejerano, 31. He was arraigned at the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court today, Tuesday, before Magistrate Ladonna John. His attorney was Hurl Hamilton and the prosecutor was Corporal Joseph Parham.
No plea was taken from him because the matter is indictable and can only be tried at the Supreme Court.
Police allege that Moody murdered Bejerano on Saturday night, February 8, in her house in San Ignacio. According to police, Moody was socializing with Bejerano and later stabbed her multiple times in the chest and abdomen.
Moody was arrested and charged with murder. He was arraigned at the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court on Friday morning.
Police said that on Saturday night Moody and Bejerano were socializing in her house in San Ignacio, where she was stabbed to death. After the stabbing, Moody took Bejerano’s vehicle to Belize City about 1:30 Sunday morning and returned at about 5:00 that same morning, after which he went to the police. He was reportedly seen with blood in his hair; also, there were bite marks on him, and there was a cut on his hand.
One of Bejerano’s friends, who was present in court for the arraignment, told the media that Bejerano treated Moody well, and Moody should take responsibility for killing her.
Police said that while Moody was with Bejerano in her house that night, neighbors heard her screaming for help, and afterwards, there was silence, and shortly after that, the neighbors heard her vehicle being driven away at about 1:30 Sunday morning.
Moody, for his part, told police that he found his girlfriend dead in her house.
ACP Joseph Myvett said that when Moody went to the station and reported the murder, they went with him to the house and found Ariana Betancourt lying face-down on the floor in her apartment, in pools of her blood. In addition to her being stabbed multiple times, a mattress had been thrown on top of her.
The motive for the murder is not yet known. ACP Joseph Myvett said that excessive alcohol consumption may have played a role in the murder.
Feature photo: Ariana Iris Jones Bejerano, deceased and Jovan Moody, boyfriend