Garbutt, 21, goofing with his alleged accomplice, Faith Dueck, 18.
Garbutt; fourth from left
Friday, March 21, 2014
Things quickly unraveled after news broke around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 20th that Kayla Burgess, 24 of Indpendence Village had been kidnapped.
Burgess a recent graduate from the University of Belize in Belmopan, left her home in Independence village, Stann Creek District sometime on Thursday morning in her Kia Sorento en route to Belmopan. Her early departure didn’t raise any alarm bells but as families do, Kayla checked in with her brother around midday. She seemed to be in good spirits and nothing seemed ominous.
According to a report carried by Patrick Jones, Kayla informed her brother, Caral Pandy that she was heading out west to Bullet Tree Falls village in the Cayo District. A cousin who spoke with Kayla face to face in Belmopan around the same time on Thursday also reported that she was told by Kayla was on her way to Bullet Tree to meet with someone. When questioned by her cousin about her mission in Bullet Tree since it was assumed that she was unfamiliar with the area or anyone from the area, Kayla only said she was going to meet someone there.
We assume that Kayla left Belmopan alone in her vehicle and headed west early afternoon after speaking with her brother, mother and cousin. Things got pretty murky and alarm bells went off round, 4:00 p.m. (Belize Time) after Kayla’s mother received a ransom request via text from her daughter’s cellphone. The person demanded BZD$250 Thousand for Kayla’s safe return. Another text to Kayla’s brother, Carral Pandy, warned the family not to get the police involved. While the messages were ominous, the Burgess family were still of the impression that Kayla was alive but in serious trouble. Things grew frantic however when another text from Kayla’s phone begged her mother, “please help me.”
Frantic about the only girl in the family, the police were contacted and an immediate search was launched in the Bullet Tree area where it was indicated that Kayla was taken.
Things took a tragic turn when Kayla’s body was discovered on the Bullet Tree Road shortly after 6:00 p.m. Speculation is that Kayla was murdered earlier in the afternoon. Sadly, police didn’t make it in time to rescue Kayla. Her body was found inside her gold Kia Sorento, (License plate – SC-C-11084) parked about 100 yards away from Pride of Mopan Bar on the Santa Familia Road.According to police, she was found with a black pastic bag over face that was fastened around her neck with a white plastic tighener.
Two students of Galen College were taken into custody, one of them said to be Kayla’s boyfriend, Vince Garbutt, 21, is a member of the college’s basketball team, Galen Eagles. Police say that Garbutt who had scratches on his left shoulder, left side of the chest, back, left side of his face, neck and right arm confessed to strangling Kayla and disposing of her body and vehicle. His alleged accomplice is Faith Dueck a Mennonite student also of Galen College was also taken into custody. Dueck described by police as “his 18 year old girlfriend” also works as a waitress in the Kontiki area.
NBZLive has confirmed that police have recorded statements from both students and they are expected to lay charges for Murder on Friday. Evidence so far, points to a tryst that went horridly awry. Kayla reportedly went to meet Garbutt at his home in the Kontiki area of San Ignacio to end their relationship. From what we’ve been able to gather, Kayla’s family was unaware of a relationship between Garbutt and their girl.
What exactly happened or what Kayla encountered at Garbutt’s home is not quite known. Sources speculate that Kayla put up a fierce fight for her life. Police believe that she was strangled with a nylon rope at Garbutt’s home before her was body later disposed in the Bullet Tree area.
NBZLive has gathered that Faith Dueck didn’t actually participate in the strangulation but is being named as an accomplice. That is because she reportedly drove Garbutt’s vehicle to pick him up from the scene where he abandoned Kayla’s body in her vehicle.
Garbutt, we are told, reported to classes at Galen early Thursday afternoon but only stayed for about twenty minutes. It is believed that Kayla Burgess had already been killed by the time her family received the ransom demand purportedly from the kidnapper. That demand was made to throw police, who were in hot pursuit, off course.
Police are not confirming at this time but NBZLive has been reliably informed that police also recovered two broken acrylic nails and a bloody towel from Garbutt’s bedroom. Kayla’s vehicle key was found in Garbutt’s car and her slippers were retrieved from a drum in front of his home,
Garbutt is a member of his college’s basketball team, the Galen Eagles. His facebook page portrays a college jock who enjoys a lot attention from young women. Among the bevy of beauties is disgraced former Minister of Immigration, Elvin Penner’s daughter, Lali Penner with whom we are reliably told that the two are involved.
Pictures of him posing shirtless on the beach and with other jocks, members of the basketball team and others of him with other young women portray a young man who was living up the college life. Interestingly, there is no connection between Kayla and Vinny Garbutt on facebook but we’ve been reliably informed that they too had some sort relationship. Her ill-fated trip out west was to end that relationship, a source says.
A picture of Garbutt “goofing” around with his alleged accomplice, Faith Dueck appears on his Facebook page. Let’s just say that Kayla Burgess didn’t enjoy such prominence in Garbutt’s world. It appears had an affinity for the lighter, fairer, moneyed, Mennonite girls from the Cayo area. That may have frustrated kayla, who is of a darker complexion to go see him for the last time.
Kayla’s family apparently knew nothing of their alleged relationship. Being the apple of her father’s eyes and the only female child she was rather sheltered, a source told NBZLive. Proud of her achievement of graduating from University of Belize last year, her father rewarded his prized daughter with the Kia Sorrento that she was driving. Kayla, we are also told enjoyed a comfortable more privileged life, in Independence village. The family owns and operates, Hokey Pokey Water Taxi which transports passengers between Placencia and Independence villages.
Vince “Vinny” Garbutt and his alleged accomplice, Faith Dueck are expected to be charged for Murder later on Friday.
nbzlive 
Reporting his face and name before the charges is not standard practice and it can ruin a case. Perhaps you should have waited until the charges are official.
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” It appears had an affinity for the lighter, fairer, moneyed, Mennonite girls from the Cayo area. That may have frustrated kayla, who is of a darker complexion to go see him for the last time. ”
How does all the women he had relationships with make them a part of the crime. The Penner daughter has not been named as a suspect yet you try to tarnish her. Why? I am trying to say is that you should try to be reasonable with your reporting. How did you get in his mind to know he preferred a particular skin colour? DId you ask him or did you guess? You see my point? You have some great details of the crime scene but you muddy your report with unsubstantiated opinion. I like what you are doing but you need to take opinion/guessing from reporting. Elvin Penner has no place in this story either.
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The Question is what was the real Motive for this killing???
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I am appalled. You are entitled to your opinions and I hope justice is served. I would appreciate done editorial discretion as the remaining Galen Eagles team are not associated with the allegations of this case and it is unfair and utterly immoral and unethical for you to be show casing other students from Galen University ‘s basketball team that has nothing to do with this matter. Straighten up and do not lose focus on the real issue here because you are caught up on your agenda. Further please give Lali Penner some privacy it’s a Shane enough that she’s a victim of this promiscuous web.
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You obviously struggle with the English Language. As you rightly pointed, I’m entitled to my opinion. However my stating that the accused is a member of the Galen Eagles is not my opinion but a fact. “A picture tells a thousand words”. You would do well reading the picture. Have a nice day!
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What a tragedy! RIP dear…
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Sad mein prayers for the family of the victim!
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he need fi dead…E look like Penner family da wa iffish family
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I pray that her family and friends find peace during this horrible time. It is so sad to see something so horrible happen to any person.
However, your mention of Lali Penner and even her father on this article was obsoletely unnecessary. What does she have to do with this murder? There is no point in bringing her up in this and tarnishing her name. I don’t even know the girl, but if it were me I as sure as heck would be upset being connected to a murder when I had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Also, Faith Dueck is just as much Mennonite as she is Creole. But of course you wouldn’t mention that because all you care about is pointing out the fact that one is more “lighter, fairer, moneyed” than the other girl; which by reading your article and other news has absolutely nothing to do with the murder. If he murdered the girl, it is much more likely he did it because he is a psychopath rather than because of the color of her skin.
There is much bias in your “reporting”
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What she has to do with this murder? NOT A DAMN THING!!! Shiiiishhh. Is this what this story is about……REALLY?
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My point exactly. She has nothing to do with the murder, so why include her in the story. Gossip? Sensationalism? Honestly, the way you write your article sounds like you write with the emotion of a 13 year old girl, and the way you respond to people on your blog makes it look like you want to cry everytime someone says something mean. Learn to take critism like an adult.
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Very obviously my English competency is up for judgment and not your very poor, misguided agenda. Such a sad day, when individuals in our nation promote supremacy based on a language that is almost archaic. There is no question of whether you understood the expression and the point was communicated so there should be no point in you figuring out my use of the colonizers Anglocentric tongue. I actually pity you now. U poor lost soul. You were almost better off not writing anything at all. What’s the point of having superb writing skills, if you do not know to channel it objectively? Definitely PUP with a UDP mentality. The disease of partisan political eating out the very flesh of our nation. All, I’m saying is Eulali Penner is not even a factor in this this so far and the other young men of Galen Eagles are being violated.
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Ummm whoever you are….did I even say that Ms. Penner is involved? Did I say or did I allude to the entire fucking team being involved? What brand of stupid are you? I’ll give Galen the benefit of the doubt here because I know others far smarter than you are for the institution.
Like seriously, your arguments make me yawn……..
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If you cannot understand what this person is trying to say, either you are playing the fool or YOU would need to question yourself about what brand of stupid are YOU! I understand that pictures are worth a thousand words. However, too much words can get you in trouble as it is pointless. Your pictures are like too many USELESS WORDS! The team has nothing to do with it and much less Ms. Penner. Cropping the picture and leaving out Ms. Penner would have been the best way to go. Moreover, I believe apologies are in order as you have possibly tarnished the reputation of others.
I will end by giving you a word of advice. Giving the news is not about giving the gossip. It is about trying to give good, relevant information. If you can prove how posting the team picture or talking about Ms. Penner is relevant, by all means go ahead! Finally, you need to learn to take critisism from your audience… they will help you to become better. Your use of frofanity shows nothing but your ignorance.
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Mr. Vinnie Garbutt is not only attracted to fair skinned, moneyed, Mennonite women and how is bringing Ms. Penner and her family’s name and personal business into this article any of the rest of the country’s business? Unless Mr. Garbutt stated that he is attracted to those characteristics you can only make assumptions.
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Sad story with many question marks.
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Prayers to the victim and Mr. Garbutt.
We are not fighting against flesh and blood but other evil forces if this world. To both families going through tragedy my prayes. The enemy is out to destroy us.
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