By Brianna Bennett

Copyright greaterbelize

Children of Murdered Twins Still Shocked and Confused

Tonight, the Hattieville community remains shaken after the murder of twin siblings, Paul Esquilliano and Paula Esquilliano-Belisle that occurred on Monday evening. Sometime around four p.m. word began spreading that the pair had been shot in Belisle’s home in Hattieville, leaving residents shocked and terrified. According to neighbors, the two were active members of their churches and were not confrontational people. Most devastated are several children of the Equilliano family, who are still grappling with this heavy loss. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Fifty-seven years ago, siblings Paul and Paula Esquilliano were brought into the world together. They were twins and they shared a bond that few people could understand. They had always been close but ever since the death of Paula’s husband and child last year, the two had grown near inseparable. They came into this world together and heartbreakingly, they left it the same way, after they were both shot dead on Monday evening. Paula’s daughter, Sharlette Belisle, was in the United Sates when she got the devastating news.

Sharlette Belisle, Daughter of Deceased

“Yesterday evening,  I normally am on the phone with my mom, but I missed that call yesterday. We were we had postponed the call for later in the evening since it was my birthday. We were going to do a little celebration together virtually. So my sister called me when I was pulling up from work and she said that mom and uncle Paul just got shot. To be honest, I didn’t hear the rest of it. I needed some time to compose myself and assistance with that. And once I was able to compose myself, I booked a flight and it was a few minutes later when my sister called back and she video call. And I saw her face and I said, no. She said yes. And I said, uncle Paul? And she said, yes. And I said no.”

According to police, both fifty-seven-year-olds were found at Belisle’s residence on Ysaguirre Boulevard, motionless on the ground with apparent gunshot injuries to the body. Belisle and Esquilliano succumbed to their injuries. A neighbor and long-time family friend was quick to arrive at the scene after she received the news.

Voice of: Friend of Deceased

“I can’t  I just can’t believe it. And I know most people that know them and say the same thing. It’s unbelievable. I come because I wanna see the truth in my own eyes. I’m just, I mi need fi see that to believe that. Just so, people don’t say things are not so.”

The Esquilliano family is a large one, with the siblings having nine children combined. However, tragedy had recently washed over the family portrait after Paula Belisle lost both her husband and daughter in the same year. Sharlette says that her mother’s siblings were a constant support in her mother’s life.

Sharlette Belisle

“They would always tease each other, and after my dad died, my uncle took it upon himself to say that he would be here every day with my mom to make sure that she’s okay. And he was here with my mom and they both met that untimely end yesterday. I’m thankful that my mom had my uncle. I’m thankful for the support that we have and as siblings, we stand firm with my aunt and my cousins in the loss of my uncle and my mom. They were twins. They’re born together. They departed together. And it is my belief in the blessed hope that they’ll be resurrected together.”

Those closest to the siblings describe them as firm believers and active members of their churches. The family claims that the two had no issues with anyone they knew that could incite this kind of violence. No suspects have been detained at this time.

Sharlette Belisle

“ They were not aggressive people. They were not confrontational people. My uncle always had the scripture on his lips. My mom was always helpful. I was cheerful as a parent, supportive in school, doing all that she could do for anybody, whether it’s family or neighbor or anything of that kind. No, nothing of a violent nature was mingled in any of the two of their lives.”

As family and friends continue to grieve and seek answers, Belisle’s wish is that her mother and uncle can be remembered for their devotion to their faith and not for the violent crime that led to their tragic deaths. Britney Gordon for News Five.