Body of Missing Roaring Creek Resident Corwin Mendoza Found

Police moved swiftly against two suspects from Roaring Creek and have charged them with the murder of Corwin Mendoza. Mendoza went missing on Sunday after an altercation with his girlfriend.  After days of searching, his body was found this morning floating in a creek; it had injuries to the face and upper body. Both suspects were on remand and it believed gave a caution statement on how the murder occurred. Police are preparing to arraign on Thursday. Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Corwin Mendoza

The family of Corwin Mendoza, a Roaring Creek resident, who went missing on Sunday can finally have closure; the body of the twenty-four year old was found this morning. A search party consisting of family and friends from the village set out as early as nine and just before ten a.m., approximately half a mile from the hammock bridge along the bank of a creek, Corwin’s body was found floating face down in the water. Late this afternoon a post mortem exam was conducted.  But prior to the autopsy, Corwin’s uncle, Eduardo Baptist, told us that the body had visible signs of injury to the face and the upper body.

Eduardo Baptist

Eduardo Baptist, Uncle of Murder Victim

“We did a river search from the hammock bridge and the plan was to take it all the way to Never Delay, but we only travelled about a half a mile or something like that. We came across the body something weh mi look like the body and after we inspected it, it was Corwin. The position that he was in, we didn’t see much of him…all that we saw was the back portion up in the shoulder piece because he was face down and that’s what we see. It look like ih got some bruises, but we noh get wah close look to see him out of the water.”

According to Superintendent Howell Gillett, investigations reveal that on Sunday, Corwin was embroiled in an altercation with his estranged girlfriend with whom he shared a child. Two men intervened and allegedly stabbed Corwin several times and bashed him on the head; his body was then taken by boat and dumped in the creek.

Howell Gillett

Supt. Howell Gillett, O.C., Belmopan Police Formation

“All the evidence that we have thus far is indicating that those were the two persons who I mentioned to one of the media houses were involved in the fight with Mister Mendoza. And for the record, what we have gathered so far, Mister Mendoza, the now deceased, was involved in an altercation with his estranged common-law wife. That is when others intervened and he met his death during that process.”

Duane Moody

“So would you say that Mister Mendoza knew his killers?”

Supt. Howell Gillett

“Of course he did.”

Michael Broaster

Duane Moody

“Was there any weapon used in this incident?”

Supt. Howell Gillett

“We suspect that a knife might have been used and some other blunt object. And I will leave it just to say that until the post mortem is finished in a few moments from now.”

The two men, who are well-known to the Belmopan police, have been detained since Monday and this afternoon, were arraigned for murder of Mendoza.

Supt. Howell Gillett

Collin Richards

“We had intention to charge without finding a body, but sometime after ten today, we got a call from somebody that was searching in that area and they said that they spotted something resembling a body. We immediately went in the area and we realized that it was indeed the body. Two persons have just been charged a few moments ago and those persons are Collin Richards and Michael Broaster, both of Roaring Creek village in the Cayo District. They have been charged so far with one count each of murder, but we could expect that other charges will be proffered at a later date.”

Despite the loss, the family can now move on.

Eduardo Baptist

“I think the family is happy that at least they bring it to a close; that we find the body. That dah the main thing that everybody prayed for. I as a family member too, I feel happy and I am also glad that I was part of the group that found him. We were determined to get this thing over with. We never overlooked anything. We tried everything and finally now we found him.”

Duane Moody for News Five.