Popular Disc Jockey Murdered in Esperanza

Samir Fernandez

Well-known disc jockey, Samir Fernandez, known in the clubbing and music scene as DJ Kid, was discovered dead on Wednesday in the village of Esperanza. Fernandez, a resident of Santa Elena Town in the west, was last seen alive on Tuesday when he left home in a taxi. A day later, his father, attorney Orlando Fernandez, identified his body at the San Ignacio morgue. The news of his untimely death has shocked the music community and on social media, there has been an outpour of condolences to the family at the lost of the talented DJ. While there is speculation as to the motive for the vicious murder, San Ignacio police continue to sort through the evidence to determine who killed the Santa Elena youth. But was Fernandez lured to his death? News Five’s Duane Moody was in the west today and reports from a dirt road in Esperanza Village where the body was found.

It’s the second murder in two days and like the homicide in Corozal Town on Tuesday night, San Ignacio Police still don’t have a motive for the murder of a Santa Elena resident.

Duane Moody

Duane Moody

“Just after four on Wednesday afternoon, the lifeless body of twenty-four year old Samir Fernandez was discovered about a hundred yards along this path used by farmers. The bloodstains along this path are the telltale signs that he suffered and gruesome death.”

The path, used primarily by residents in the area, is located off a dirt road at the far end of Sedacy Street in Esperanza Village. According to Mauricio Romero, the body of the disc jockey was discovered clothed in boxers and a shirt in a kneeling position, but lying on his back with his hands near his face.

Mauricio Romero, Resident, Esperanza Village

“He told me this is something of interest so I said if it is something of interest, I gotta know what it is. I went on to find out and see it myself and I took other guys to check the body and we saw that it was really someone.”

Duane Moody

“What did you guys see there?”

Mauricio Romero

“We see him hurt in his head and the position in which he was. And we see some other areas where blood was.”

Duane Moody

“How was he found? What did you see?”

Mauricio Romero

Mauricio Romero

“Well like I said, someone just told me they saw this thing and I say I’m gonna see if it is true or if he is lying. And it was real, the person was dead.”

Duane Moody

“The person mi have on clothes or…”

Mauricio Romero

“Ih had some of his clothes, but a short pants was off but in another area not too far.”

Duane Moody

“Ih mi deh face down?”

Mauricio Romero

“No, he was face up with his two legs underneath his body. And no one tried to touch him in my presence.”

Duane Moody

“But you saw cut wounds to his face?”

Mauricio Romero

“Yeah I saw cut wounds to his face over his forehead.”

Dinsdale Thompson

Supt. Dinsdale Thompson, O.C., San Ignacio Police Formation

“When the police went out on the scene, we found the lifeless body of what we later found to be of Samir Fernandez of a San Pedro Street address in Santa Elena Town.”

The frightening discovery by residents happened around twelve noon on Wednesday, which would suggest that Fernandez was killed during the course of Tuesday night. But due to the lack of a telephone, the police were notified until after four p.m. According to Officer Commanding the San Ignacio Police Formation, Superintendent Dinsdale Thompson, two persons have been detained in connection with the homicide.

Supt. Dinsdale Thompson

“Our preliminary investigation is showing at this present moment that Samir was indeed in the area where when we looked and checked out his body, we found that there is injury that he received to his forehead, to the upper part of his forehead and to the front part of his head which we believe caused his death. At this present moment, we are carrying out our investigation and we have two individuals detained in our custody. And we are still at this present moment looking for another person who we believe can assist us with this investigation.”

While a motive for the murder has still not been determined, police believe that evidence in their possession would suggest that Fernandez knew his killer or killers and that he was lured to his death.

Supt. Dinsdale Thompson

“We are still follow up those leads. We cannot say that at the scene or prior to the incident that have occurred, if there was a fight, but we are doing our investigation and we want to tell the public and the family that rest assure we will do everything and come to every stone, we will not leave one un-turn to find out what really went on with the death of Samir.”

Duane Moody

“Have you guys been able to determine, from the preliminary investigation so far, the relation between the deceased and the two persons in detention?”

Supt. Dinsdale Thompson

“So far what our investigation is revealing Duane is that yes they do have some type of relation and that’s what we are trying to find out, that true this relationship; what did really occur. Who all were at the scene when this murder had occurred? That’s what we are linking and as soon as we have put together those linkages which we are quite well into it already, we will be able to release to the family member and to the public as well those information as they are forthcoming. One of the things that we are looking at with those persons that are in our custody is that they indeed had some type of communication with Samir that we believe that they can assist us with prior to the death of Samir. So that’s why we are indeed questioning them at this moment in relating to what they know, what they can assist us with in relating to this investigation.”

Duane Moody

“Is it believed that his body was dumped there, but there is where the incident happened?”

Supt. Dinsdale Thompson

“Our investigation is revealing at this present moment that we believe that yes his body; he was there…that is where the incident occurred; his body was not dumped there. That’s what we are following at this present moment.”

While police say both incidents are not related, records show that Fernandez, along with several other persons, was detained on Monday in relation to a robbery in west. Duane Moody for News Five.