Elderly Man Brutally Stabbed in Home Invasion

Robert Acosta

An elderly Belize City resident is lucky to be alive tonight after he was brutally attacked in his home early Saturday morning. Eighty-eight year old Robert Acosta heard noises in his house on Hyde’s Lane sometime between four thirty and six that morning but upon checking he didn’t see anyone. He went back to bed and suddenly woke up to a man stabbing him in the neck and shoulder. The attacker fled the scene, leaving Acosta in a pool of blood. But he was able to make his way down to the front door of his home and was rushed to the K.H.M.H. The cold-blooded attack has left Acosta shaken up, but after he left the hospital today he spoke with us. The eighty eight year old said he wanted to share his ordeal because it may be able to save someone else’s life and people may take extra precautions after hearing his story.

Robert Acosta, Victim of Home Invasion

“I was on my bed about quarter to five suh the morning but I don’t know how he got in because I have on padlock. I just call the man deh fu come put in hook and eye inside. Suh, I only hear suh uh uh uh and I gone ayyyyy and I begin to holler.”

Andrea Polanco

“So, he stabbed you?”

Robert Acosta

“Yes. He stabbed mi man. I cyaa lift it up cause ih wah bleed. And then the security deh run from deh and come this side because we have three or four out deh suh every night. After wards, ih look like ih hit the vein and it start to spill blood suh. I haul mi towel and put it and by time I get downstairs the blood the run outta the towel. Deh call the ambulance and the ambulance come full speed and deh gone with me. The doctor say, ‘My God, what’s the matter.’ I said, ‘Doc, deh stab mi.’ And then they put me on a table and they begin to work on me, ma’am.”

Andrea Polanco

“So, they did a surgery?”

Robert Acosta

“Yes, because he tried to stop the vein that was spilling the blood.”

Andrea Polanco

“What did the doctor say that it was a close call you had?”

Robert Acosta

“Yes. Yes. He said that. He said if it was a little bit more I would have died because it would have hit yah.”

Andrea Polanco

“So, Mr. Robert, from what you know, this person who broke into your house, did he take anything?”

Robert Acosta

“No. Nothing was lost. Nothing.”

Andrea Polanco

“Do you know how he gained access to your home. Was it through a window or door?”

Robert Acosta

“Screw driver. The screw driver deh right deh and yuh si how ih the dig the thing fuh come in.”

Andrea Polanco

“That’s a window?”

Robert Acosta

“Yes.”

Andrea Polanco

“Do you fear for your life now?”

Robert Acosta

“Lawd, my lady. I get fraid in truth because I call a man and when he come tomorrow, plenty changes I wah do fi put up the things dem suh and lock it because ih neva happen to me before.”

Andrea Polanco

“How many times more or less he stabbed you?”

Robert Acosta

“Oooooh ma’am.”

Andrea Polanco

“Like ten?”

Robert Acosta

“Bout that, bout ten times.”

Andrea Polanco

“So you think the intent was to kill you?”

Robert Acosta

“That’s exactly what happened.”

Andrea Polanco

“But why. You are a senior citizen; I wouldn’t imagine you have any enemies or anybody who would want to harm you?”

Robert Acosta

“Ohhh no. I interfere with no one, ma’m.None. All ah these people are my friends. I neva even see the face ah the man but the first time I see him he was coming through yah.”

Andrea Polanco

“Because the house was dark right?”

Robert Acosta

“Yes. I didn’t know him at all.  I pray to God it won’t happen again. I tell you…oh, my…I tell you. It’s tough. It’s tough.”