One dead in San Pedro fire; family claims arson

A San Pedro man is dead following a fire at his house and while initial reports suggest the blaze was an accident, there are indications that it may be a case of arson or even murder. Twenty- four year old Mauricio Rodriguez perished on Friday night when his small plywood home at the corner of Seagull and Sandpiper Streets in San Pedro Town burned down with him inside. While too much drinking and a careless cigarette are the prime suspects, members of the victim’s family believe the fire was deliberately set. The deceased’s sister, Wendy Rodriguez, tells News 5’s Jacqueline Woods that recent events have caused her and her relatives to live in fear.

Wendy Rodriquez, Sister of Deceased
?I said mom, I don?t know how to tell you but your, my brother is dead and she started crying and said, I knew that was going to happen to him. I knew that was going to happen to him because we had suspected him to die because somebody was behind him. We didn?t knew who or why.?

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Fire Officials say they do not know what started the blaze on Friday night that killed twenty-four year old Maurico Adalberto Rodriquez, but the young man?s sister Wendy Rodriquez say the family suspect the fire was deliberately set. Rodriquez says they knew their brother was being threatened and that only three weeks ago someone tried to burn down the house. In that incident Rodriquez says it was her fifteen year old brother who was inside the building and almost died.

Wendy Rodriquez
?He was sleeping inside the house. When he came from school he went to sleep and then they set the house on fire but the neighbours quickly took it off quickly. We did not make a report because we were afraid that my mother could get into trouble because my little brother was alone and he is only fifteen so we did not make a report or nothing.?

?And they knew my mother was not there so they like they shove paper in a little hole with a cigarette and a big whole is left in the wall.?

That claim was never proven. Rodriquez says at that time her brother told their mother that he does not know why anyone would want to harm him but shortly after Rodriquez claims they received a threat.

Wendy Rodriquez
?After the incident somebody called which we do not know who they called or who called and said that if my brother does not calm down himself, they will calm him down. That call left like that un-investigated and we do not know who made the call or why they made the call and since that call my little brother did not go back to San Pedro. He is here with me in Belize City and eh is traumatized because when I go out he won?t stay at home alone. He tells me that he is afraid that they will set the house on fire.?

Police say Rodriquez was drinking heavily earlier that night and they suspect he may have accidentally started the fire and they do not suspect foul play. However, Rodriquez, who was at the city?s morgue, for the post mortem maintains her brother?s death, was no accident.

Wendy Rodriquez
?He got a lot of burns on his back and his hand but he is identifiable and all I know I leave everything to God, let God do justice and if there is anybody who did this to him they should think in their family that when God do justice, God comes down and everybody hard. I know my brother was not an angel. I know he was not a good person but a lot of people loved him because he never disrespected nobody.?

The Rodriquez family say because they continue to live in fear, they do not believe they will pursue the matter anymore. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.

Fire officials say they have secured the scene and based on information they have been receiving will be sending out a team to investigate whether the incident was an accident or not. News 5 understands that one report that will be examined is a call made by someone who claims to have seen three men follow Rodriquez as he went to his house.