Where is Kotch?

Albert "Kotch" Johnson

Where is Albert Johnson? The family of the woodcarver and father of two teenage daughters became concerned after a group of police officers came to their home in Belmopan, demanding that they hand over Johnson. According to the family, the officers claimed that he had escaped from police custody on Sunday after being in detention for two days. But while “Kotch,” as he is affectionately known, was detained on Friday, earlier that same day, the notorious Kevin “Cowboy” Alvarez—allegedly in the company of a police officer—came looking for Johnson. According to Johnson’s mother Sharon Palacio, Alvarez threatened her son’s life. But there are more questions than answers and Palacio sent an open call to the Minister of National Security, John Saldivar.

Sharon Palacio, Mother of Missing Person

“I don’t know what’s the name of the group of police officers or security officers who came to my gate about nine-thirty going on to ten o’clock last night and the attitude that they came with—whereby they were about to break down my gate and my children stepped out and I followed behind them and when I heard what the police man said, accusing my daughter of assisting her brother to escape from the police; then I realized that something was wrong. I’m not the type of mother who would be condoning infractions and allow my son to believe he is a hero. But when I heard what the police said, I had to step out because from when they arrested my son on Friday, I hadn’t come to this place because in my mind if you are accused of rape—then that will take its due process. I know that he will have to secure bail via the Supreme Court…I know all the processes involved. So in my mind I was not worried because in my mind he’s safe. I looked at where he was locked up and for me; my son did not run away. For me, my son was either given to somebody to kill him because apparently on Friday, some man by the name of “Cowboy,” Kevin Alvarez, came to my house and he asked for Kotch. So obviously he had some kind of friendship with Kotch and he said to the youngsters who were there that we must prepare for a wake and a burial because tell him that Cowboy came to look for him. I became concerned and I said I was going to report it to police, but the people at home—my nephew, my son—said no mommy, supposed he comes to kill us. I want to be able to write a timeline about everything from Friday to now and if it is a thing. As you can see I just came out of one of the top officer’s room and it was revealed to me just now that my son was released from the police.”

Sharon Palacio

Duane Moody

“When was he released?”

Sharon Palacio

“I wanted them to show me the logbook. But they have their own affairs to deal with inside so I was not allowed to see any logbook. I asked to see the camera because if my son…obviously my son signed out and I wanted you to get a copy of all the details. So I’ve heard about people speaking about things that happen at these stations but now God has helped me to experience it and my intention is to be able to assist people who can’t speak for themselves. I cannot tell you all that is going to happen, but I won’t leave here today until they show me the book. I am being told that some IT personnel is going to come in. I need to find out from the children at home the name from these officers that came to break down my gate. And Duane they had gun you know…this is insane.”

Johnson has since surfaced and his mother has taken him to the police.