Body in swamp awaits positive I.D.
It looks like Belize City police have another murder to investigate; their only problem is putting a name on the corpse. News 5?s Patrick Jones has the story.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The remains found in the swamps at the end of Malcom Street in the Port Loyola Area have not been positively identified.
One area resident who was keen to look at the body is Elvin Palacio, whose brother has been missing for almost three weeks.
Elvin Palacio
?When I arrive back there with the police officers what I first saw dah wah big skull head. And when I gone closer I see the skeleton hand on a tree weh the lay down and then when I went much closer, dah like wah x; two big tree deh pan top of wah body and the body deh underneath the water.?
Palacio says he cannot be sure that the remains are those of forty-three year old Benito Reyes. But the brown pants found with the body resemble a pair that Reyes was last seen wearing.
Elvin Palacio
?I wouldn?t want believe it, but it could be because then as ah tell you that dah the pants weh he had on–last seen by my mom the Friday morning when he left from home.?
Patrick Jones
?When was the last time you saw your brother and where was he??
Elvin Palacio
?The last time I saw my brother was Thursday night; the night before he gone dah the–because I have him the work for me at the Muslim. We mi di have wah textile operation weh mi wah happen the Saturday to raise funds for the students. And we had him working there.?
Patrick Jones
?Mr. Palacio if that is your brother what would you want officials or authorities to do??
Elvin Palacio
?If that dah my brother, I want the officers them find the culprits who caused this. Because my brother dah noh wah violent person. He extra friendly and he is coward looking.?
Patrick Jones, for News Five.
Police pathologist Dr. Mario Estradabran has determined that the cause of death was trauma by a blunt object to the head. Estradabran says he is still analyzing information gathered at the scene to determine how long the person has been dead and a possible identification. Anyone with information that might assist police in their investigation of this murder is asked to call the nearest station or Crimestoppers at 9-2-2.
