Fatal Chopping: Nephew Attacks Uncle and Runs, Later Caught
Israel Tesecum
A man died last night following a chopping incident on Tuesday morning. The victim has been identified as forty-two-year-old Israel Tesecum of the Seven Miles El Progresso community in the Cayo District. Eyewitnesses told News Five that Tesecum was attacked by his nephew, twenty-four-year-old Bartimeus Tesecum who is now on the run. Israel was chopped to the back of the head and died while receiving treatment at the Western Regional Hospital. But what led Bartimeus to attack his uncle? As News Five’s Hipolito Novelo found out today, Bartimeus has had a long history of violent behavior against his family, including his father who he attempted to kill once. Tonight, residents of the community are uneasy because an armed and dangerous Bartimeus is believed to be hiding in the bushes.
Hipolito Novelo Reporting
The tranquility of this residence in the El Progresso/Seven Miles Community in the Cayo District was shattered on Tuesday morning with the deadly swing of a machete. At around nine o’clock, forty-two-year-old Israel Tesecum was having a late breakfast in his kitchen when his nephew, twenty-four-year-old Bartimeus Tesecum armed with a sharp machete, barged into the house through the front door and chopped him once to the back of the head. He then ran out. There was blood, panic and fear everywhere. Inside the kitchen at the time were three other persons, including Emilia Flores.
Emilia Flores
Emilia Flores, Sister in Law of Israel Tesecum [Translated]
“When I got up to leave the boy came and chopped him. I quickly went to him because he was bleeding a lot. He was bleeding a lot. I got frightened. So I ran to call my husband and told him that we need to do something for him because he was bleeding a lot. He was there, eating and he chopped him. He did not speak or anything. They placed him in the car and did not say anything. He came thought this door to do his mischief, to chop the man. He ran outside. When police arrive they said they would look for him. They spread out but they did not see anything.”
Israel died at the Western Regional Hospital, despite all effort to save his life. But the wound was too deep according to Flores. She says his head was almost severed. A search party comprised of villagers and the authorities has been assembled to look for Bartimeus, who is believed to be hiding in the bushes. According to Flores, this is not the first time that Bartimeus has acted in a violent manner towards his own family. In fact, his very father, Gumercindo Tesecum told News Five that his son who is a known drug user has attacked him in an attempt to kill him.
Gumercindo Tesecum
Gumercindo Tesecum, Father of Bartimeus
“I think he did it.”
Hipolito Novelo
“What makes you believe he did it? Did he have any behavioral challenges or anything that would make you confident to say that your son killed someone?”
Gumercindo Tesecum
“Well yes, he is in the drugs, in the head. He has made several attempts on my life and said he will kill me one day. He has done many things to me but I accepted, having patients because he is my son.”
According to Gumercindo, at twelve-years-old, Bartimeus began experimenting with drugs after his brother was murdered. This is when the troubles began.
Gumercindo Tesecum
“That really affected his mind and wanted to revenge. And he is uses drugs and once in a while he gets angry, stress or whatever and he gets like that. But when it passes, he goes away for while and it comes back again.” ”
Hipolito Novelo
“Now he is on the run.”
Gumercindo Tesecum
“Yes, he is on the run now.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Has he come and contacted you or visit you since yesterday morning.”
Gumercindo Tesecum
“No and he will not come because they are looking for him.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Do you know where he might be or where he might be hidden?”
Gumercindo Tesecum
“Well I do not know because I am crippled for fifty years. I don’t know anything.”
Bartimeus is not only considered an outcast of his family but also of the village. His violent behavior towards his family over the past few months has left him ostracized. He has been arrested by police for attacking his relatives but later released.
Moses Waight, Chairman, El Progresso/Seven Miles Community
“He was a person that we had to report a problem before, he used to get crazy. They hold him up one time and had him locked up for three weeks maybe but they let him out again. He uses too much drugs and gets crazy or acts crazy but I think he knows what he is doing.”
Reporter
“So he is somebody who is known to the law?”
Moses Waight
Moses Waight
“Yes. About six months ago they took him in because he attacked one of his members too. We called the police and hold him hostage in a room because he was in there and we made sure he was able to come out. So by the time police came, they took him for just couple of weeks and then he came out.”
Chairman, Moses Waight is leading a search team with the hopes to catch Bartimeus soon before he attacks anyone else.
Moses Waight
“Just checking all the areas where he usually walks. He likes to be in the bushes. He has all different trails. Couple family members, other villagers along with police officers went and divided into groups and walked all those trials to see if we could locate him. But we could not find any trace or site. So we end up doing around the parameter of Seven Miles where we think he would be. We went down to Barton Creek where he hangs with other guys. But we could still not locate him and we continue our search. The sooner we capture him it will be safer for everybody because if he is crazy he can attack anybody else.
Hipolito Novelo
“Sir do you fear for your life? He might come and attack anyone as he did so senseless?”
Gumercindo Tesecum
“Sometimes, yes. If he is not caught, if he continues to be in society he is threat. He can come and hurt me because he has that mind. I don’t know how he feels after committing that act.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
Just before news time, our newsroom was informed that Bartimeus Tesecum was captured by police.
