Police Resort to DNA Sample for Possible Identity of Severed Limbs in Ontario

Gerardo Vasquez

Seventeen-year-old Gerardo Vasquez remains missing from Ontario Village, despite the belief that he may be dead.  The teenager was last seen on September twenty-fifth.  Since then, there has been an intense effort to locate him.  The search party which included friends and family, as well as local law enforcement, turned up nothing.  Notwithstanding the discovery of a pair of severed lower limbs floating in the Belize River near the village, police have been unable to find a body.  Visible on the lower right leg were several stab wounds, however, investigators cannot determine the identity of the mutilated body parts.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“In reference to the update on missing person Gerardo Vasquez, we are in the process of taking DNA samples from other family members for comparison at this point.  That is where we are in relation to that investigation.”

Reporter

“So at this time the severed limbs are still unknown, whom they belong to.”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Yes.”

Reporter

“And this person is still considered a missing person at this time?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Yes.”

Reporter

“Are you guys involved in any search for him or has that been stalled?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“It hasn’t been stalled, we pretty much are acting on information, or we have scaled down and are mostly responding to any information.”

Reporter

“Have you identified any suspect as yet?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Yes, one person was questioned and released pending further investigation.”

Reporter

“So no new suspect?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“No new suspect at this time.”

Reporter

“And in an investigation like this, how long does a sample take to return back to the country?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“That, we would not have any control over time, as to how long it would take for that sample to return.”

Reporter

“Sir, in a previous interview you had mentioned that the severed limbs, an autopsy or a post mortem would have been done on the severed limbs.  Do you have any information as to if any injuries were found on those limbs, what became of that post mortem?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“The information in regards to that is that there were several stab wounds on, I believe, it was the right limb.  So then, no further in depth investigation was done other than to gather samples from the limb and we are now awaiting for samples to be taken from the family members in order for a comparison.”