Double murder at Cayo resort shocks nation
A hotel manager and bartender are dead tonight as the result of a vicious armed attack in the Cayo District. Fifty year old John Luce, the manager of Black Rock Lodge and forty-one year old Mario Cocom, the bartender, were murdered around ten-thirty Monday night at the eco-tourism lodge on the Macal River. News 5’s Janelle Chanona has just returned from the crime scene.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
According to police, the gang of men came from across the Guatemalan border, walking through this kind of rugged terrain to the Black Rock Lodge, a distance of approximately three miles. It is then believed they hid in the bushes and then attacked the hotel’s manager and bartender.
As the sounds of the fatal gunshots carried through the night, for the resort’s six guests, the ordeal was far from over.
The armed group of men then moved to the cabanas where they attacked the sleeping tourists. Unfortunately, one young woman was also the victim of rape.
After helping themselves to cash and valuables, the men disappeared into the jungle. Given the lodge’s isolated location and the fact that the nearest neighbour with communication equipment is some three miles away, the tourists were forced to wait for dawn and the arrival of the lodge staff. When the Black Rock employees showed up around 6:30 this morning, they quickly used a radio to relate the grisly events of the evening to their boss who in turn, informed San Ignacio police.
Black Rock River Lodge owner, Caesar Sherard declined to be interviewed by News 5, but we do understand that the party of six were travelling together. The traumatised tourists left for the United States earlier today.
Forensic and other members of the investigating team were still at the murder scene this afternoon, but as officers transported the victims to the Belmopan morgue, they appeared intent to keep the media at bay.
Police Officer
“I di drive that vehicle, I don’t want nobody di video me today. You hear what I tell you? Come down from off there.”
Janelle Chanona
“No offence, but we really don’t want your picture. All we want is a shot of your vehicle driving away.”
Police Officer (Points to journalist)
“You got mouth now. You got mouth now.”
Journalist
“I have mouth. From ever since, I have mouth.”
Police Officer
“What I’m saying is this, you don’t come talking to me how you feel like.(To other officer) Let’s turn back.”
But that plan was soon scratched. (Police vehicle speeds away)
The attackers may have already fled the area, but this latest double murder and rape, involving foreign nationals, is sure to have a serious impact on Belize’s already troubled tourism industry. Reporting from the Cayo District for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
The three couples vacationing at the resort were from New York, Oregon and Florida. Armed robberies of tourists in the area have occurred sporadically in the past, but never before with this kind of senseless violence. News 5 understands that a BDF patrol was camped several miles away from Black Rock Lodge Monday night, but was not informed of the crime until this morning.
