Derrick Ramirez Missing at Sea; Family Fears the Worse

Derrick Ramirez

Dangriga native Derrick Ramirez has been reported missing, but family members have a strong suspicion that he has been killed. Ramirez was last seen on August fourth at around two o’clock in the afternoon. He was in the company of his brother, Kevin Hernandez, who filed the missing person report, and brother-in-law, Joseph Coleman.  The trio was reportedly diving a half mile north of Cross Caye when Derrick was shot at.  This, is according to Hernandez, who told police that three men on another vessel approached them and the captain, who Hernandez recognized, instructed them to leave the diving area.  Hernandez further alleges that the men informed them that the area is their territory and therefore they were not allowed to dive.  Hernandez adds that they returned to Cross Caye where they were again approached by the same trio, two of whom were brandishing firearms.  According to Hernandez, the men began firing shots at Ramirez, who reportedly escaped into the mangroves.  The attackers left and Ramirez emerged from the mangroves.  A few minutes later, the trio reportedly returned and once again opened fire at Ramirez.  This time however, Ramirez did not re-emerge.  That is the official police report provided to authorities by Hernandez.  But Ramirez’s family does not believe a single word of it.  That’s because, according to Ramirez’s father Guillermo, Hernandez’s recollection is not adding up.  Ramirez, who lived in Belize City, travelled to Dangriga on Saturday after he was invited by Hernandez for the diving trip.

Guillermo Ramirez

Guillermo Ramirez, Father of Derrick Ramirez

“The last conversation I had with him was Saturday at around three o’clock. He told me that his brother called him from Belize so that they can go to caye. His brother is named Kevin Hernandez. So I asked him when is he coming back. He told me that he will be back in two weeks time that his brother will be back between four days time. So they gone. I think they left her at around four o’clock. Since then I haven’t heard anything from him. Tuesday morning, his brother came here. He asked me for Derrick’s phone number. I told him that I don’t have it. He told me to try call him on Facebook. I tried calling him but I did not get him. From there he told me that something happened at caye. That some people came to shoot out there. I asked him why? He told me that Derrick do something in Belize City and those people went after him but those people are from here. I can’t understand because how did they know that Derrick was at caye. And how comes that if three of them were together is it only him that they targeted.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Mr. Hernandez told police that he know who the captain of the other boat was. Did he tell you that?”

Guillermo Ramirez

“He did not tell me that. He didn’t tell me anything like that.”

Hipolito Novelo

“In fact, Mr. Hernandez told police that the other persons in the other boat told them that they can’t dive in that area because it belongs to them.”

Guillermo Ramirez

“He didn’t tell me that neither. When I heard it on the news I was surprise because he did not tell me that. From then he gone.”