Derrick Ramirez Remains Missing; ComPol Williams Says ‘Things Do Not Add Up’

Derrick Ramirez

Tonight, two police officers are in detention, Derrick Ramirez remains missing and Oscar Williams, the main suspect believed to be responsible for his disappearance, allegedly escaped at the hands of the two very same police officers in question.  It is a complex story with lots of grey areas which Commissioner of Police Chester Williams recognizes.  This morning, Williams hosted a special press briefing to provide details of the investigation.  First, Ramirez went missing on Sunday, August fourth while at Cross Caye with his brother, Kevin Hernandez, who is an inspector of police, and his brother-in-law.  It was not until August sixth, however, that Hernandez reported Ramirez missing at sea.  According to Hernandez, three men, two of whom were brandishing firearms, on a separate boat targeted Ramirez only, causing Ramirez to escape into the mangroves on two separate occasions.  But Ramirez’s family in Dangriga does not believe Hernandez’s version of events.  His father, Guillermo Ramirez, has strong suspicions that his son was lured to his death.  Commissioner Williams says that the two men who were with Ramirez during his disappearance have to be looked at as possible suspects.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“There are many things that do not add up where that investigation is concerned and I have expressed those concerns to the investigators. I have a serious issue with the fact that the incident allegedly occurred on Sunday and police did not know about it until Tuesday, forty eight hours later. If you had gone to sea with some friends, more so relatives, one of them would have gone missing you would want to ensure that you would inform the authorities as soon as possible so that a proper search can be conducted to find the relative. In this case that was not done. So I don’t want to speculate but those persons who were with Ramirez at that particular time, they too have to be looked at as possible suspects.”

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“While the coast guard area part of the operation they handed over to police three detained persons from their base over at Long Caye which is a short distance away from Cross Caye. Those persons were then brought on the Cross Caye by the police and in so doing, one of those persons who was considered to be the main suspect concerning Derrick Ramirez missing, was removed from the other two prisoners by two police officers being an inspector and a constable to conduct a field interview. As a result, those officers then returned to the team a few minutes later, indicating that that person who they had taken, one Oscar Williams Junior had escaped from them. So as a result of that he too is being search for.”