Headless Body of Michael Gladden Discovered; Several Persons Detained

Michael Gladden

A grisly discovery was made on Sunday morning; the body of Roaring Creek resident Michael Gladden was found through a dirt road off the George Price Highway. Gladden was decapitated and his body dumped where it was found in the bushy area. This morning, the severed head of the victim was located. Michael was last seen at a bar in Belmopan partying, but he was not known to be a troublemaker. A number of persons of interest are being questioned by investigators as there is reason to believe that the gruesome murder may have been over a female from the same village. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. 

Duane Moody, Reporting

On Sunday morning, just a few yards down the Mount Pleasant Road off the George Price Highway in Belmopan, the headless body of Roaring Creek resident, Michael Gladden was discovered in some bushes. The gruesome discovery was made after a pool of blood was seen by a resident on the dirt road, several feet away from where the body was dumped. Police arrived around eight a.m. to the scene.

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“Some three hundred yards off the main dirt road was seen a pool of blood. As a result the area was searched by officers who came upon the lifeless body of a dark-skinned male person who at the time was only wearing a black short pants and brown boots. The head was decapitated and wasn’t found nowhere in the area. As a result the scene was processed and the body was removed to the Western Regional Hospital where based on certain distinguishing marks and tattoos that male person was identified as Michael Gladden, thirty-one years of a Roaring Creek address.”

The headless body was identified by Gladden’s cousin, Brett Smith, who works at the hospital. Smith and police confirm that on Saturday night, “Wanksta” as he was affectionately known, was out partying at a nightclub. It is believed that he was taken to the area after midnight and beheaded there and then his body disposed of in the bushes. He also received a cut wound to one of his legs. There were no other signs of injury on the body. Smith recounts what happened.

Brett Smith

Brett Smith, Cousin of Deceased

“I was at work, cause I work at the hospital in Belmopan. And I heard they found a body without head and stuff like that and we were wondering who it was. So when the police arrived at the hospital with the body, I personally took the body out of the police vehicle; put it in the morgue. I had no idea it was my little cousin. I told two of my co-workers, I know this person is from Roaring Cree, but I can’t figure out who it is. I then went to the shop; upon entering back the compound, I was looking at a video and I saw a video of my little cousin dancing. I was looking at the feet and I saw the same boots on this guy, the clothing and I was like, don’t tell me this is what I am thinking. And as I entered the hospital yard, I saw my aunt and my other cousin, who is Michael’s brother. So at that moment, I was shock.”

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett

“We know for certain, after going over some of what was gathered evidentially, that he was at a nightclub within Belmopan sometime after midnight along with others.”

Duane Moody

“Any motive?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“At this point in time, no we have not been able to establish a clear motive. We do know that one of the leads being followed is that it may have been over some female, but we are still following that at this point in time.”

Brett Smith

“Everybody knows Michael around here, even Belmopan. He is not a trouble person; he doesn’t mess around with anybody like that. He is the kind that drinks his rum; he loves to party. apart from that, Michael has no problem with no one.”

The severed head was discovered by Smith this morning just before eleven a.m. as police and family members forged a search party that canvassed the area. It was found several feet away from the body in a plastic bag with the shirt he was last seen wearing at the club.

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Further searches conducted within the same area just a short while ago, about ten minutes, resulted in the discovery of the head of the head of Michael Gladden concealed in a bag. Police are currently on the scene processing that area.”

Brett Smith

“Today I am off so I decided I would go out with the crowd and I went and I am the one ended up finding the head today. I’m actually the person that walked into it. It was in the same area; just a little more up from where the body was found, the head was found.”

Duane Moody

“…in bushes?”

Brett Smith

“Yeah. It was in the bushes. It was like behind a garbage dump, a garbage pile…it was hung up on a branch or something like that.”

Duane Moody

“In a plastic bag or something?”

Brett Smith

“Yeah it was in a plastic bag along with the shirt that he had on. Yeah; that was together.”

While police have been unable to ascertain a motive for the crime, several persons have been detained pending further investigation. It is believed that the detainees, who are both from Roaring Creek and Cotton Tree Villages, are responsible for the crime.

Reporter

“Are the suspects known to police?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Yes, they are known to police.”

Reporter

“And are they known to Mister Gladden?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Yes we do believe they do.”

Reporter

“So the persons you guys have detained are from Roaring Creek?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Some are. And at least one of those persons was identified to have been in the nightclub as well.”

The murder weapon has not been recovered as yet. Duane Moody for News Five.