Disabled Man is Chopped to Death in Punta Gorda

Marcus Tracy

There was also a murder recorded in the South, this time a disabled man in Punta Gorda. In the wee hours of Saturday, police were called out to a house where they discovered Marcus Tracy’s body. With the assistance of footage from PGTV, Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

In Punta Gorda, he was recognised as one of the strongest swimmers from the south, but over the weekend, Marcus Tracy, better known as Chippy or Chip Mouse, was murdered inside his house on New Cerro Road in that southernmost municipality. The sixty-year-old, who was wheelchair bound, was discovered lying in a pool of his own blood with three chop wounds to the head.

Rose O’Brian, Former Sister-in-law of Deceased

“According to my grandson, one of his son call him from Cerro that was about after twelve, minutes to one, and tell him to tell your grandmother that they just kill chip mouse; they chop him up.”

Hilberto Romero

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“Around 12:25 a.m., police responded to a report that someone was found with chop wounds on New Road in P.G. Police found the body of Marcus Tracy with several chop wounds to the body. Investigation revealed that the deceased had an altercation with a person earlier that day and thereafter, a person found his body and he was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”

Tracy was not known to have enemies. Rose O’Brian says that his children live with their mother in Mango Creek. She believes he may have been targeted for money.

Rose O’Brian

Rose O’Brian

“I was there for him when he dropped sick. I mind him and at the time, that was in 2015. Up to now, when he want a little help to go and wash his clothes or clean his house, I am always there for him.  I don’t know what they would want to do something like that because that man is a disable man.”

Reporter

“Do you know if he was working or maybe he was receiving any pension?”

Rose O’Brian

“He was receiving his pension and I heard that he had just got his pension at that time. Friday gone, ih just receive his pension. The way how I see it, maybe dehn monitor him when he was going to pick up his money at the bank.”

According to police, the deceased was socialising with a group of persons when he was threatened.

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Several persons are detained and are being questioned in regards to this murder.”

Reporter

“Any idea what the nature of the altercation was about?’

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero

“They had some conflict and threats were passed.”

The body will be transported from the morgue in Punta Gorda to Belize City where a post-mortem will be conducted. According to O’Brian, Tracy’s remains will be laid to rest in Pomona Valley where his mother died. Duane Moody for News Five.