Body Found Floating in Barrel in Belize City Canal

Christian Ramos

It was a violent weekend across the country, as three murders and several other shooting incidents have been reported.  This morning, the decomposing body of a teenager was found inside a shipping barrel.  He had been fatally shot and stuffed inside the container.  The body of eighteen-year-old Christian Ramos was discovered inside a blue barrel that was floating in a Belize City canal. The shocking discovery was made earlier this morning in the Sarstoon Street area. Ramos went missing on Sunday after leaving his mother’s house. Investigators say that he had been shot and his killers attempted to dispose of the body. Here’s News Five’s Hipolito Novelo with our first story.

Hipolito Novelo, Reporting

The body of eighteen-year-old Christian Ramos was found just after six o’clock this morning inside a blue barrel in Belize City. The barrel was floating in the canal near Sarstoon Street. Ramos’ body was stuffed inside the shipping container. Residents in the area are shocked at the discovery.

Voice of: Dannica Usher, Neighbor

“I was still in bed when my mother came to call me and told me that they found a body in a barrel here. But the barrel was floating near here since Monday. They saw it coming from up so but nobody didn’t really pay it any mind. I guess, right here doesn’t have any seawall, it floated right here by this boat. Another boat was there and my brother he has some fishermen who usually go with he to sea. So they came this morning early like after six and that is when they discovered it, they saw it down there.”

Investigators say that Ramos was shot. His murderer or murderers then tried to get rid of the body by putting him inside the barrel. Ramos had left his mother’s house before Christmas Day and since then had disappeared.

Hilberto Romero

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Information is that Ramos was last seen two days ago. He was reported missing and his lifeless body was found inside the container. Yes he is known to police. We are not sure how long that container was in the water. The body has been taken to the morgue, awaiting a post mortem examination.”

Investigators are working to establish a motive and following several leads. No suspect has been identified. Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.