Sarteneja businessman’s body found chopped and charred
It is murder victim number seventy-two for this year in our records and this latest victim was apparently hacked to death and then set on fire. Police are still trying to piece together the evidence of this grizzly murder in a quiet fishing community on the northern tip of Belize that occurred sometime between last night and this morning. Villagers are still stunned at the slaughter of a businessman who was first reported missing after eight last night. The sequence of events is still unclear as News Five’s Marion Ali found out today when she travelled to Sarteneja by chopper. Some of the scenes are graphic in this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
When News Five arrived on the crime scene around two this afternoon, police were still gathering evidence. The gold chain and bracelet which the family of twenty-eight year old Ronnie Alamilla discovered around eight-thirty this morning in this pile of rubble confirmed their worst fears that the charred remains were his.
Marion Ali
“It was Alamilla’s family who received a tip, organised a search party, which led them to this farm about two miles out of Sarteneja Village. When they arrive they discovered human remains and identified jewellery which belonged to him. Alamilla was a hotel manager in Sarteneja Village.”
Alamilla, who is the part owner of Fernando’s Hotel, left the business and family home last night to take a stroll in the village. What happened thereafter is still being pieced together as police sift through whatever evidence was left on the farm.
Inspector James Moreira, Corozal Police Station
“We found two areas with remains of fire and parts which resembled the remains of human.”
Marion Ali
“Okay, so have you confirmed whether it is the same missing man?”
Insp. James Moreira
“I would guarantee that it would be the person because the items that were recovered, they were identified to be his property; such as gold chains, and esclava.”
Marion Ali
“What was the motive of this? I understand he and the accused were friends.”
Insp. James Moreira
“I cannot say what is the motive because we just get into the investigation.”
The crime scene was a farm owned by the father of the prime suspect, twenty-two year old Cristino Verde Junior, also of Sarteneja. By three this afternoon, Verde had handed himself into Corozal Police and was detained pending charges. The two men reportedly knew each other but it is not clear if they were friends. While the family of the deceased, shown here in happier times, were too stunned to offer any comments, cops are now trying to solve this latest murder.
Marion Ali
“Have you found any murder weapon?”
Insp. James Moreira
“We find some instruments which might resemble murder weapons; just instruments.”
Marion Ali
“Knives, machetes, saws?”
Insp. James Moreira
“Just instruments.”
Marion Ali
“Tools.”
Insp. James Moreira
“Yeah.”
Up to news time, police had not yet filed any charges against Verde. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
