Murder in Valley of Peace

There is a murder to report…one, in the generally peaceful community of Valley of Peace in the Cayo District. The victim has been identified as Valley of Peace resident Isidoro Bonilla. His badly decomposed body was found in his home by his daughter early this morning. The discovery shocked residents of the community, who describe the vegetable vendor as a quiet and humble man. Mike Rudon travelled to Valley of Peace and has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

Isidoro Bonilla lived alone in this house, since his wife died five years ago. He was a vendor who travelled to Belmopan twice a week, and also drove the bus for his church. Today his gate was padlocked, and his small dog gazed forlornly about, as if aware that his master wouldn’t be coming home. At around nine this morning, the body of Bonilla was found lying in a blood-soaked front room of his home.

Nestor Bonilla, Nephew of Isidoro Bonilla

Nestor Bonilla

“I was right here at the school because I had a class party. All of a sudden we got a call from Mister Cowo, he is the son-in-law of Mister Isidoro and he told me that they had found the body at his house. So I quickly called my parents and they went and inspect the house and then a little while later they called me to confirm that he was dead and that he was chopped.”

Bonilla’s nephew says he went to the scene with other family members, and didn’t go into the room because he couldn’t bear to look at his uncle that way. But he says the scene was a gruesome one, and his uncle died violently.

Nestor Bonilla

“There was blood all over the walls, the front door and the living room had blood and the body was swollen.”

Reporter

“You see any injuries on him?”

Nestor Bonilla

“Yeah. He has a cut in the face, across so, but I see it from far because I didn’t go inside.”

Bonilla was last seen on Tuesday, as he went to the Belmopan Market as usual to see vegetables. That fact, and the state of the body, suggests that he was murdered long before his body was found.

Nestor Bonilla

“People are saying that because, all of them, he went to sell in Belmopan on Tuesdays and Fridays. So the last time he went to the market was on Tuesday and seeing him there, they left all the vegetables that he brought back were there. It seems as though he had just reached from the market because all of the things were right there. But until today they found out because the body was already smell bad.”

After the scene was processed by Police this morning, we understand that Bonilla’s body was taken to a site near Burrell Boom for a post-mortem examination, though that is unconfirmed at this time. Mike Rudon for News Five.

We tried all afternoon to get official details from the Police, but our queries were ignored. Bonilla had two daughters, both living in the village.