Body of Santana man found in bushes behind his house
Maurice Dennison Young
The body of fifty-seven year old Maurice Dennison Young was found on Tuesday evening; the last time he was seen alive was on Monday night when he told a friend he was going to the house of a neighbour. A family friend made the gruesome discovery in the bushes behind his home in Santana on the old Northern Highway. While there are signs that he was killed, police are awaiting the official post-mortem examination report to determine if it is a case of murder. But tonight there are more questions than answers. Mike Rudon was in Santana today and has the story.
Mike Rudon, Reporting
At around eleven this morning an on-site post-mortem examination was conducted on the decomposed body of Maurice Dennison Young. He was found in the bushes about twenty-feet behind his home. Mark Reid is a childhood friend of the man everybody knew as Tuko. He sent his daughter to look for Tuko Tuesday evening.
Mark Reid
Mark Reid, Friend of Deceased
“Yesterday, whole morning, I neva did see he during the day. I mi fu call she an ask she if he mi gawn pon di bus, because his bike mi outside and his radio deh on, so I mi fu call she but I neva did call a. So when she come di evening she call mi and I seh gial, Tuko mi gawn pon di bus…and she seh no. I seh well e bik deh deh and e radio deh on…I no know weh e deh, so she seh e gwein go check directly. When she gawn check di same time I come down by her house because I live down more…and when I gawn deh she mi done deh ova da side deh…and she hail me and seh daddy come yah. I seh fu wat…yu find Tuko. She seh no, come ya. An when I reach there e seh go back deh yu wah see something like somebody swell back deh. And when I walk I see like wah jeans pants and I seh yes da Tuko dat and we come back.”
The examination was finished at midday, but Police are awaiting a final report before they classify it as a murder. But reading between the lines, it is clear that they suspect Young was killed.
ASP Christopher Noble, Rural Executive Officer
“The confirmation on his cause of death I cannot say as yet. The Medical Examiner still has that information. We will be getting it shortly. Our information so far is telling us that we may need to interview some people to find out possibility of where he was last, and who he was last with.”
Colin Jones was likely one of the last persons who saw Tuko alive.
Colin Jones
Colin Jones, Friend of Deceased
“Tuko come and hail me afta Maskall bus pass Monday evening, yu understand…bout round seven-fifteen, seven-thirty, something like that. So he refer to me that he gwein round by Sheena, a lady weh live right up the street, bout three house from me. Weh happen is that I neva hear Tuko pass back and my dogs neva bark and afterwards I drop asleep. Tuesday morning I come and look fu Tuko and can’t find Tuko.”
By that time, Young was already dead. But who would have killed the Santana resident? He was known to drink, but he was still loved in the community. Family members, students and villagers walked behind his casket to pay their last respects this morning.
Anthony Young
Anthony Young, Nephew of Deceased
“Everyone I think from Sandhill to Maskall knows that my uncle is a heavy drinker, and whenever he drinks he doesn’t bar anything, he would tell you like it is right now. But regardless of that, we all know him, we all love him and a lot of people in the village cannot understand why somebody would want to take his life so violently like that…makes no sense. We are hearing rumours but we cannot say for sure.”
Some fingers are pointing to this man, Hendycott ‘Alex’ Reid. He’s been one of Belize’s most wanted since December 2013, suspected of a string of robberies and even a murder. He lived in this house in Santana near Young’s home. Rumours are that Young saw Reid in the village recently and he was silenced so he wouldn’t tell Police.
ASP Christopher Noble
Christopher Noble
“Our information has been leading us in several directions. And so far the directions that it’s leading us in will yield some positives. To release any further information at this time would be premature.”
Reporter
“But you are following this lead?”
ASP Christopher Noble
“It’s not following this lead. It’s following up every lead.”
Family members who saw the body told us that Tuko’s throat was cut, but Police would not confirm that report. Mike Rudon for News Five.
Up to news time Ladyville Police would not disclose the cause of death, stating that they would do so after getting the official report.
