Popular Cab Driver Found Dead Inside His Van in San Pedro

Jose Rigoberto Beltran

The forty-third murder of the year happened in broad daylight this morning in the San Juan Layout of San Pedro. At around ten this morning, popular taxi-man, forty-two year old Jose Rigoberto Beltran, was found lying in his van off the road, shot once to the back of the head. The grisly execution-style murder has shocked the community, and so has word that he was likely killed simply because criminals wanted to use his van to perpetrate another crime. Mike Rudon was in San Pedro and has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

At around ten this morning, the body of Jose Rigoberto Beltran was found lying in this van, in the bushes off the dirt road. A crowd gathered this morning at the scene of the latest cold-blooded murder, including the family of Beltran which was absolutely shocked to get the terrible news this morning. Carlos Beltran had last spoken to his brother at around nine, and says he was his usual, good-natured, happy self. The next time he saw his brother, it was at this spot after a friend called to tell him the van had been spotted off the road and somebody had been killed.

Carlos Beltran, Brother of Deceased

“I rushed from my house and came to see and the person told me it was my brother and he was the one.”

Reporter

“Now I know this is tough on you but could you describe to us…I understand that he was shot one time. Have you seen the body?”

Carlos Beltran

“Yeah up to now from a little bit far I recognized the body of my brother.”

Edward Broaster

The body was actually discovered by a Coast Guard unit patrolling the lagoon. Their attention was drawn by a shirtless man who frantically called them to the shore and told them that he made the discovery when he went into the bushes to smoke week. Police believe that it is likely Beltran was subdued and taken to that spot and killed. They say he was killed because his vehicle was needed for a robbery. But it is still early in the investigation and the pieces are still being put in place.

Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster, Head, Eastern Division Strike Team

“The information we’re receiving is the fact that the taxi would have been used to commit a robbery. We’re investigating the information as to where the robbery would have taken place. The investigation that we’re carrying out will reveal what transpired between the time they went and got the cab to the point where they got to that location, but we know for sure there was a boat which we have in our custody that was utilized in the suspect fleeing from that area. The taxi-driver was bound by his feet and we have recovered the boat used, and we have recovered some apparel that was used by the suspects in the San Mateo area.”

At exactly two this afternoon, after the body had been in the van for four hours, scenes of crime personnel arrived and began the grisly work of processing the scene, including the blood-splattered interior of the van. Beltran’s family stood waiting nearby, waiting for some answers in what seems an absolutely senseless murder.

Carlos Beltran

“Up to now there is nothing that I can think. I know he is a hard-working person just like myself and we have a very close relation and if we have any little problem we always communicate with each other but up to now he never told me anything and up to now everybody is shocked. We don’t know exactly what happened.”

Carlos Beltran

Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster

“We’ve determined that there were three suspects involved in the shooting. We have captured one of the main suspects this morning who resisted and tried to flee, and he was pepper-sprayed by some officers. He’s in our custody at this time and we are seeking two others.”

That main suspect, we were told unofficially, is a member of the Campos family which is currently under intense Police scrutiny on the island. Police actually have three persons detained, including the main suspect, and are looking for two others. They feel that in short order they will have rounded up all who conspired to end the life of this humble, hard-working taxi-man, a father of two.

Carlos Beltran

“Everybody’s sad and we weren’t ready for this and I guess there is no option. Life continues and we have to look after his kids, his family.”

At three-fifteen today, the van was driven back onto the road and the body was removed from the scene and placed in a boat which would transport it to the K.H.M.H. morgue. Mike Rudon for News Five.