Police investigate death of Cayo teen
What appeared to be a routine trip to the hospital on Sunday has resulted in the death of a Cayo youth. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods is just off the road with the story.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
San Ignacio police have launched an investigation into the death of thirteen-year-old Jairo Larios.
Inspector Gilroy Nicholas, O.I.C., San Ignacio Police
“I can assure the family that I will leave no nut unturned, I will do a thorough investigation into this matter. And the file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for his directive. It is my intention to get this file to the Director of Public Prosecutions as early as next week for his directive. And whatsoever directive he gives, I will abide by it.”
“We are looking to see if anyone is criminally responsible, or is negligently responsible for the cause of this child’s death, that is what we are looking for.”
Around 1:00 on Sunday morning the teenager was rushed to the San Ignacio Hospital. He was suffering from severe stomach pains and was vomiting. At the hospital the boy was reportedly seen by Nurse Rosita Figueroa, who contacted by phone the doctor on call, Lesbia Guerra. Authorities say Dr. Guerra did not so to the hospital, but over the phone told Nurse Figueroa to give the child three injections. Larios continued to complain about pain, and according to authorities, Nurse Figueroa was then ordered to give the child five hundred milligrams of metronidazone. Around 5:30 that morning Larios was sent home.
However, at 2:30 that afternoon Larios’ condition worsened. The boy’s fingers and toes had turned blue. Once again Larios was rushed to the hospital, but died on the way.
Aminda Larios says she can’t understand why her son is dead. Police say they are equally disturbed about what they found at the hospital when officers went to investigate on Monday morning.
Police say when they arrived at the hospital they were surprised to find out that the post-mortem examination was already underway on the body of thirteen-year-old Jario Larios. In fact, authorities say the doctor had already cut open the body and removed the child’s intestines. Inspector Nicholas, the Officer in Charge of the San Ignacio police station said this was not only highly suspicious, but illegal.
Insp. Gilroy Nicholas
“I was very much surprised the autopsy was very much underway without the knowledge of the police or any relatives present. Because to do an autopsy a relative must be there to identify the body to the police and the doctor and the police officer must be present at all times. And I ordered the Corporal to inform the doctor to cease forthwith because as far as we are concerned it is a sudden death and we will be getting authorities to do the autopsy.”
The post-mortem conducted by Dr. Nelson Martinez revealed that Larios died as a result of ingesting a toxic substance. The police say further tests will need to be done to determine what the child may have taken that killed him.
Insp. Gilroy Nicholas
“We have the autopsy report from the police pathologist and we have blood which was taken to the Police Forensic Unit to be tested to see what exactly is inside the blood. And when all of this is returned, the file will be taken along with the forensic report to the Director of Public Prosecutions for his directive.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting for News 5.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health tells News 5 that they have launched their own investigation into the death. It will be headed by Director of Health Services Dr. Errol Vanzie.
