Hope Creek Resident Bludgeoned to Death at Construction Site in Hopkins

Marcus Sanchez

It was a bloody weekend across the country, with four murders recorded in three districts. Two persons were killed in separate stabbing incidents in Belmopan, a man was bludgeoned to death with a crowbar in Hopkins and a fourth died at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital two months after he was shot in the face. We start tonight’s newscast with the vicious killing of Marcus Sanchez in the outskirts of Hopkins Village. Overnight on Friday, the twenty-eight-year-old Hope Creek resident was killed by his co-worker at their worksite after the pair of men got into an altercation. The suspect, who is also from Hope Creek, is on the lam. News Five’s Duane Moody headed south today and files this report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

There was a vicious murder in the southern village of Hopkins. A pair of co-workers socializing and drinking at their jobsite in the village, led to an assault on Marcus Sanchez. The twenty-eight-year-old was bludgeoned to death with a crowbar. The pool of blood and bloodstains at the construction site near the outskirts of the village are telltale signs that Sanchez haemorrhaged from his injuries. The area where he slept on the worksite had been burnt, allegedly by a fire that had been left unattended.

Estevan Sanchez

Estevan Sanchez, Brother of Deceased

“He’s a mason man; he does construction. From since he graduated from standard six; that’s what he liked that’s his ambition to build house and so forth. He was hard working and looking out for the family. In other way I know he liked drinking and so forth, he didn’t look for trouble.  Yes he was a guy that loved his bottle, but he wasn’t an aggressive person when he was drunk. He didn’t mess with no one; he was just a cool guy. And it surprise me to know what happened to my brother, the way how he went.”

On Saturday morning, Dangriga Police were called to the area where they observed Sanchez’s body. He had a large open wound to the top of the head, as well as an apparent cut wound to the left side of his neck.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“The body had large wound to the head as well as an apparent chop wound to the left side of the neck. Initial police investigation reveals that the deceased was in the company of another male person on a construction site where they apparently had some misunderstanding, whereupon the deceased suffered these injuries.”

That suspect is Sanchez’s workmate. They both camped out at the construction site, living under what remains of a tent at the scene. The name of the suspect is being withheld at this time, but it is known that he too is from Hope Creek Village and the men knew each other well.

Estevan Sanchez

“We just have suspicious about the guy that was with him, but we can’t say that it was such and such and such and such. We can’t say that. It was surprising to know that this was going to be his end, how he is going to die. And I really feel it because he is my oldest brother and words can’t explain how it went. Like I said, we can’t do anything; I just pray to God that this gets resolved sooner than later. We find the guy who did this and he declares what happened, how it happened and what occurred. And we are waiting and hoping that…we have the faith that things will clear up and we’ll see what go0es from there.”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Police recovered a number of weapons which they believe may have been used; however, that is yet to be proved through examination.”

Marcus, who was affectionately known to family and friends as Peewee or Garvey, leaves behind a four-year-old daughter and his common-law wife. His younger brother, Estevan, says that he will be remembered as a fun-loving person.

Estevan Sanchez

“He was a guy that didn’t like sports or so forth, but he liked fishing. He liked fishing, he liked the sea. And whenever he got a chance, he would go have some fun in the waters. That’s how I’ll remember him. He was a funny guy; he always run joke with us, always had us laughing. He wasn’t a guy that was not interactive. He always was interactive with all our family members.”

Duane Moody for News Five.