Mario Huezo – prime suspect in his parents’ murder – is captured in southern Belize

A husband and wife were savagely stabbed to death inside their house in Orange Walk Town. The bodies of Rafael and Mario Huezo were found on Monday morning sending shock waves throughout the community. Today police detained one of their sons, Mario, for the gruesome murder. He was captured near Independence in the south and so was the couple’s missing vehicle. The Huezo’s were buried today. Here is Andrea Polanco with a report.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

As many as three police vehicles intercepted a green KIA Soul SUV on the southern highway in Independence Village. They were looking for the man behind the wheel – Mario Huezo – the prime suspect in the killing of his parents Rafael and Nancy Huezo. Huezo was driving his parents’ vehicle that was reported missing at the time their bodies were discovered inside their Orange Walk home. As can be seen in these pictures, Huezo was in handcuffs lying flat on the street as police apprehended him. Allegations are that Huezo had a faceoff with police in an attempt to escape and as a result he was injured. These pictures show his hands covered with blood and he also appears to be bleeding from the neck.  The bodies of the husband and wife seventy-nine-year-old Rafael and fifty-nine-year-old Nancy were found already decomposing inside their home. Both had been stabbed to death. Reports are that neighbours heard shouting coming from inside the couple’s home last Friday night.

The couple was well-known in Orange Walk and their murders sent shockwaves across the town. Mayor Kevin Bernard knew the Huezos well – he says they were model residents in his town.

Kevin Bernard, Mayor of Orange Walk

Kevin Bernard

“Let me start off by offering my sincerest and deepest condolences to the family; the Huezo family; the extended Smith family; the children. Let me say that I knew Don Lito very well. In fact, every Thursday I was on the talk show, Don Lito was a regular caller on the talk show. I grew up around Ms Nancy. She was a church sister of my mother. So, I have known them for a very long time, from I was a young child. These people are well-known, respectful citizens of our community. So, it really hurts us. When I got that news yesterday, it shocked me to the bones. Don Lito is somebody of a friendly character. He assisted people in many ways without making it public, likewise his wife. So, when a tragedy like this hits home, it really hurts.”

Since their bodies were found, their son was named as the person of interest. And he was on the run up until he was captured this morning. Mayor Bernard says that he has just learnt that Rafael Huezo may have been experiencing some issues with his son but he doesn’t know what triggered the killings.

Kevin Bernard

“No one could say what triggered this to happen. It is so sad that the suspect is one of their own. So, that makes it even worse for us. At first I thought it was a home invasion and I said why they would do something like this to poor Don Lito and Miss Nancy, but just to find out that it went further beyond that it is somebody that had access to them. So, it is a sad thing. I spoke to a friend of mine who went to his shop just a few weeks ago who said to me that Don Lito had mentioned that the son was becoming too aggressive against them. So, he said the same son they had some little issues. As I said, maybe those issues continued. But what would put in somebody’s mind to take the life of your own parents; someone who raised you and given you life and given you everything. So, it is a sad, sad situation that has happened.”

The murders, Mayor Bernard says, has hit home for Orange Walk but the bigger issue of crime is one that is affecting just about every corner in Belize and urgent interventions are needed

Mario Huezo

Kevin Bernard

“We want to see that these types of violence stop. It is a sad day for Orange Walk and it is a sad for Belize. We have another young man who was found dead on the George Price Highway – his family also lived here too and a good friend of mine. To see that innocent lives are being taken so much. You are seeing video images of people being shot so bravely, it is terrible. I think some serious steps need to be taken in Belize to address the issue of crime in the country. I hope that justice is served. There should be no stones unturned just as they did with the Mason case; every single murder and every single tragedy that happens like this needs to be investigated thoroughly and that those perpetrators be brought to justice. I would love to see this change in our community; mentality change but we need God in our lives too.”

Andrea Polanco reporting for News Five.