Strong Cross-border Relationship Led to Apprehension of Brian Castillo

Brian Castillo is on remand at the Belize Central Prison for allegedly killing his common-law wife and her twelve-year-old daughter last weekend in San Ignacio.  Following the harrowing incident, Castillo took custody of his seven-year-old son and absconded to Guatemala.  He was apprehended by local authorities in Melchor several days later and was handed over to the Belize Police Department.  In speaking with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams about the incident, he touched on the cross-border relationship between both law enforcement agencies.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“As you would know that earlier in the year we had a number of incidents along our borders that prompted us to have invited our Guatemalan counterparts to meetings which were organized by the OAS and the meetings were…The purpose of those meetings were to enhance the relationship between both law enforcement agencies, particularly along the border areas. And so we developed a very good relationship with the Guatemalan police and so when the incident with Brian Castillo occurred and I must say it’s very unfortunate, having to kill his partner and the child, it’s just sad.  But nonetheless, when we got wind of him being in Guatemala, we contacted our Guatemalan counterparts and they quickly sprung into action, they were able to locate him and again, through that relationship they were able to hand him over to us.  Castillo has since been charged for two counts of murder and I think he had appeared before the court and is remanded at the prison.”