Missing OW Teen Found Dead in Rhaburn Ridge

Joshua Ku

Joshua Ku enjoyed socializing with his friends in Orange Walk Town.  The nineteen-year-old lived with his sibling and grandfather and worked at a bakery along with his mother.  The mother and son would often talk and spend time with each other at work and Saturday was no different.  But when it was later discovered that Ku did not make it home after a night of partying at a popular nightclub, his family grew concerned about his safety.  That concern quickly became a fear that something bad had happened to Josh.  This afternoon, that fear became a reality.  News Five’s Isani Cayetano was in Orange Walk Town earlier today and followed the story to its tragic end.  Here’s that report.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

A mother’s worst fear was realized earlier today with the discovery of a male body, later identified as that of nineteen-year-old Joshua Ku, in a remote area of Rhaburn Ridge.  The shocking encounter by loved ones who set out in search of the Orange Walk resident this morning, brought to an end a desperate attempt at finding Ku alive.  The last time Nadia Ku saw her son was on Saturday evening while she was leaving work at La Popular Bakery.

Nadia Ku

Nadia Ku, Mother of Deceased

“I came out from work like.  I was going up the hill, going home, when I saw him fly past with his friends and he took out his head from the window and he shouted. “Ma!”  I smiled at him and waved.  From then I haven’t seen him, [or] heard from him.  All I know is that he went to Hi 5 with close friends and he come out of Hi 5 with other people that he’s not acquainted with.”

It is believed that Josh exited the establishment in the company of his ex-girlfriend’s brother.  According to his mother, that individual was never fond of her son.

Nadia Ku

The guy that took Josh, honestly, he doesn’t even like my son, so I don’t know why he pressured Josh to go with him or maybe just for the ride to bring him home.  Everyone told me Josh left Hi 5 about three or four [o’clock] that morning, but Josh never made it home.  So Sunday, which was yesterday, like nine or before nine [o’clock] in the night, my other son called me and he said, “Mom, Josh hasn’t reached home as yet.”

Immediately, a missing person’s report was filed at the Orange Walk Police Station and the family set out in search of Joshua.  This morning, Jose Witzil, a close friend of the family, joined the search party along with his son.

Jose Witzil

Jose Witzil, Family Friend

“This morning, my son called me and he told me the news, so he came down.  Now, presently, as I am speaking, he is out there looking for him. It was a surprise to me. It’s still a shock to me to know that we can’t find his body, we can’t find him. Each time the minute, the hour goes by, we get more desperate because time is being consumed.  Even the sun right now is hitting and we don’t know where he is.”

By one o’clock this afternoon, when the police department convened its weekly presser, Assistant Commissioner Hilberto Romero was able to provide additional details, albeit grim.

Hilberto Romero

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Information received was that Josh Ku was along with some male persons at a nightclub in Orange Walk and he got into a car around 3:20 a.m. on the said Sunday, February eleventh.  An investigation was carried out and searches were conducted and this afternoon, his body was found at an area near Rhaburn Ridge with stab wound injuries.  The scene is being processed at this time.”

According to Ku’s family, he was lured into the company of several persons who later killed him and disposed of his body.  While investigators say that they are yet to ascertain a motive, Josh’s mom explained to us that his former brother-in-law did not like him after Josh separated with his sister.

Nadia Ku

”His friends went to do a missing report last night, I went as well and we stayed there like an hour.  I went out to find him, came home like 3:30 in the morning and Josh was nowhere to be found.  The police called me like four o‘clock and he said that the guy Josh was with went to the station, gave up himself and he told them everything that he did to Josh.”

Isani Cayetano

“Nadia, you mentioned earlier that the individual who reportedly left with Josh from Hi 5 did not like him.  Can you explain that, is it someone that they both knew each other but they weren‘t friends or they didn‘t have a liking for each other.”

Nadia Ku

“Well Josh dated his little sister, like two years ago and I guess ever since then he did not like Josh and I don‘t know because Josh said, “Mom, he doesn‘t like me.”  He said, “You see him, he doesn‘t like me.”  I don‘t know him physically, I haven‘t seen him, have never seen him, but Josh and everyone knows that he doesn’t like my son.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.