After eight years on the lam, Melvin Salazar turns himself in
Twenty-nine year old Melvin Salazar, an accused fugitive who was at large since 2004 turned himself in to San Ignacio Police on April twenty-eight after several years of being on the lam. Salazar, who was in the presence of a local Justice of the Peace, is accused of the murder of Ermildo ‘Chakiste’ Coc which occurred on June 16th 2004. Both men were employed at a construction site at Barton Creek Farm on the Mountain Pine Ridge Road when Coc was chopped multiple times to the body. Salazar was subsequently arrested and charged for the brutal slaying but absconded during a routine cleaning out of the holding cell he was detained in. The escapee reportedly swam to freedom across the Mopan River traveling north to Mexico where he spent two years before entering into Guatemala. From Guatemala Salazar made quite a few abrupt visits to his family in Santa Elena Town before turning himself in to authorities. According to Salazar he surrendered himself after growing weary of being on the run, realizing that once the police caught up with him his life could be in danger. Salazar now faces an escape charge and it is expected that the he will have his day in court to answer for the murder of Ermildo Coc.
2 things may have happened:
Either he learned that criminals are being freed in this country even after admitting to heinous crimes,
or, He learned that prisoners are serving an average of three years to five years ( 1/3 their sentence) even for major crimes.
Or maybe he committed a crime in Guatemala and is now running from them!
Police in Belize have a tendency to shoot first then ask questions last so maybe he heard about that and decided he has a better chance in court than with the police. Wish him luck with either one
this man has some other agenda,that is why he turn himself in, definatley is not guilty conscience, I hope he get what he deserve, cause he killed the man without mercy, I am in wonder how he made few abrupt visits to his family in santa elena with our police being aware of his presence in the country HMMM either police dept was ASLEEP or he knew how to make himself invisible and cross the ARTIFICIAL BORDER without being seen, what a joke!!!