Clues wash away after three years missing at sea
Seven men set out to sea exactly three years ago. Six were never seen again and the body of the other washed up on the reef days later. Magistrate Richard Swift died from a punctured liver. Their vessel was also found near Gallows Point. It is not known what transpired on that fishing trip and the case of the six missing fishermen remains an unsolved mystery. News Five’s Marion Ali looks back at that incident.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today marks three years since seven anglers went missing at sea without a trace, except for one whose body later washed up in waters just off the coast of Belize a few days later. The seven men, Derrick Escobar, father and son, Ismael and Abner Quiros, Egbert “Nick” Nicholson, Ealon Reyes and Gustavo Briceno and Magistrate Richard Swift left Belize City on a fishing trip at around nine on Sunday November fourth aboard a twenty foot Mexican skiff en route to their usual fishing grounds between Long Caye and English Caye.
The vessel was discovered two days later on November sixth after it was spotted by a fisherman near Gallows Point. Officials found the submerged skiff named “Ocean Hopper”, stripped of its awning and engine, but the key was still in the ignition. After several air and sea searches by joint Police, BDF and Coast Guard personnel and individual search teams, there was still no sign of the anglers.
Richard Swift
No sign, that is, until November tenth when the decomposing corpse of Magistrate Richard Swift was found on Middle Caye at Glover’s Reef, some sixty miles southwest of where the boat was discovered. Forensic pathologist, Dr. Mario Estradabran, concluded that Swift met a violent death when a blunt object to his midsection broke two of his ribs which then punctured his liver. Swift had just returned to Belize a couple months before and was presiding Magistrate in Belmopan.
While the search efforts have long been called off, the families of the missing men still hold onto a glimmer of hope that someday, by some miracle, they will receive news that their loved ones have been found. Marion Ali for News Five.
Meanwhile, in a more recent case, a search has also been discontinued for Barrington Gomez, who along with two other fishermen encountered rough seas during Hurricane Richard on Sunday October twenty-fourth.
The Zeta Cartel strikes AGAIN…………..
As sister to one of the men that went missing, even though we found our beloved brother’s body, it still haunts us not knowing what really happen a sea. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the remaining missing men. I strongly believe that one day we will know what transpired at sunset November 4, 2007. God will bring everything to light because He is a faithful and just God.
MAY GOD CONTINUE WATCHING OVER ALL THE MISSING MEN WHOSE FAMILY ARE STILL WONDERING AND HOPING FOR SOME ANSWERS. “MAGS” WE WERE ONE OF THE FORTUNATE TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO BURY RICHARD’S BODY, LIKE YOU SAID ONE DAY WE WILL LEARN THE TRUTH. RICHARD MY DEAR COUSIN YOU ARE GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN, R.I.P.
For earl grey – More like the Zananeh Cartel!
just to say, Mr. Gustavo is my niece grandpa, we never knew that angry people would have done this to you, but just prays will guide you safely home. Mr. Bric God is the judge for everything that is being done on this earth . Who the Lord Bless no man can bring done. May we continue to pray for a peaceful country
Oh come on my fellow Belizeans cut the crap…. so Seven prominent Belizean males go fishing on an overcrowded tiny boat on a day when there was a strong cold front blowing and a small craft warning in effect…FISHING MY @$$
You reap what you sow!
Thats cold Islander VERY COLD—I don’t know any of these people and I can feel the pain for
them and their family- Don’t be judge-Jury-executioner on unsolved mystery dude–
PERHAPS–not that I wanna sound like a fool like youself–BUT JUST PERHAPS- you know what
happened to these people—POLICE TRACK DOWN ISLANDER–…………….
…………………be hacked—there goes a strong face that can bring back a finger print to these unexplained and
unsolved disappearance- SNIPE
I do believe that one day the truth will come out aswell. Whatever happened there none of us can tell or judge for we were not there, so i don’t find it in any way funny to be making up stories or making assumptions. These men have families think if it was any of your family members out there. Anyway my thoughts and prayers are with the family of these men and the other men that were never found now five years ago, the fishermen fromo sarteneja! I wish someone would remember them.
ISLANDER, be what may , I guess you have never have to feel the lost of a love one under circumstances unknown to you. Until you have felt it keep your insensitive comments to yourself, some people comments really shows how illiterate they are, families are still mourning for their love ones. You must have been close to these men to know what they sowed, Islander.