Did rough past catch up with 72 year old murder victim?

Belize’s dubious distinction as one of the most homicidal nations on the planet continues to be reinforced, as tonight we have two new murders to report. The first occurred sometime over the weekend in Ladyville. News Five’s Marion Ali has the details.

Marion Ali, Reporting
Ladyville police have a new murder to solve tonight after the body of an elderly watchman was found yesterday evening inside his yard.

Seventy-two year old Alden Reid, a well-known resident of the area, lived alone at twenty-one Mamie Road in Ladyville. His attacker or attackers apparently accosted him inside his yard when he arrived home sometime on Saturday night.

His bicycle, with his Saturday night supper still on its handle, was parked beside the doghouse where he left it when he entered his yard that night. Regional police Commander for Ladyville and Hattieville, Inspector Calbert Flowers, says Reid’s body was discovered after a lady who cooks for him grew concerned that he did not show up for food on Sunday and Monday and sent someone looking for him.

Inspector Calbert Flowers, Regional Commander, Ladyville and Hattieville
“His body had a total of fourteen stab wounds. He had a mark around his neck along with an electrical wire still around his neck. The body was lying face down in the yard.”

Marion Ali
“Did it appear to be a robbery or a burglary?”

Inspector Flowers
“Yes, there are signs indicating that his house was ransacked. His wallet was found lying beside his body giving indication that his culprits went through his wallet. There is no indication whether or not he had cash on him.”

Reid lived adjacent to the Ladyville Sinai Seventh Day Adventist Church and in front of the Sinai Seventh Day Adventist School. First Elder of the Church, John Frazer, says the murder came as a surprise to him as he had seen Reid at services earlier that same day.

John Frazer, First Elder, Ladyville Seventh Day Adventist Church
“Mr. Reid was at church on Saturday. I spoke to him personally, shook his hand and he was very happy and joyful. This was around twelve fifteen p.m.”

Marion Ali
“He had just recently started to attend your church?”

John Frazer
“Yes, about three months ago he got baptised and joined our church. It was a surprise to us yesterday when we heard the news.”

The news of the murder also came as a shock to Reid’s daughter, Sana Mortis, but she believed Reid’s past might have caught up with him.

Sana Mortis, Reid’s Daughter
“I’m speculating it’s either a robbery attempt or it could have been some type of revenge thing, but it was obviously a murder. The police say they’re investigating it right now. What we know is that he had a licensed thirty-eight revolver and that is missing. His wallet was found, however, empty. We still did not find his keys anything of the sort, his house was ransacked.”

Marion Ali
“Why do you say it might have been an act of revenge?”

Sana Mortis
“Well, from some time my dad is a well-known man and he was no saint up until recently. He had joined the church and had baptised and he has been saved, noh, but he had his moments in life, as we all do, and I guess along the way he made a few enemies here and there and it could either be some long time person from way back trying to come at him, you know, or it could have just been a plain robbery.”

But a plain robbery would not normally require fourteen stab wounds. Reid was buried this afternoon after funeral services at his residence.

Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.

Police have yet to make an arrest in the death of Alden Reid.