Valley of Peace resident, Marlon Balona, died due to severe chest and abdominal injuries
But there is a fourth murder which is most recent and involved a man wanted by Belmopan Police. Marlon Balona’s body was found under cohune leaves off a feeder road in an isolated area of the village of La Gracia on Sunday afternoon. Balona’s body had injuries to the chest and neck area; and on Tuesday, a postmortem examination revealed that he died from severe chest and abdominal injuries. Inspector Reymundo Reyes of the San Ignacio Police Formation says that from information gathered so far, a motive for the murder of the Valley of Peace resident is still unknown.
Via Phone: Inspector Reymundo Reyes, Deputy O.C., San Ignacio Police
“Yesterday, a post mortem examination was conducted on the body of Marlon Balona at the K.H.M.H. morgue. At the end of the examination the doctor certified that the person died or severe chest and abdominal injuries. The case at this moment is still being treated as a murder where present we are conducting interview and trying to see what all information police can gather up in terms of the police investigation.”
Duane Moody
“What is believed to be the motive of this crime?”
Via Phone: Inspector Reymundo Reyes
“At this moment we cannot ascertain what is the motive as to the reason why this person was killed.”
Duane Moody
“Did he have his personal belongings on him? Where they stolen or anything of that sort?”
Via Phone: Inspector Reymundo Reyes
Reymundo Reyes
“We do not believe that this was that of a robbery, the person has everything, his bicycle was beside him and everything.”
Duane Moody
“What is it believed that caused those injuries?”
Via Phone: Inspector Reymundo Reyes
“I cannot say. It could have been a blow; it could have been a kick drop or something that it was a severe knock that he received on the chest area.”
Duane Moody
“With a blunt object?”
Via Phone: Inspector Reymundo Reyes
“Yes it could have been that, like when you catch in an accident or you drop and you knock the left side of your body, whatsoever.”
Duane Moody
“But so far no leads as to who could have done this to him or anything like that?”
Via Phone: Inspector Reymundo Reyes
“Not at this moment.”
Balona was wanted for questioning by Belmopan Police in connection with the murder of Canadian Missionary Brian Townsend. Townsend went missing on Christmas Eve from his home in Valley of Peace and his body identified on January second after it had been retrieved from the Mopan River near Arenal.
