Family Demands Justice for Leonard Baltazar  

The family of Leonard Baltazar is once again pleading with the Belize Police Department for justice following his death on December eleventh, 2024. Initial reports claimed Baltazar fell to his death while trying to flee after an alleged burglary attempt, but his family disputes this, pointing to conflicting accounts that suggest he was restrained and killed. Tonight, they are demanding answers and justice for their late son. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

It’s been about four months since twenty-two-year-old Leonard Baltazar was found dead outside a cabana at Reef’s End Lodge on Tobacco Caye. Staff discovered Baltazar around 2:20 a.m. Initial reports claimed he fell to his death after attempting to burglarize the room of two tourists at the resort. However, his family disputes this, pointing to conflicting accounts suggesting he was chased out of the room, restrained, and killed. Vincent Higinio, Leonard’s stepfather, believes that if the latter is true, the incident cannot be ruled as self-defense.

 

Vincent Higinio, Stepfather of Deceased

“He thought that the intruder might have been dangerous. If he thought that, then why would you put your life in danger? Do you and as a citizen, your responsibility, your duty is to call the police not to pursue an intruder. You have the option, but his responsibility, was to call the police or call somebody to  because he, his life was no longer in threat. Now I’m hearing also the question about a young man making bad decisions. And I believe we all were young, and we all made bad decisions at one time in our life. That doesn’t deserve a death sentence.”

 

The family has been pleading with the police to reopen the case and has been following up with them weekly. Leonard Baltazar’s mother, Maris Sanchez, says the police have not been forthcoming with information.

 

Maris Sanchez, Mother of Deceased

“So I haven’t gotten no feedback about nothing about my son, and it’s going on to five months now. On the eleventh of this month coming, it will be five months and no worry at about nothing.”

Sanchez explains that she filed for a death report about three months ago but has yet to receive it.

 

Maris Sanchez

“Everytime I go, they, I haven’t gotten no feedback on the report. And same way, like when I try to reach out to the CI Bs, who was getting my son murder, it’s like nobody try to come out to con, answer my questions or phone calls or any like that.”

 

The family remains uncertain whether the police are still investigating the incident. They claim that two months ago, they were informed by the police that the case had been reopened, but they haven’t received any updates since.

 

Reporter

“The case has been reopened, then that means that the case is now open. It hasn’t been closed. You haven’t been told that it was closed again.”

 

Vincent Higinio

“Since talking to him almost two months ago, we haven’t heard anything. Trying to call him. Going down to the Dangriga Police Department. He’s never available. So up to two months ago, we don’t know what the status of the case is.”

 

The inconsistencies in the reports and the lack of information from the police have deepened the family’s distress. They hope that by making a public plea, the police will provide more transparency in the investigation.

 

Vincent Higinio

“As a whole I would say poor people in Belize is very disrespected. The life of Leonard Baltazar is just as important as your life and everybody else’s life.”

 

The family warns that if no progress is made in Baltazar’s investigation, they will pursue legal action. Britney Gordon for News Five.