Family Finds Body Amidst Search for Missing Birthday Boy

After two agonizing days of searching, the family of twenty-four-year-old Moises Garbutt believes they’ve found the heartbreaking answer they feared most. The young Roaring Creek resident, who had been excitedly preparing for his birthday celebration on May eleventh, vanished without a word the night before. When he didn’t check in, his loved ones knew something was wrong. Today, their worst fears came true. Around one p.m., a body believed to be Garbutt’s was discovered about five hundred yards off the George Price Boulevard In Belmopan. Though official confirmation is still pending, family members say the clothing and location leave little doubt. According to police, no visible injuries were observed and the investigation continues to determine the cause of death. The discovery has left the community in shock and mourning, as questions now turn to what happened in the hours leading to his disappearance. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more on this developing story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

What was meant to be a joyful celebration turned into heartbreak for the family of Moises Garbutt. The twenty-four-year-old Roaring Creek resident had nearly finished preparing for his birthday party when he suddenly vanished. He never got the chance to blow out his candles or hear his family sing to him. Two days after he went missing, a body believed to be Garbutt’s was discovered near the entrance of Belmopan. His sister, Leah James, who had been clinging to hope that her brother would walk through the door, is now left devastated. The discovery has sent shockwaves through the community, as loved ones mourn the loss of a young life taken far too soon.

 

Leah James, Sister of Deceased

“He went  missing around between Saturday and Sunday May tenth and May elevent,  he went missing. Around that time we realized he was missing Sunday, May eleventh, Sunday was his birthday and he had a few things planned for his birthday. And when one of his cousins, who was his best friend came to look for him, that’s when he alerted us that they hadn’t seen him the night and it’s not like him to just make plants and then pull out from the plans without saying anything. So that’s when we realized he was missing.”

 

The desperate two-day search for Moises Garbutt came to a tragic end when his own aunt made a heartbreaking discovery, a lifeless body near the entrance of Belmopan, believed to be the missing twenty-four-year-old. What began as a hopeful effort to bring him home turned into a nightmare for his family, who had been clinging to every shred of hope. Now, they’re left with grief and unanswered questions.

 

Leah James

“As soon as we realized he was missing, all of the family came together, we started search parties. We notified the police that the standard. Operation for reporting. Initially, we weren’t really getting a lot of assistance from the police, but today the CIB and police really helped us a lot. They were on the ground with us for the most part. So we’re appreciative for that.”

 

While this discovery is devastating for the family, police have yet to confirm the body’s identity due to its advanced state of decomposition.

 

Leah James

“My aunt  was the first one to see his body. We were combing different areas and that’s how we saw birds and that’s what led us to the era where we found him. It was family on the ground. And my aunt saw him from a distance and some of us went a little bit closer to  identify and ensure that was him.”

 

According to the family, his brother had gotten into altercations recently, resulting in threats against his life. However, they never imagined they would escalate to this level of severity.

 

Leah James

“He did  he did receive threats. Initially, he notified us, but it wasn’t something we took serious. Simply because this is a small village, it’s normal to have little threats here and there, but for someone like him, we didn’t take it serious.”

 

Garbutt, a father of two, is described as a humble family man. His entire family, who had gathered in excitement to celebrate his birthday, instead banded together to search, in the hope that they would bring him home.

 

Leah James

“He was a very humble person. He was very loving and he loved kids. There’s always this little thing that I always remind him. I told him, you remember when we were younger? He took some little pieces of board. Board that my dad did construction work with, took the board and little cup covers and nail them together and made his own truck. That’s the type of person he’s really good with his hands. He can take a machine dong and put it up right back in front of your face. That’s the kind of person he is. He’s a humble person. Always has a smile on his face. It’s very rare that you are gonna see him upset and if he is upset. By the end of the day, he’s gonna be smiling right back again with you.”

 

While police are still investigating the case, James and her family are praying that the right people will be brought to justice.

 

Leah James

“We’re definitely  hoping we can get justice. We have with the police department in Roaring Creek Village. They are definitely doing the work on the ground for us now, which we are grateful for, and we’re hoping the persons involved with this will be brought to swift justice.”

 

Now that the party supplies and food have been packed away, the family prepares to lay Moises to rest.  Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Moises is described as a loving brother, son, father and stepfather. Police will be conducting a DNA test to ascertain the identity of the individual.