The search for Ramon Cervantes Sr. continues

Seventy-two hours after businessman and farmer Ramon Cervantes Sr. was reported missing, his family is saying nothing and the police are being very cautious about what they do say. The seventy-one-year-old Orange Walk resident allegedly disappeared on Tuesday from his farm located on the San Roman Road, just a few miles from town. His family maintains that he was abducted, though they don’t know the motive. Police took action Tuesday evening, setting up checkpoints at strategic points and conducting searches in the vicinity of Cervantes’ farm. The family and police spoke to the media on Wednesday, but since that time official information has been scarce. Rumours have been rampant, though, and our news team was in Orange Walk this morning to get some clarity. Mike Rudon has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

Ramon Cervantes Sr.

The search for missing farmer Ramon Cervantes Senior continues. On Tuesday his family found his Land Rover and other items abandoned in the middle of his cane-field, but he was nowhere to be found, and hasn’t been seen since. When last we spoke to his family, they were adamant that he had been abducted, and Police were immediately brought into the case. They set up checkpoints immediately, even as they maintained that it was only a missing person case at that point. It has still not been officially upgraded to a kidnapping.

Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette, Commander, Northern Zone

“We’ve been on investigation from the report we got that he was missing. The investigation still continues; we are following several leads, but so far we haven’t had much success, but we are following some leads.”

Joseph Myvette

Reporter

“Is it being treated as a missing person’s case still?”

Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette

“Yes it is.”

Reporter

“Not kidnapping contrary to reports?”

Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette

“Not to my knowledge.”

There has been no shortage of rumours. According to those localized, informal reports, Cervantes was abducted by three men and taken across the border to a small Mexican community known as cacao. Today our team travelled miles off the road to a remote spot between San Roman and San Antonio. We were told that on Wednesday morning at ten am, a resident of San Roman saw Ramon Cervantes Sr. held captive here…bound, his mouth covered with duct tape, sitting on one of these logs. We asked Myvette if that report was handed in to Police.

Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette

“Yes it was and the police did go out there, but that lead did not amount to anything. I can tell you that the entire area of the farm, surrounding the farm, was searched and so far he has not been found.”

Reporter

“There are also allegations that somebody saw him being crossed by three men over to the Mexican side. Are you guys following that with your Mexican counterparts?”

Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette

“We are in contact with our Mexican counterparts, but we haven’t had that information.”

Back in Orange Walk Town, we found the benches in front of the courtroom packed with angry residents who say that persons close to them have been detained by Police. They say that as many as twenty-five persons were hauled in today for questioning in the Cervantes disappearance. Myvette dismissed those allegations.

Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette

“What happens is that the police work generally continues. There has been a lot of detention for other crimes as well. So I would not want to say that all of those detentions are in relation to this case. There have been a lot of other people that have been detained in relation to other cases.”

Mike Rudon

“Could you tell us exactly or at least give us some insight into who has been detained or how many persons have been detained for questioning at least in this Ramon Cervantes case?”

Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette

“At this point in time, I do not have that figure I would have to get that and confirm with you, but I know that at least six statements were recorded from persons that were in the immediate area.”

There has been visibly increased Police presence in the area of San Roman, but Myvett says that is not because of any belief that Cervantes was taken across the border in that community.

Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette

“The farm is somewhere on the San Roman Road; that is why we are maintaining a presence in that area. We have already concluded our searches within the immediate area of the farm, but we continue to extend our patrols to that area.”

Reporter

“But why the belief that maybe he was…I mean the border area, is there any reason why you guys think that he was crossed to the Mexican side?”

Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette

“No, none at all; not that I know about.”

That was the Police saying a lot but saying nothing much. Whether it is because they know nothing new or because they have decided to be discreet about new information…remains to be seen. Mike Rudon for News Five.

According to Myvette, the family has received no call or communication asking for a ransom or providing any information on the whereabouts of Cervantes.