Man Murdered in Belama; Gilbert Martinez is Chopped to Death

On Sunday morning, a gruesome discovery was made in the Belama Phase Four area of Belize City. The decomposing body of a man who, until this afternoon was a John Doe, had been chopped to death and his body bound. Today, investigators are still trying to piece together what triggered the vicious attack on the man, now identified as Gilbert Martinez. News Five went into the area and here’s this report.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department

“So far, we haven’t confirmed his identity and we are hoping that the general public, if you have a relative missing, would visit the Belama police station or any police station and try to help us to identify this John Doe.”

Duane Moody, Reporting

Police were initially asking for help to identify a body that was discovered around 10:25 a.m. on Sunday. Officers went to a remote area of Belama phase five near the river where they discovered the body of a man who wore dreadlocks.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“They found a body bounded in an early stage of decomposition. This person was described as dark complexion with dreadlocks dressed in a grey long sleeve shirt and black short pants.”

When we went into the area today, police were on the scene. Two women later exited the bushy area along with a police officer, carrying several items, including a dog.  Residents say that the deceased was mannerly and had been living in the area for some time now. Prior to the discovery, however, the victim had not been seen for a while. Defensive wounds among other telltale signs at the scene indicate that he had been murdered.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“The body was transported to our forensic facility where it awaits a post-mortem. The police observed cut wounds to the body so we know that it was some form of foul play and we are treating the investigation as a murder investigation.”

By mid-afternoon, the body was identified as that of thirty-five-year-old Gilbert Martinez, a resident of Belama Phase Four. Duane Moody for News Five.