Father of Autistic Student Questioned How Son Was Left Unnoticed

A father is left searching for answers after his 6-year-old autistic son, Gabriel Orellano, wandered away from the Stella Maris School and was later found in the sea about a mile from campus in Belize City.

Gabriel’s father, Vidal Orellano, told News Five that he was on his way to go out in the sea for work, since he’s a fisherman, when he was notified that his son had had an accident. However, he said he never expected what he learnt. 

“I dah fisherman, I was at the port dih wait to go to sea, and my brother was the one that came to me and told me something happened to my son and we have to go now,” Vidal said, adding that he expected a broken bone injury at the worst, but never the news that his son had drowned.

Vidal described his son Garbiel as playful and happy, “no matter what nobody said about him, that he gave too much trouble or don’t sit down, it never mattered. I carried him with me… He never stayed nowhere without me.”

“The only thing I say in my head is why nobody grab ah? they see a lee baby dih walk by himself but they know he’s from Stella Maris, why nobody grab ah?” He said. “I would have rathered the police have my baby than weh part he deh right now.I would have appreciated if they grabbed him. No matter if I mih find him dih cry and police have ah, but at least I mi wah have ah in my hands still.”

Young Gabriel was found dead after wandering off the Stella Maris School compound on Monday morning. His body was discovered floating a mile away along the seaside.

Orellano had been attending the only school in the country for children with special needs, and his parents are now questioning how he was able to leave the secure school grounds unnoticed.

He mentioned that the school has stayed quiet while the investigation is ongoing, but he is scheduled to meet with them on Wednesday for an update.