“Fonto King” Found Dead in Dangriga River

 

A man who had just been released from Belize Central Prison a week ago was found dead in the Riverside area of Dangriga this morning. Guillermo Martinez’s body was discovered floating between two boats in a well-known part of the river, right across from the bustling Dangriga Town Market and just a short distance from where vendors sell their produce and goods. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with a friend of Guillermo, who mentioned that locals affectionately called him the ‘Fonto King’ and that he had seen him earlier this week. Here’s the full report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Guillermo Martinez, who was released from Belize Central Prison just last Friday, was tragically found dead this morning. His body was discovered floating in the Riverside area of Dangriga shortly after six. Known to his friends as ‘Fonto King,’ Martinez had spent the past year behind bars for a theft conviction. One of his friends shared with News Five that he last saw Martinez on Monday night in the same area.

 

Friend of: Guillermo Martinez

“Probably after ten I see the man walking along the riverside and I give the man a lee buzz and that was that. I never see ah again cause Tuesday I went out to the cayes cause I da wa fisherman and we came in last night and then this morning I went to the market very early and by the time I walk eena the market, somebody seh dehn have a body over there. By the time I look cross by the river wa bwai di seh bwai da yoh bally “Fonto King.”

 

Martinez’s friend said he was known to many as “Fonto King” because he made a living selling tobacco.

 

Friend of Guillermo Martinez

“I know him as wa vendor weh he and ih whole family sell tobacco, dehn sell fonto, that’s why dehn call the man fonto king. Dehn sell fonto and lee food and what’s not.”

 

The have not yet released any information on this death. Marion Ali for News Five.