Homeless, Mentally Challenged Man Found Murdered in Punta Gorda

A homeless man was found dead near the fishermen cooperative wharf on Front Street in Punta Gorda Town today. The body of 44-year-old Jennison Vernon, who had recently been released from the Belize Central Prison, was discovered around 11:35 a.m. with multiple chop wounds.

Police responded to the scene and found Vernon lying face down by the seawall of the cooperative building. He had suffered seven severe chop wounds from his upper shoulder to the middle of his head. Vernon, who was known to be mentally challenged, had no known family members in Punta Gorda Town, and authorities are currently trying to locate any relatives.

The crime scene was processed by Scenes of Crime Technicians. Vernon’s body was transported to the Punta Gorda Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 12:40 p.m. The body is now awaiting a post-mortem examination at the Punta Gorda Hospital Morgue.