2024-04-02 - Channel 5 Belize

Friends Die by Drowning on Easter Sunday

Two friends lost their lives in a drowning incident on Easter Sunday. Esau Castillo and Eduardo Martinez were reportedly socialising at the riverbank near the Iguana Creek Bridge. Sometime during their visit there, they decided to go for a swim in the river. But the two men never made it out of the water alive. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story.

Marion Ali, Reporting
Two friends, Esau Castillo from La Gracia Village and Eduardo Martinez from Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala died while swimming together on Easter Sunday. The men were reportedly swimming in a race against each other when their outing quickly turned into a nightmare in the river near the Iguana Creek Bridge, Cayo. Despite efforts by the Spanish Lookout Fire Rescue team, it was too late to save them on Easter Sunday evening. Peter Friessen lives near the area where the incident happened.

Peter Friessen, Resident, Iguana Creek
“I live close to the bridge and I noticed the ambulance and the fire truck went to the river, so with my own interest I went there to see what happened. Apparently, friends were at the river and two guys decided to do a little race with the swimming. They never made it to their destination where racing to.”

According to Friessen, it didn’t take very long to recover the first victim’s body, but the search for the other one took a bit longer.

Peter Friessen

“As I reached there they had found one body already and took him out and they were searching for the second and within an hour they found the second one and Spanish to go with rescue team were out there to look at it and they had used a drone To look into the water and that’s where they find the second body In the river, so they were taken out as well before dark.”

Elisandro Paz knew both men who died. Castillo was his employee and the other, came by once a week. But the day they died, he saw them minutes earlier.

Voice of: Elisandro Paz, Employer of Esau Castillo

“I saw maybe 15, 20 minutes before that happened when I was in the river I do my barbecue there and, after that I was playing with my kids in the water. A few minutes I was in the water, they – somebody called me that the guys come down there and they come down in the river. I walked down there and we didn’t see nobody. Yeah.”

Marion Ali

“You had him working on your house, which means now that that work has stopped.”

Voice of: Elisandro Paz

“Yeah. Right now everything stop soh yeah, we feel so bad that happened, noh.”

Friessen and Paz lament that, from time to time lives are lost at the location. They hope that this tragedy serves as a sombre reminder of the dangers that can lurk beneath the surface.

Voice of: Elisandro Paz

“Especially how it’s hot I think most of the people want to swim a little bit, noh but yeah, I say they nuh take care because that was deep there. 02:16

Peter Friessen

“Every once in a while it happens, but people go a lot to the river to take a swim when it’s hot. I think it’s always good to take advice if people advise them not to swim. And watch the water and – but it’s a good thing to learn to swim from young.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Police Say Postmortem Examination To Certify Men’s Deaths

While all accounts are that Esau Castillo and Eduardo Martinez drowned after they went under on Easter Sunday, postmortem examinations will still have to be conducted on the bodies to certify their cause of death. Today, the Regional Commander, Eastern Division, A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, told reporters that the bodies of the two friends are awaiting autopsies now.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday, the 31st of March, 2024, around 4:33 p.m., police responded to reports of a drowning at Iguana Creek Bridge in the Cayo District. Upon their arrival, they found – somebody reported that two persons were swimming and they went under and did not resurface. Searches were done, where the lifeless bodies of Eduardo Martinez and Esau Castillo were found. Information is that they were both swimming in the area when they went under, they did not resurface. Both bodies were retrieved and were taken to the morgue and now await a post mortem examination. No injuries were observed on the bodies.”

Clay Uter Murdered on Good Friday in Belize City

A man was killed in his yard on Good Friday in Belize City. Fifty-two-year-old Clay Uter, also known as Clay Monsanto, was fatally shot by a gunman who jumped his fence and targeted him. Surveillance footage from the home shows the shooters climbing across a wooden fence, while a second individual on a motorcycle waited for him on the street. Moments later, shots rang out, and the perpetrator ran back towards the motorcycle. Both men sped off in the direction of Mahogany Street. Uter is no stranger to the law. He was wanted by the police in 2004 for murder. Uter was said to be a prominent street figure in those times. He spent the last twenty years in the U.S., was deported seven months ago, and was in the process of completely transforming his life, according to his family’s account. So, did his past catch him? News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Clay Uter was killed inside his yard on Mckenzie Street in Belize City, only three days after a state of emergency was declared. On Good Friday, Uter was sitting down next to his house when a gunman jumped his fence and opened fire in his direction. The gunman then got on a motorcycle and sped off, leaving behind a fatally injured Uter. The fifty-two-year-old shooting victim was deported to Belize seven months ago after spending time behind bars in the U.S. His brother, Raymond “Footie” Gongora, says Uter had made a complete change since returning home.

Raymond ‘Footie” Gongora, Brother of Deceased

“My mah from I seventeen, Clay mih nine, my sister my seventeen, the next one was eight and I was the head of the family. When Clay was younger, he was caught up in the gang world. Yes I understand that, but he got two of his kids got killed, he went away and twenty years later he come back deported. So he said, well you know Ray I have to get to know my kids them, show my grandkids them some love because if it wasn’t for that he would go right back. So, this is what he was trying to do, get fih know his kids deh now. One thing weh in ah mih, I don’t want to hear anybody say anything about when I gwen kill this one or that one for Clay, because at the end of the day if you kill a thousand man, ih still nuh wah please me, because it is still a black man, a black youth weh deserve a chance in life and that nuh wah bring back my breda.”

In 2004, Uter was wanted by police for questioning in connection with a murder. He was also wanted around the same time for questioning in connection with an attempted murder and an attempted burglary. Gongora says that while Uter had his past, he wants people to know that his brother was a jovial individual who transformed into someone who wanted to see better for his community. Gongora suspects, however, that his brother’s past may have caught up with him.

Raymond ‘Footie” Gongora

“Clay came and to be honest Clay never went anywhere like that. If you want to find Clay that is where you will find him, always at home. He never in nothing to plan to kill you. He mih more into his family and kids and try to get his life back. You gone so long. Like I told him Belize different, just try keep by yourself. Yes I know you have to be social with people, but just be careful because a lot of people link with all kind of gangs and once you get recognized with certain people then you will get recognized as one of those people. In Belize a lot of people get killed because of affiliation because they are guilty by association. So I told him, just stay right yah, no need to go nowhere.”

Raymond “Footie” Gongora is one of the lead mediators in the Belize Police Department’s Leadership Intervention Unit. Gongora spends a lot of his time mediating between members of rival gangs to quell flareups and prevent violent acts of crime. So, does his brother’s murder change his perspective on the work that he has been doing?

Raymond ‘Footie” Gongora

“Honestly no, it hurts. I loved that man, I love my brother and he loved me. But, there is a lot of other youths and we dah all black men and as I see it our race is at risk because we the kill out each other while other races look on. So, at the end of the day we still have to stop this. If because my brother got killed I just throw in the towel like that then I never had a heart in it and my heart is in the work I do, because I am one of those kids from that same environment weh know that some of them have peer pressure, some of them don’t have any outlets, so that is why they are in what they are in and the location they are in. So, why would I throw it in? If I throw it in , that means my heart was never in it.”

Uter lost two of his children to gun violence. He leaves behind ten other children.

Raymond ‘Footie” Gongora

“Me, only god knows best and I am here because of God and he is here because of God. And I have to say what God decides and what God makes happen no man can question. It is God’s will. So he knows what he is doing. That is one of the things that keeps me going to deal with this right now. It is not an easy thing as a human person. this is not an easy thing, you see I the talk, but I have to be the bigger person and say you know what, what God decides, no man can put different.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Police Still Searching Clay Uter’s Murderers

Investigators say they are following all leads but have been unable to establish a motive for Clay Uter’s murder. What investigators do know is that the shooter had an accomplice on a motorcycle. A.C.P. Hilberto Romero told reporters today that they are reviewing security camera footage.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Friday, the twenty-ninth of March, 2024, around four p.m., police responded to a shooting incident on Mackenzie Street, Belize City, where the motionless body of a male person who was identified as Clay Uter Monsanto, fifty-two years, who had multiple gunshot injuries to the body. Investigation revealed that Clay was in his yard when he was approached by a male person. who fired several shots towards him, causing his fatal injury. We are seeking several suspects in regards to this murder.”

Reporter

“I know that Mister Monsanto, he was a known figure back in the day, and he moved to the US and got deported. Was it his past activities that caught up with him?”

Hilberto Romero

“We are following up on several leads and several motives, but we have not narrowed down. What was the cause for this murder. Yes, we have dealt with him in the past, and the information we have that this person was brought there by another male person on a motorcycle, and after the shooting, they both fled from the area.”

Reporter

“And the surveillance footage, has that proven to have narrowed down suspects?”

Hilberto Romero

“Yeah, we are looking at footage, along with other information regarding some interviews, and we’re following up on those.”

U.D.P. Wants Re-election or Recount in Punta Gorda

Franklin “Kranka” Polonio, the U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate in Punta Gorda Town, wants a re-election in that municipality. Polonio filed an election petition through his attorney Lynden Jones against P.U.P. Mayor Carlos “Obeah” Galvez and Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai. In the petition, Polonio says that there were some discrepancies as it pertained to the ballots, and with the considerable quantity of ballots deemed void, it leads to speculation that there was fraudulent destruction. Galvez won the mayoral seat by twenty-five votes. Polonio says that initial counting showed that he was in the lead and that after a recount, there was a considerable decrease in the ballots in his favor and an increase in the ballots in Galvez’s favor. He adds that after the counting ended, Polonio was informed that several ballots were deemed void or not having an official signature. So, with that, Polonio is demanding a re-election or a recount. We’ll keep following this story.

Roaring Creek Family Needs Your Help to Rebuild Their Home

A family of six from Roaring Creek Village is displaced after their home went up in smoke on Easter Sunday morning. Moises Garbutt, his wife, and their four small children had just left home to go to a neighbour’s house, where he was trying to finish a project. But less than thirty minutes later, the place they called home was on fire. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

A young family and their four little children are depending on you to help them rebuild their home that burnt down on Easter Sunday morning. Moises Garbutt told us he was trying to help a relative fix their home when he found out that his one was ablaze.

Moises Garbutt, Fire Victim

“Everyone was over there assisting with some wooden projects and minutes after, the neighbors shouted that the house was on fire. When I came home, the whole house was total – almost totalled. Everything was almost gone.”

Garbutt says he can only assume what claimed his house.

Moises Garbutt

“I believe it’s due to the heat and some glass object that was nearby. Something like that probably caused the burner.”

Marion Ali

“Have the fire officials been here to investigate?”

Moises Garbutt

“They came and they investigate. They give me – they are not so sure, but they give me a little idea where the fire started more or less.”

Garbutt said he was not able to save anything, and his losses are significant.

Marion Ali

“How much would you say you lost?

Moises Garbutt

“About $15, $16,000 with total everything.”

Marion Ali

“And then now you’ve been displaced, so you, your wife and your kids are staying where?”

Moises Garbutt

“Everyone is staying at my aunt, we’re trying to lean on them. I’m begging for, anyone here to help anyone in the community. I need basically just a material to build another board structure or something. It doesn’t have to be the same, it doesn’t matter if it’s smaller or so, just so I can have a roof or something over my head and my family.”

If you can assist Moises Garbutt and his family to rebuild their home, you can reach him at 638 5739. Marion Ali for News Five.

Family Picking Up The Pieces After Fire Claims Home

Last Wednesday, a fire at the corner of Pickstock Street and Lovely Lane erupted around seven-forty-five p.m. destroying the home of twenty-eight-year-old Alicia Rancharan. Rancharan, her three children, and her partner were fortunately unharmed by the flames but are still in need of assistance. News Five’s Britney Gordon spoke with the mother of three today for the full story.

Britney Gordon, reporting

While many people spent the long weekend relaxing with friends or family, Alicia Rancharan and her family were processing the loss of all their possessions and the roof over their heads. In just a matter of hours, the place they had called home for the past five years was consumed by a fire that erupted late Wednesday evening. Rancharan said that she was not at home at the time of the fire due to a recent death in the family and got the call while at the repass.

Alicia Rancharan, Fire Victim

“After they had a repass, I went by, sat down with my family, my friends. While we were sitting down, someone called my mom, stated that, hey, Alicia’s house is on fire. Someone who was at the funeral with us offered me a ride home. Upon reaching to the home, where I call home, I saw my house completely engulfed in fire. I was just panicking. I did not know what to do. I started crying.”

Rancharan explained that her partner had stepped out to purchase food for the family moments before the fire and that it was her seven-year-old daughter that saved the other children.

Alicia Rancharan

“I was my three kids and my gentleman. However, he had completed a day’s work. So he decided to step out to go and get something for them to eat that night. Just less than fifty yards away. He went to buy. he said that someone came to him and tell him to go back home. When he reached back home, he saw the fire. My kids was inside. My seven-year-old girl, my four-year-old son, and my other baby girl, who’s one year old. My daughter stated that she peeped out and she saw the smoke show. She had no other option but to grab her brother and sister and take them outside. My son, not knowing what is happening, he decided to just go back inside to continue watching TV and she yelled at him. Hey, there’s a fire, we need to get out. She dragged him by the arm, took him downstairs and by the time my gentleman reached back from shop, they was already downstairs safe, thank God.”

An investigation by the Belize National Fire Service revealed that the fire started on the ground floor after a makeshift stove was tipped over by one of the building’s tenants.

Alicia Rancharan

“The neighbor, Mister Elodorio, better known as Dolo, he lives downstairs. He does not have any current. So he was I think making a lamp. hey stated that it tipped over. He did not yell for help until the whole bathroom was already engulfed in flames and the Monday before this incident took place, I saw him lighting that stuff in the pan. And I spoke to him and I said, hey, you Dolo you don’t need to be lighting that I have two lamps from the previous hurricane that I could lend you He was like, uh, no, it’s okay.”

She said that she is grateful that her family all escaped the fire safely. However, as all their possessions were lost to the flames, they are struggling to get back on their feet and are in need of assistance to do so.

Alicia Rancharan

“This took me over never thought that this would be me. I’ve seen many incidents where people are displaced by a fire. I never thought that I would have end up in this situation, but it could have been worse. I thank the Lord that my kids are safe. I rather losing materialistic items than being lost the life of any one of my kids. Everything I lost. I recently borrowed a loan from Belize Bank to finish completing my home. I recently purchased new brand sofa, refrigerator, microwave, washing machine. Everything I lost. The only thing that I was left with was that black and white clothing I had on for a funeral. My kids lost everything, their toys, their bicycles, all their footwears, everything. So, I’m just pleading to the public to render some assistance. I know that there’s still good people out there. I’m asking from the depths of my heart to help them, try and assist, whether it be food items, clothing, household, finance wise. Anything will be greatly appreciated.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Belize City Man Pled Guilty to having Crack Cocaine

Tonight, a sixty-six-year-old retiree residing on Victoria Street in Belize City avoided jail time after admitting guilt to possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute one-point-nine grams of crack cocaine. Lancelot Earl Fredrick Vernon appeared in court this morning, and in lieu of a custodial sentence, he was fined one thousand eight hundred dollars, with an additional five dollars court fee, payable by July thirty-first. If he fails, he will be sentenced to one year in prison. Vernon expressed remorse, saying he picked up the drug for a friend and was later stopped by the police on Castle Street. A house on that street is known to sell drugs, including crack cocaine.

Manuel Ramos Committed to Stand Trial for Fatal RTA

A Ladyville resident, accused of causing the death of a young man in a tragic traffic incident, will face trial for manslaughter by negligence. He is fifty-three-year-old Manuel Ramos. He stands accused of killing twenty-two-year-old Joshua Martinez on March twenty-first 2023. Ramos faced multiple charges, including causing death by careless conduct, driving without due care and attention, driving with an alcohol concentration above the legal limit, and causing injuries to Tyreec Junior Usher. Following the preliminary inquiry, the court committed Ramos to stand trial at the High Court’s June 2024 session. The fatal accident occurred between miles eight and nine on the Phillip Goldson Highway. PC David Griffith was also injured in the incident. After the commitment to stand trial, Ramos had his bail revoked, but he was granted a new bail set at five thousand dollars along with two sureties of two thousand five hundred dollars each, which he was able to fulfill.

Police Pursuing Molina Shooting Suspect

Police in Belize City are investigating a shooting that left twenty-eight-year-old Christian Molina injured. It happened on Sunday night on Crown Street, and according to the police, Molina was socialising outside when someone he thought was his friend shot him. A.C.P. Hilberto Romero told reporters today that the suspect is being sought.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday, the thirty-first of March, nine thirty-seven p.m., police responded to a shooting incident on Cronk Street, Belize City. Upon arrival, we saw Christian Molina with gunshot injuries. He was taken to the KHMH for treatment, where he is now there listed in a stable condition. Christian reported that he was at a yard in the area when he was approached by a male person who followed a firearm and fired a shot towards his direction, he ran off and was shot, but is now stable. We are seeking one suspect in regards to this shooting.”

Reporter

“Any motive?”

Hilberto Romero

“No motive at this time. He said that he knows the person, so we are looking for this person.”

Reporter

“And does he have a has he had confrontations with the person before?”

Hilberto Romero

“Not that we know of, no.”