2024-12-19 - Channel 5 Belize

Third Suspect Arrested in Double Murder Case

A third suspect has been arrested in connection with the murders of Marvin Cante and Juan Carlos Raymundo. The suspect, 20-year-old Ronald Frazer from the Cayo District, faces two counts of murder. The other two men arrested in relation to the cousin’s murder were Carl Lindo and Christopher Smith.

The two cousins, Cante, 37, and Raymundo, 32, were reported missing in late November. Raymundo’s family grew worried when he stopped responding to messages from his common-law wife. The following day, both families alerted the police, prompting an investigation into their disappearance.

Reports were that Raymundo’s vehicle was found abandoned near mile 24 on the George Price Highway. The search for missing cousins ended when their bodies were found buried in a shallow grave in Hattieville on Wednesday evening, December 11, near Dollar Bank Road.

According to police investigation, the murder of Cante and Raymundo may have been an illicit transaction that went wrong. During Monday’s police briefing, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero, said, “The information we have is that they came to the Hattieville area to do a transaction, and something went wrong there, and they were taken to those bushes and killed.”

Man Robbed in Broad Daylight, Assailants Escape

A brazen daytime robbery unfolded on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City just minutes ago. The victim, reportedly a staff member of a Belize City casino, was driving a brown van when the incident occurred. While details remain unconfirmed, it is believed the man may have been en route to make a deposit at Heritage Bank.

Two men on a motorcycle, described as one being stocky and the other slimmer, approached the vehicle. The assailants allegedly reached into the van and seized a black bag, presumed to contain money. They attempted to flee the scene on their motorcycle, but their getaway was thwarted momentarily when they lost control of the cycle near a pedestrian crosswalk. The loud crash of the motorcycle hitting the ground drew the attention of bystanders.

The suspects abandoned the motorcycle and escaped on foot.

Defendant Remains Silent in Triple Murder Trial

The man who is accused of murdering 44-year-old Alarice Andrews, 39-year-old Vidal Yuman, and 19-year-old Maria Lucas chose to remain silent during the trial today.

25-year-old Kyle Zetina chose not to testify to assert his innocence. This was against his attorney’s advice.

The incident occurred in June 2019. Their bodies were discovered in Andrewin’s home after a welfare check was requested by a concerned colleague. Andrewin and Cacho were found on a bed, while Lucas lay on the floor. All three had been fatally shot. Police later arrested Zetina and 18-year-old Shawn Flores and charged them with three counts of murder. In June 2024, Flores was acquitted of the charges, leaving Zetina as the sole defendant.

The prosecution’s case heavily relies on a caution statement in which Zetina confessed to shooting the three victims. The defence argued that the caution statement was not voluntarily made, contending that it was obtained under duress and should not be considered credible evidence. They also highlighted the lack of eyewitnesses and questioned the reliability of the three witnesses whose statements were admitted into evidence. Zetina’s attorney believed that the admission of these statements significantly impacted Zetina’s decision to remain silent during the trial.

Although there were no eyewitnesses, three initially hostile witnesses had their statements admitted into evidence after a trial within a trial proved their credibility.

The physical evidence included the bodies of the victims, found with gunshot wounds to the head, and additional police interviews and oral statements made by Zetina.

The next court date is scheduled for January 6th, 2025.

Single Mother Appeals for Help After Attempted Break-In

A single mother of four is seeking assistance and raising awareness after a scary attempted break-in at her home in Belize City early this morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:54 a.m., as captured by the family’s security camera. The footage shows a hooded man entering the yard and attempting to force his way inside. Speaking with News Five, the mother, whose identity is being withheld for safety reasons, described the terrifying moments as she realised someone was trying to break into her home.

“He came to my back door first and tried to get in. Then he went to the front window, but I have burglar bars. Finally, he tried to manage the front door,” she said.

According to the mother, when he heard noises, she “got up and turned on my light.” She believes this scared off the man.

She said the experience has left her and her children shaken.

“It’s only me and my kids living here,” she said. “I already got threats, so I try to protect my kids.”

The police are being informed of the incident.

California Declares S.O.E. as U.S. Reports 1st Severe Human Case of Bird Flu

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday amid rising concerns about bird flu cases in the state. On the same day, Louisiana reported the nation’s first severe case of H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed it as the first “severe” human case of the virus in the U.S., a zoonotic infection that has raised fears of becoming a global pandemic.

The case involves a resident from southwestern Louisiana who was initially reported as presumptively positive last Friday. According to Emma Herrock, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Health, the patient, over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions, is in critical condition with severe respiratory illness linked to H5N1. Due to confidentiality, no additional updates on their condition are being provided. This marks the 61st human case of H5N1 in the U.S. since April, though the CDC maintains that the virus poses a low risk to the general public, with no reported deaths in the country so far.

The CDC noted that the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, making it the first U.S. case linked to such origins. Of the 60 prior cases, 58 were associated with commercial agriculture—37 from dairy herds and 21 from poultry operations. The exposure sources for the remaining two cases remain unknown.

California has reported the highest number of human H5N1 infections this year, with 34 cases, most linked to cattle exposure.