While Belize City was reeling from the mid morning murder of Lloyd Bodden, yesterday it was much the same, but in rural Belize. The body of 68-year-old Wilford Requena was found at his workplace on a farm in St. Matthew's Village. He had been bludgeoned to death and his killer or killers locked him up inside the house's storeroom. Who would kill an old man in such merciless fashion? Alfonso Noble was in St. Matthews today trying to find out.
Alfonso Noble Reporting, [From St. Mathews Village]
This unassuming house in the Frank's Eddy layout area of St. Matthew's Village was the scene where the body of 63-year-old Wilford Requena was found dead. Police were called out to the house after the proprietor made checks and found the house ransacked and his caretaker missing.
Sinquest Martinez, Police Investigator
"Mr. Bodden give us the report about he went to his farm, he went upstairs, he found the house ransacked with some writing on the wall, (He found what was) suspected to be bloodstains on the foot of the step, and his caretaker Wilford was not seen around. We conducted a search in the area, he was not found so we decided to check downstairs of the two-storey wooden structure building. Mr. Bodden did not have any key so the door was opened and that's when we found Mr. Wilford Requena on the floor lying face upwards. An investigation is showing us right now that he was beaten to death and might have (been) killed in that same area."
One woman, Marjorie Garbutt who was in the area remembers that on Tuesday night Wilford Requena's dogs were barking for the better part of an hour between 7 and 8 that night.
Marjorie Garbutt, Neighbor
"I heard the dogs barking, Mr. Requena's dogs barking, and I didn't check because normally if his dogs start barking and mine barks then usually I know someone is just hanging around the area. But I just figured either somebody went in, down the road, or went out or maybe he had someone visiting so I didn't pay it too much mind. At 20 to 8 I decided I was going to go ahead and take my bath and then just get in the bed and listen to the rest of the program so I put away the teacups and went into the bathroom. From the bathroom I can see straight across so while I was in the bathroom my dogs started barking. I finished my bath and I got in my bed. A little later, it had to be about between 8:15 to 8:20, my dogs started to barking again but I mean she was really annoyed. So then I turned off the lamp and I checked through my bedroom window and when I looked out all I saw was lights. Somebody was out there, I don't know if it was one person or maybe more than one, but all I saw was lights flashing around and up into the tall tree in the front. Because they spot up into the tall tree I realized they were on the road."
Police believe that it is at around this time that Requena was killed. And while this has been established, investigators are trying to place the killer and determine a motive.
Sinquest Martinez,
"At this present (time), motive is rare right now because we are looking that it could possibly be murder, it could possibly be revenge, because nothing much was stolen from the upstairs house. And if there were anything missing from there, there were similar things like spotlight and maglite so I cannot see the reason why he would have been murdered."
But while they do not have a motive they are closely looking at the possibility that this latest killing may be related to one which occurred on October 12th of last year when 72 year old Walter Usher was killed and also locked up in his house off Mile 32 on the Western Highway, some 7 miles from this most recent killing. Police suspect a connection because the crimes are similar.
Sinquest Martinez,
"What could might possibly (have) happened is that after he was murdered, they took the keys and locked him up in there, that is the only thing that could have happened. Yes we have three suspects at this present moment detained and out of those three, we are looking at one possible suspect that might contribute to this murder because of a previous murder that happened last year November at mile 32."
But while police are looking at this latest killing, Garbutt, is beginning to loose her sense of security in a once trouble and crime free area.
Marjorie Garbutt,
"Since I've been back here I've never been afraid. I think I would be more afraid in the city, I've never been afraid here. I am going to be more vigilant as far as paying attention but I already pay attention. I was shocked yesterday, I still can't believe that somebody would just kill someone, come and kill someone; it's amazing. You know what reason could anybody to just come and kill an old man."
While police have three men detained and being questioned, they believe it is one of these men who killed Requena.
