Cayo police have arrested three men for a brutal home invasion in the Cayo District. 63-year-old Santa Elena resident, American Oscar Chapeau was at his home with his wife, who is a Chinese woman, and a male friend having drinks. The home is off the Western Highway near to mile 62. Sometime around on Saturday, three masked men, carrying firearms, stormed into the house, subdued Chapeau and his friend and, then raped his wife.
They then collected threw the two men into a waiting pickup and drove towards the Western Highway. But the truck had mechanical problems and when it shut down, the gunmen abandoned it, leaving Chapeau and his friend tied up in the back. Chapeau managed to free himself and called the police who captured one of the suspects.
Police have since arrested another man, and also the man who was a guest in Chapeau's house. In total they are a 17 year old minor, 19 year old Raymundo Vasquez and 27 year old Luis Castellanos, 40 year old Mark Gentle, all Santa Elena residents. They have been charged for robbery, aggravated burglary, rape, kidnapping and abetment to robbery. They were denied bail and remanded into custody. The 17 year old has additionally been charged for forging a check he stole from Chapeau. The check had been made out for $15,000.
Police have recovered a number of the stolen items including pellet rifles with scopes that were believed to have been used as the hold up weapons.
