He was found dead a week ago but tonight the questions about the death of 31-year-old Rennick Reneau are very much alive. No one has been arrested and charged for the murder, but his still grieving family says they have connected the dots and claim he may have been murdered by a policeman. Police, of course, say that's ridiculous. Here are both sides of that argument.
Keith Swift,
Deep down Miss Olivera, who do you think killed your son?
Lavern Olivera, Mother of Deceased
"I think the police killed my son because he had something in Kim's."
The Kim's Lavern Olivera talks about is Kim's Restaurant and Bar here on Church Street. The story they tell is that on the Friday night before he died, Rennick was inside Kim's when he got into an argument with a police officer. Three days later he was found dead. His mother believes the two incidents are related.
Lavern Reneau,
"When Rennick ran out of the club he ran into our family yard on Church Street and he came out and he said this noh
done yah. When he got at the hospital, one of my family members who worked there said he broke up the hospital door and he said, 'that bwoy will pay - this isn't finished here.' He said, 'this noh done yah.' He said, 'he will know who we,' so I have to look to he. It is to him I have to look to. Only God can tell me that he didn't kill my son."
Lavern Olivera also believes her son was murdered by a law officer because she claims that when Rennick was at Vista del Mar a week ago - he was wrapped in a canvas - she believes it had to have come from either the police or BDF.
Lavern Olivera,
"When they find my son, they found him in this police canvass wrapped up so when they found him I want to know why he was wrapped up in a police canvass. Why? Because only two people have those canvass - Police or BDF and that was a police canvass. A grey police canvass."
ASP Bart Jones, Police Press Officer
"From my information her son was not found in any tarp but however not only police officers and BDF soldiers - tarps as I know are commonly sold at hardware stores. He was not found in any tarp."
Acting Police Press Officer Bart Jones also disputes claims by Rennick's family that his murder is related to the incident two Friday nights ago at Kim's Bar.
Keith Swift,
Was the police officer questioned about the murder since he had an altercation with Reneau just days before he died?
ASP Bart Jones,
"Well I don't know if he had any altercation with Reneau. That was not revealed to me so I don't know if he and Reneau had any altercation
before. If you have that information...."
Keith Swift,
Thy were in Kim's Bar the Friday night before he died and when the gun went off, Rennick went...
ASP Bart Jones,
"There is information that Reneau was in Kim's Bar that night. Yes but as to him and the police officer having any altercation, that information is unknown at this time."
Keith Swift,
Was the police officer questioned?
ASP Bart Jones,
"Certainly he police officer was questioned based on what was said on the radio and the investigators are saying their investigation seems to be leading otherwise but certainly we took the allegation seriously and dealt with it."
But Lavern Olivera doesn't believe police officers have dealt with it seriously enough and that's why today - 4 days after she buried her only son - she is still restless.
Lavern Olivera,
"Its very very hard for you to have cancer and when you reach somebody dead so you have to cope with two things: a death and your sickness. It is very very hard. It's very hard. It's very hard. I don't mind if there was a conflict and right there it happened but the way they did it, the way he did it and I won't come off that canvass. I want the police answer about that canvass. I can't take it. I am not even sleeping. The doctor told me I have to eat and sleep but I can't. I can't."
She can't - at least not until she gets answers about the death of her son.
Positives Vibes and The Belize Times have offered a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the murder of Rennick Reneau.
