It’s high season on San Pedro but it’s also turning into high season for violent crime. Today Jacqueline Godwin traveled to that island town to find out about San Pedro’s second murder in ten days.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
San Pedro Police continue to detain the common law wife of twenty six year old Rafael Cante. Around five on Saturday morning, Elisa Cententino discovered Cante’s body. It was lying face down only a few yards away from the entrance to the couple’s one room apartment which they had renting for the past three years.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Were there any visible signs of injury on the body?
Paulino Reyes, CIB – San Pedro
“One injury which appeared to be a stab wound on the left side of his chest. Actually it is like a puncture, it is something very small with minimal bleeding. Apart from that, no other obvious signs of injury.”
Cante had worked at Segway of Belize for the past six months. The store’s owner Todd Beblow said the last time he saw his valued employee was late Friday evening.
Todd Beblow, Owner - Segway Belize
“I saw Rafael about six thirty or so on Friday evening.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
At anytime did Rafael tell you that he was being threatened, that he may be in trouble?
Todd Beblow,
“No. Rafael seemed to be a pretty reliable guy.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So this must come as a total to you.
Todd Beblow,
“Definitely.”
Sources tell 7NEWS that Cante had not been home since Thursday night. There are also reports that around eleven thirty on Friday night Cante was seen only a few blocks from his residence in the San Pablo area. He was running and appeared to be scared. Then around five the following morning the common law wife discovered his body in the yard. Officer in Charge of Crimes Investigation in San Pedro, Paulino Reyes believes he was involved in an altercation that led to the killing. He says they only have circumstantial evidence against the woman detained.
Paulino Reyes,
“We are still trying to put the pieces together and hopefully we can have someone that we can look at specifically.”
According to neighbors the couple had a rocky relationship and they constantly fought and argued.
Luisa Bolon, Mother of Murder Victim
“Always he told me that he is sorry and his life will be short. And he is always sad when he called me, every day we called me and told me his life will be short. I asked him why he told me that and he said he is just telling me. When he called me he is always sad but maybe he didn’t want to tell me what is the problem and he doesn’t want me to get hurted.”
Luisa Bolon says she knows that it was a troubled relationship because the couple had separated several times. Bolon says she is convinced that common law wife knows something but is not talking.
Luisa Bolon,
“I think so. I think so because like the way how they found my son, it was not on the street, they found him by his door.”
According to Bolon only a few days ago her son called to say that while his common law wife and child were on their way to seek medical assistance, the taxi driver tried to rape the young mother. Today Bolon suspects that incident too may be connected.
Luisa Bolon,
“Just three days (ago) he called me and told me that his wife got raped, how a taxi man tried to rape her and then when I heard my son got killed on Friday.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So you believe both incidents may be connected?
Luisa Bolon,
“I mostly believe.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Why? You believe Rafael tried to get revenge?
Luisa Bolon,
“I don’t know. I just don’t know but the thing is how come they found him right by his door. That is the thing I want to know – why and how he reached by his house.”
Cante’s murder is the second homicide to occur on the island. Only ten days ago the bullet riddled body of thirty six year old Alvaro Galvez was found in his apartment on February twelfth. His killer has still not bee found.
Paulino Reyes,
“We still haven’t gotten any concrete lead into that. There were various sources of information which we were following up on but up to now we don’t have anybody in specific to look at.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Any motive?
Paulino Reyes,
“It would appear to be some kind of revenge.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
For what?
Paulino Reyes,
“For some previous deal which we are still trying to get to the bottom of.”
San Pedro Police say while they are concerned they add that cases are isolated and residents and tourists do not need to be alarmed.
Paulino Reyes,
“We believe that there are two separate incidents, nothing to do with each other and nothing to say that the tourists would need to be concerned. It is a matter of lot of concerns to us, to have two major incidents in such a short space of time. It is situation where we need the full cooperation of the public and we believe that somebody out there has to know or have seen something and the only way we can go forward into these investigations is to get the cooperation from the public.”
Todd Beblow,
“We’ve talked to a few people, a lot of people have come forward already, and I think are helping out the police and they seem to be on the trail of hopefully what or who did this.”
Luisa Bolon says she is counting on assistance from her son’s common law wife to find out why her child was killed.
Luisa Bolon,
“Yes I would want to talk to her because this morning I asked the police for her to talk to me my phone but the police told me that I can’t talk to her. But I mostly want to approach her because I am not vex with her. I love that lady for my son but I don’t know if this will happen and she shows me her love too.”
At the time of his murder, twenty six year old Rafael Cante was being promoted to manager of Segway Belize. Jacqueline Godwin for 7NEWS.
Police have leads, but there are no suspects detained at this time.
