On Saturday Mennonite Peter Guenther was killed in the driveway of his Spanish Lookout home. After that his killer tried to set the house on fire. So it came as an eerie and bizarre coincidence this afternoon when news came out that a 27 year old Guatemalan farmer was decapitated and then burnt up at a farm shed in the area of Buena Vista Village – which is not a great distance away from Spanish Lookout. At this time police say there’s no connection – but it is a jarring coincidence and Jacqueline Godwin went west again today looking for answers.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Behind me lies the burnt remains of Juan Carlos Castillo. 27 year old Castillo came out to this remote farm land situated behind Buena Vista Village to clear the area. Police strongly believe that sometime between late Monday evening and early this morning he was killed.
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade, San Ignacio Police
“We received a report 9:30 this morning of a burnt body located approximately six miles away from Buena Vista Village here in the Cayo District. The police have since visited the scene. We have processed the scene and the body has been identified as Juan Carlos Castillo Venezuela. The body appears to be decapitated, yes, and a post mortem examination will be conducted on the site tomorrow morning at approximately 8 am.”
Father of Murder Victim,
“I was at work when my wife came and told me what happened to my son
and I feel so sad. All I know is my son went to work after some guys told him to go and work and my son left 6:30 yesterday evening but he never returned. I do not know why my son was killed. I only want the police to do their investigation and find who did this.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Any information to suggest that Juan Castillo may have been involved in an argument with anyone from the village?
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“There are a lot of leads that we have and so we are looking at all of those. But as I said we do not have any information that we can release at this time but we are looking at many many leads.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you believe the person was waiting for him?
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“I am not certain about that. We are trying our best to try to find out what occurred.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Anyone detained at this time?
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“So far we have one person in custody and we are looking for two other persons.”
After Juan Castillo Venezuela was killed under the thatch shed, his killer or killers then set the structure on fire. Jacqueline Godwin Reporting for 7News.
Those two persons remain detained but no charges have been brought. As for the other murder – police say that based on the questioning of Peter Guenther’s son and wife, they are following up on some leads, but there is nothing substantial at this time.
