Right now, police in the Orange Walk District continue to search the well-known businessman, 71 year-old Ramon Cervantez, Sr.
He was last seen yesterday morning, but then he didn't show up for lunch as he normally does. His family suspects that he has been kidnapped, but so far, no demands have been made to the family for his safe return.
So, he's missing – presumed kidnapped - and since last night, police have been looking for him. But, why would anyone want to kidnap an elderly man – and then not demand a ransom? That's what our news team tried to find out today in Orange Walk Town. Daniel Ortiz reports:
Daniel Ortiz Reporting
Most of roads in and out of Orange Walk Town had police checkpoints. BDF Soldiers, Orange Walk Police, MIT officers were constantly streaming in and out of the area.
A vast majority of the Law enforcement in the entire district was on high alert, and that's because 71 year-old Ramon Cervantes went missing. The suspicion right now is that he was abducted yesterday at his farm on the San Roman Road, and he continues to be held against his will.
Found on the farm, was his abandoned work vehicle, with doors open, his farming equipment, and signs which would suggest that he was abducted.
His family remains worried about his safety, ever since they realized that he didn't come home as he usually does.
Ramon Miguel Cervantes - Son of Missing Resident
"The phone calls that I spoke with him, his voice, again, it was very exhausted, and very weak. That's not my dad; he has a strong voice. The things that he said were incongruent to his personality. He would never say he is lost somewhere in San Jose. He'll find his way in and out. That's the type of person he is. Plus, in one of the conversations, he said that he was with a person. So, I told him to let me speak to the person, and the phone cut off. When I called back, he said, 'Monch, I'm alone. I'm alright; I'm fine.' But, I can tell; I know him. I went to where the land rover was, and his land rover - the tailgate was opened with chemicals and mixtures were there on the ground. About five cane rows away from where the Land Rover was we, me and my sister, found his cap on the ground. We saw his spray pump thrown on the ground. The hose of the spray pump was clearly slashed by a machete. We also saw the carton core of a duct-tape. We saw some coins on the ground - I think a dollar coin and some shillings and some five cents and a water bottle thrown somewhere around there - dollar water. That gave us the impression that there was some sort of a struggle."
Faced with the real possibility that he is being held against his will, the family alerted police who immediately activated. Though they are on high alert, they are treating the Cervantes absence as missing person's investigation, but they've taken all the necessary precautions.
Supt. Joseph Myvette - Commander, Northern Police Region
"We have several checkpoints and operations going on, and we have kept the family abreast of what we are doing, and likewise, they have kept us abreast of any information which they had shared with us as well."
Alindy Marisol Amaya - News Director, KREM News
"We understand that you've brought in reinforcements from other branches or areas."
Supt. Joseph Myvette
"Yes, we have. There are certain expertise that other branches possess which we - especially, we have sought the K9 - Unit to assist us, and we have sought other entities from Belmopan to come out and assist with the investigation. As you know, any person who goes missing, it's bears an importance to the family, as well as the police. We are trying to solve this matter."
Until they get any indications that Cervantes is being held captive, police will continue to diligently search for him. His family knows instinctively, however, that his absence is more than just him getting lost.
Ramon Miguel Cervantes
"I think it's a kidnapping. That's why we didn't give any report to the media yesterday, because we were with the police who was interviewing us. Since, he said that he would be back by night, we gave it a chance. Frankly, it's a kidnapping."
Arturo Cantun - Love News
"Why does the family believe it's a kidnapping?"
Ramon Miguel Cervantes
"I don't know. People have asked me this same question, but frankly, I don't know. None of us from our family have gotten any threats from anyone. We have not had any fights, or friction that we can point to. We simply don't know."
Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News
"What does your family do from this point on?"
Ramon Miguel Cervantes
"Pray."
Alindy Marisol Amaya
"Do you expect that he will come back?"
Ramon Miguel Cervantes
"I am optimistic that he will come back. I do believe so. I think this will be resolved at the end of the day. We just have to pray, wait, and depend on the cooperation of the public, if they have seen anything out of the way."
Up to news time, police still hadn't made any progress in locating Ramon Cervantes, and there has also not been any communication from him since yesterday.
Apart from his businesses, Cervantez is known in Orange Walk as the father of Ramon Monchie Cervantez Jr, the recently elected PUP Standard bearer for OW North...
