Tonight, 7 of the original 28 escapees who fled the Kolbe Foundation on the 12th of October remain on the run. They've managed to evade the cops for over 11 days. But will they be able to run much longer?
Well, that depends on who's helping them and whether or not they have access to the food, water, and shelter they'd need to survive. But while the cops continue the manhunt the public needs to be aware of who's still out there. Today I took another look at the seven still on the run. They're robbers, thugs, and even murderers, and by now they could have traveled the length and breadth of Belize.
Two weeks ago the nation was shocked when it was announced that the Belize Central Prison had experienced the largest mass breakout on record. It came after a minor outbreak of COVId-19 within prison walls and the resulting lockdown.
Since then the cops have managed to locate and arrest most of those who fled the prison.
And yesterday when Kendale Flores, the alleged murderer of 4-year-old Kia Herbert, was finally caught he became the 21st escapee to be recaptured.
Tonight two convicted murderers remain on the loose. They are, Micheal Faux, the man convicted for the cold-blooded murder of Sidney Bradley and Jaroud Lamb, convicted of the murder that resulted from a 2013 robbery of Belmopan's La Choza Bar.
Also still on the run, is Enrique Martinez convicted of manslaughter. Erwin Lanza convicted for a Firearm offense. Eutychus Nunez convicted of a previous escape from unlawful custody. And Elser Oseguera, a convicted robber.
But there's also Carlos Montejo, another convicted robber and the alleged co-mastermind of the breakout. He's now notably one of the last escapees evading capture. And, It may be that he's taken special care not to be re-captured fearing the treatment he could face once back in jail.
Back in 2010 Montejo was one of 4 men charged with Engaging in an illegal fight, a fight that resulted in his friend Efrain Ramirez getting his throat cut.
Jules Vasquez:
"What's your expectation and feeling with these 7 that remain at large."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well we are hoping that very soon we will be able to catch up with them. We are also hoping that they are not getting the type of support that they would need. If it is that they don't get the level of support that they would expect, then that will help them to surrender themselves more quickly. We also have our officers out and we continue to receive tips from the public where these escapees are concerned and we are hoping that in the very not too distant future we will be able to have all of them back in prison where they belong."
Jules Vasquez:
"Where should people be the most concerned knowing that one was caught on the Valley of Peace road recently and another was caught near Placencia recently?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The intense nature of our operation for sure is not giving them the opportunity that they would need to even come out or to even get feed. When those 2 were caught in Placencia, the first thing they shouted was that they were hungry and weak, because they were not eating and I am sure that that is the case with the others and so we just need to ensure that we maintain the intensity of our manhunt and I can tell you that it is not easy concerning the fact that we are stretched extremely thin due to Covid-19. In Belize District near the Hattieville area we have, we have teams in the Cayo area, we have teams down south and these are 24 hours operations. So we are hoping that we will get them very soon,"
In a comment provided to us via text, this afternoon prison CEO Virgilio Murillo told us that he doesn't underestimate any of the escapees, and warns the public to consider them all armed and dangerous, and added that Desperate people do desperate things!
Anyone seeing any of the 7 is asked to call 911 or 922.
