And the 18th murder that occurred in these past 19 days was that of 51-year-old Celestino Cob. Cob was seen leaving his Santa Elena home on Sunday night, but police found his body on the Santa Familia Road on Monday morning, around 7:30.
And with no leads in the investigation so far, Cob's family is worried they won't get justice. Courtney Menzies spoke with them:
Two sisters are questioning the circumstances that may have led to their father's murder. 51-year-old Celestino Cob was found dead along the Santa Familia Road on Monday night with two cut wounds and a stab wound to his throat.
And while their family is still in shock, Cob's daughter, Yasmine Cob, told us that he had been receiving threats at his workplace.
Voice of: Yasmine Cob, Daughter of Deceased
"I knew he was a good person, everybody around in the community and other villages where he used to say, everybody say he used to be a good person, he's always helping when he can. I know he was working at Santa Familia and he used to talk good about his boss where he work but I know there was person who always used to threaten him as well but I cannot say anything."
Cob told us that her family had been split apart back when they lived in San Pedro Village, in the Corozal District. But she was able to reconnect with her father after she started working in Cayo.
Voice of: Yasmine Cob, Daughter of Deceased
"We grow up with him and then from there we had issues, we separated, but we were always in communication, not face to face sometimes, but through video calls and through calls we always communicated. [He was] a guy who was loving, no matter what."
And she recalled the moment when she got that dreaded phone call from her sister saying that their father had been killed - putting an end of the nightly conversations she had grown accustomed to.
Voice of: Yasmine Cob, Daughter of Deceased
"I was at home when I received a call from my sister, she had received this bad news. I didn't expect it, I was in shock. I called my uncle because he works as an officer and he gave me more information about it and I called Elvira, his common-law wife and she told me that yes, that tragic accident happen. With my dad, we had a good communication, I always for the past five months I come over this house, spend the night, we chat, we talk, he always used to tell me about his plans… and everything just left hanging."
And police are also baffled by this murder. They have yet to determine a motive or suspects.
Senior Supt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head NCIB
"Information is that he was seen the night before and thereafter his body was found in that area."
Reporter:
"Sir where was he seen the night before?"
Senior Supt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head NCIB
"He had left from his house to go out and that was the last time he was seen."
Reporter:
"From his house in Santa Familia?"
Senior Supt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head NCIB
"In Santa Elena."
Courtney Menzies:
"Is there any indication why someone would want to kill him?"
Senior Supt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head NCIB
"Not at this time, investigators are out there trying to gather information to establish what transpired that led to his death."
While he lived in Santa Elena, he had been working at a farm in Santa Familia. He had two daughters, and two grandchildren.
