Tonight, the communities of San Ignacio, Santa Elena, and Benque Viejo are shaken by the murder of a working man which happened last Friday night at around 9 o'clock.
The 49-year-old Wayne Cadle, a supervisor of BECOL, lived in San Ignacio with his family, but at the beginning of the weekend, he was in Benque Viejo Town. At this time, it is unclear why he was in that western town, but shortly after he parked his company's 2020 pickup truck, he was targeted by 3 bandits while he was still in his work uniform.
It appears that the thieves wanted his vehicle, but in order to get access to it, one of them shot and killed him. Our news team was in the Cayo District looking for answers today, and Daniel Ortiz reports:
49-year-old Wayne Cadle was found dead in Benque Viejo Town last Friday night. The father of 4 who had a long career at the Belize Electric Company, BECOL, was traveling in his company's 2020 Futon Pick-up trick when he was shot and killed sometime before 9 p.m.
Police found his body on the shoulder of Riverside Street in that western town. His fatal injury claimed his life shortly after the attack.
ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"Police were called to Riverside Street in Benque Viejo Town, where, upon their arrival, they saw the apparently lifeless body of Wayne Cadle, a 49-year-old BECOL employee lying on the ground in his BECOL uniform. What we know so far is that he arrived at that area, shortly after 9 p.m., where he exited his vehicle and was approached by 3 Hispanic males, one of whom fired a shot in his direction, fatally injuring him. Thereafter, those 3 persons got in his white Futon pickup and made good their escape."
The cops believe that Cadle's shooting death was simply a car jacking: his assailants were trying to rob him of the company vehicle. This picture, which was has been circulating in closed circles since this weekend, supposedly shows the truck speeding out of the area.
Reporter
"Do the investigations show at this time why it was that he got out of his vehicle before he was attacked?"
ACP Joseph Myvette
"At this point, no."
Reporter
"Sir, was he alone the entire time he was in Benque, while in his vehicle?"
ACP Joseph Myvette
"We are trying to establish that. That is a part of the investigation. So far, police are seeking 2 suspects whom they believe can assist in the investigation."
Reporter
"Is the vehicle still missing, sir?"
ACP Joseph Myvette
"Yes, it is."
Given that you have the proximity so close to the Belize/Guatemala western border, is there a possibility that his assailants may be from across the border?
ACP Joseph Myvette
"Could have been; that is part of the investigation, and as you are aware, there are several other investigations involving the theft of motor vehicles in that area, as well as some robberies that commit in Benque Viejo, where we do believe that some of those assailants are from across the border."
Reporter
"So, at this time, is the investigation showing that maybe his vehicle was the reason that they attacked him, or was the vehicle just a chance opportunity?"
ACP Joseph Myvette
"We do believe that it was the vehicle because he had his other personal belongings on him when he was found by the police."
Cayo residents have become increasingly concerned about falling victim to bandits and Mayor Earl Trapp is hoping that the authorities will step up their law enforcement efforts in the area.
Earl Trapp - Mayor, SISE Town Council
"It has been a distressed for the residents of San Ignacio and Santa Elena in deed for the resident of Benque Viejo. As you know that we have been targeted for our hard work that we have labored for over the years and it is something that's been ongoing. As most as recent I think last 2 weeks where another vehicle, a Hilux was stolen from up the hill on Benque Viejo road and now as recent as Friday night again unfortunately Mr. Cadle was another target and unfortunately he was shot to death. I can tell you that when Mr. Ramirez was in charge here in San Ignacio I know he has been transferred over a year now, since then he's been vouching to get a barrier up at Bullet Tree because of the unfortunate reoccurring vehicle thefts and unfortunately again, I spoke to the most recent superintendent from San Ignacio who had an unfortunate death as well Mr. Jemmott, he spoke to me about 2 months ago asking if I would collaborate as a council in trying to get a barrier in that place. I told him sure. I am understanding now that they are waiting to take something to cabinet, but I don't think this is a cabinet issue, this is just a safety issue. In the meantime, we can get this done while cabinet can go through discussions. But let us do this first and make our area mush more safer especially when it comes to vehicle thefts from foreigners or people from Melchor."
But unfortunately, this heightened attention on a dangerous area near the edge of the Cayo district comes at the expense of Wayne Cadle, a family man.
Earl Trapp
"I knew Mr. Cadle for many years. I know before he was living on Bullet Tree road, renting for quite sometime. I knew that he was working on trying to make a better life for his family and so he managed to buy a property to where he was residing before he was shot and basically he was ambitions to get a nice house there for his family, so I know that he was there dedicated to his family in trying to make a better life for them."
Today, we approached Cadle's family for comment, but they declined. His daughter told us off-camera that at this time, they suspect that he received some sort of phone call to visit that area of Benque. We are told that he worked at BECOL for 25 years.
