Earlier in the news, we told you about the 5 dead in traffic fatalities and the three lives lost to murder - in just the last 24 hours!
We report now on another killing that is puzzling Orange Walk police. Yesterday evening, Daniel Rios was on his way to visit his family in Rhaburn Ridge Village. But, he never made it, and his dead body was later found on the shoulder of the Philip Goldson Highway, between Miles 35 and 36. Responding officers observed injuries on his body, but, they don't yet know if he suffered those in a violent attack, or if he was involved in a hit-and-run.
The police spokesperson told us today about what investigators currently know:
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood - Communications Officer
"At the entrance of Rhaburn's Ridge Village, upon arrival, police found a male person later identified as Daniel Rios, a Belizean construction worker. He was seen with head and body injuries at the side of the road. His mother, Maria, relayed to the police that her son called earlier to [to inform her] that he was going to visit them at Rhaburn's Ridge. He was aboard a bus. At 6 p.m., she received a call from her son that he was on the highway hurt. How was hurt, he didn't relay to his mother but we are certain that police are trying to establish what may have taken place out there. I know that you're familiar with this area. This was the area some years ago where PC Hall was bludgeoned on that same stretch near Rhaburn's Ridge. We are not saying that the incidents are related, but the houses out there are situated a little distance from each other. So, we have other officers out there campaigning to see if we can establish what may have taken place out there to cause his death."
Police say that the last time this stretch of the road caught their attention was back in June 2015, when Police Constable Jason Hall was assaulted while he was on his way home. He experienced a blow-out and a man pretending to be a "Good Samaritan" helped him fix that tire, and then stole his vehicle.
