News of a patricide surfaced out of the capital city over the weekend, but today, police are not so convinced that the suspect, 31-year-old German Castellanos, actually killed his father, 79-year-old Daniel Castellanos.
The initial report stated that German was arguing with his girlfriend before he left the house sometime before 12:30am on Saturday. When he got home, he allegedly began banging on the door and his father woke up and reprimanded him, causing him to pull out a gun and open fire before leaving the house.
And while German's brother confirmed that, yes, he and his girlfriend were having difficulties, the rest is still very unclear. The siblings are divided - some feel that German pulled the trigger, while others can't believe their brother would kill their father.
And now, some family members even feel that someone close to German has framed him for this crime. Courtney Menzies visited the home in Belmopan and has this story.
A father of twelve was gunned down in the early hours of Saturday morning - and the initial reports indicated that he may have been shot by his own son.
79-year-old Daniel Castellanos was reportedly sleeping around 12:30am when he heard a banging on his door. He got up to check on the noise and that's when someone from outside opened fire, killing him on the spot.
One of Castellanos' other son, Luis Castellanos, explained that their family is left confused as to who did it - and the only thing they do know is that they've lost their father.
Luis Castellanos, Son of Deceased
"I was in the room and I just heard three gunshots and I didn't see who do it. I just get information that it's one of my brother but I just got another information that it's not him. So we don't know what to believe. But when I came out from my room, I saw my dad on the floor in a pool of blood. And you know when you're sleeping and you get up, I didn't know if it was a dream or what but when I saw my dad down there, I didn't believe it still. I hug my dad on the ground and I told him I was sorry I wasn't up because if I was up, I would have jump in front of him for those bullets, I'm telling you that. I'm sorry I wasn't up. My dad was a loving man, he would do anything for us. We could get into trouble and though we are in the wrong, he would have still tried to back we up. He was a person who loved his voice. So I don't see why the news came out that it was one of my brothers and the one who used to stay with him the most, he used to stay with my dad whole day in that room. So we were surprised right now, everybody was in a shock. It's not him, it's him, so we don't know what to believe."
The only alleged eyewitness to the incident was the suspect's, 31-year-old German Castellanos' stepdaughter, and it's reportedly her conflicting story that is causing the confusion. She was the one who first told Luis Castellanos that his father had been killed.
Luis Castellanos, Son of Deceased
"like a fifty minutes afterwards, I was already looking to go into a little sleep, I was just reaching a level, I wasn't sleeping full, full, I hear this bang bang bang and I jumped up and when I jumped up, I didn't hear anything. No railing up, no scream nothing, everything silent, just one silent zone, so I didn't hear anything after that and then I was looking to go back to sleep, because I didn't hear, help, or something that could make I jump up out of my bed. Now I just hear a little bang bang on my door again but this time it was my door, now a little young girl was outside, but other than that she just told us something, well, told me because only I was inside the house when she was right there and my dad was on the ground. What she told me was that it was one of my brother. Then we got another information that she think dah noh soh."
"When she pop the door and the police come she said something and now that their 48 is soon up, and now she's saying it's not him, she just made that up, so to me, they're hiding something."
And now, the family is suspicious - they believe that German Castellanos was set up.
Luis Castellanos, Son of Deceased
"Hard to believe, because he never showed me that kind of anger against my dad, he wasn't a person like that, to say he would kill him right then, the way they killed him. This is like they hire somebody to do the job because they came to kill something and an old man, who would do that, me? I would think hard to go into a house and see an old man and take his life."
"The man they actually took me from that because it's a crime scene and only I was here so they had to their job, they took me in and I talk to my brother, like how I'm talking to you guys, but I was in the cell and I heard them bring in a Herman Castellanos and I yelled at him and said, brother, why did you do it? Why did you kill my dad? And he swear right out there, it's not me, those girls are setting me up. Right so he shouted back at me."
And while the police said they would release German Castellanos, ASP Fitzroy Yearwood explained a much more thorough investigation is needed before charges can be levied on anyone.
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Communications Officer
"One, there are about ten residents in that home, and working with the statements, after seeking advice from the DPP office, our investigators were instructed to do a more in-depth investigation before levying any charges. We want to be absolutely certain that we have the person who is responsible, without a doubt, so as to not do any injustice to Mr. Castellanos' family. So, our investigators are, at this time, recording other statements, and hopefully, when they're through, we can say accurately who is responsible for this crime."
Up to this afternoon, Herman Castallenos was still in custody. Notably, two of the 12 siblings were killed in separate incidents some time ago.
