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It's been exactly one month since the Belize District saw a murder, but this morning, that streak was broken when the body of a man was found on the John Smith Road.
It's been about a year since a body was found along that road, and 43-year-old David Phillips marks the eighth one discovered. His body was lying in a pool of blood behind a construction site - the murder weapon apparently being a cement block.
But how did this Belize City man get there? And what was the reason behind the brutal murder?
That's what Phillips' family wants to know. Courtney Menzies spoke with them today and has this story.
This blood stained pile of sand is where the body of 43-year-old David Phillips was found this morning. Reports are that his killer crushed his skull with a cement block from this construction site along the John Smith Road.
But how Phillips even got there is still a mystery. He was last seen last night, at his family home on Central American Boulevard. And he'd apparently confided in his twin brother that someone was out to get him.
Joseph Phillips, Brother of Deceased
"He was a good person, he didn't trouble anybody."
Reporter:
"Any idea why someone would want to hurt your brother?"
Joseph Phillips, Brother of Deceased
"No, he doesn't mess with people. He didn't steal from anybody. He just hustles to buy things to eat, just like me."
Reporter:
"Did he tell you that someone was troubling or threatening him?"
Joseph Phillips, Brother of Deceased
"Someone was threatening to kill him, that's what he told me last night."
Reporter:
"Did he say why?"
Joseph Phillips, Brother of Deceased
"They said he stole a bike, but he didn't steal a bike, he didn't steal anything like that."
"My ma sad too, my ma will cry, we can't tell her anything because she will bawl, she will feel it more, because she have pressure and sugar."
But while he swore for his twin brother, Phillips' other family members have heard rumors of theft and drug use. While his niece couldn't confirm any of those, she told us that her uncle wanted to have fun.
Voice of: Niece of Deceased
"The only thing I know about my uncle really, he's a party person, he likes to party, he enjoys himself, he's always on those stages dancing when there's concerts and stuff like that. What happened lately, he's not really, he lives in the yard, but he doesn't really come here as much, he's more with his friends so we he will pop up here and there and pass through the yard and stuff like that, that's about it. We don't have a strong relationship but he's my uncle."
"We don't know if he doesn't cause any trouble because then our family is a humble family, we're not in the drama, so we don't know if he causes any trouble out there, we have a couple people that came and said that he stole their bike but we explained to them that we don't really know. A couple people complained and said he's on crack, but we don't know, we can't say because we are not around him. We are a humble family, we don't fool with anyone, we are right here but he's out there with his friends."
"It's a loved one, it's a family member so we are going to hold it to our heart, it's someone dear to us but the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh and when these bridges come we have to cross them. This is just life so we just have to take the next step to bury him."
Phillips leaves behind two daughters.
So far, police have no suspects.
Phillips celebrated his 43rd birthday in August.
