A 19 year old Orange Walk resident who was out partying with friends on Saturday night into Sunday morning was found dead today, in the Rhaburn Ridge area, near mile 39 on the Northern Highway.
Josh Ku got into a fight at the Hi5 nightclub and was supposed to have been dropped home after that by a group of 3 friends. But, he never made it home. He was reported missing and his family's worst fears were confirmed today when his body was found off the Phillip Goldson highway.
Jomarie Lanza has more:
After a night out of partying, 19 year old Josh Ku never made it home on Sunday, which quickly led his relatives to worry and alert the Orange Walk Police.
More than 36 hours later, and still no sign of the teenager, his family received a horrifying tip from the authorities, that there is a high possibility Ku was murdered and dumped near the Rhaburn Ridge area, this was allegedly confessed to them by one of his friends who had been detained for questioning. His mother told our colleagues today that she doesn't understand why her son made the decision to leave with this particular individual, who he knows doesn't like him.
Voice: Nadia Ku, Mother of Deceased
"Josh went missing according to what they told me he went missing like after 3 in the morning because he didn't went to high five he was at high five and some people told me he was there and he was dancing and he was all happy but after that I don't know with who he went and why he went with that person because Josh I know that the guy that took Josh. Doesn't like Josh he doesn't like my son from way back he doesn't like. He started to date the sister and from then he doesn't like Josh so I don't know why Josh went with him. Maybe Josh was a little bit high and he though it was cool to go with them and because even I told him I have always told Josh please Josh don't go out you know this year is rough a lot of people are dying and I don't want you to go on me like that but I guess unfortunately I don't know. So then my son called me Sunday about 9 and he says mom Josh hasn't arrived and I was like what but Josh never sleeps out. Josh could come give six the morning and Josh would still come home sleep and then go out again. He is not a trouble maker and everyone who knows Josh knows that Josh is kind hearted loving he takes care of himself. Yes he has friends but he has friends that are close to him but I don't know why he went with this guy."
Just after 2:00 authorities confirmed that Josh's body was indeed found within the location. The owner of the ranch, where his body was discarded said that he saw footprints on his property when he went to make checks that afternoon upon hearing the news.
Voice of Property Owner
"The CIBs met me and gave me some info that they have someone in custody who says that they came back here to dump a body but the guy was very drunk and isn't sure where. So I drove up ahead and when we got to the ranch I went in a bit more and I was the only one in the vehicle and that's when I saw footprints. But I saw no one else around so i parked and called the police and when they got there they patrolled the area a bit and found the body right by where I was parked."
The watchman says he didn't see anything and didn't hear anything and the footprints it seems that they went through the front because there is only one way in and one way out.
ACP Hilberto Romero says that the young teen was found with multiple stab wound injuries.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OC Eastern Division
"On Sunday the 11th day of February 2024 around 11:00 Pm Josh Ku was reported missing in Orange Walk. Information received is that Josh Ku Was along with some male persons in a night club at Orange walk and he got into a car around 3:20 Am on the said Sunday the 11th of February. An investigation was carried out and searches were conducted and this afternoon his body was found at an area in Rayburn Ridge with stab wound injuries. The scene is being processed at this time."
Reporter
"Has anyone been detained?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OC Eastern Division
"Yes, there are several persons detained for this investigation."
As you heard, police have caution statements and known suspects. And charges are expected to follow.
