Tonight, the families of two working men have lost their loved ones - in an inexplicably cruel robbery turned murder.
It happened yesterday afternoon when two Sarita's Ice Cream delivery men were targeted on an isolated stretch of road on the Hummingbird Highway.
They were heading Back to their base in Cayo after making deliveries in Dangriga town when they were targeted. But, they never got home to Cayo - and tonight their families are filled with a grief that cannot be named. Jules Vasquez reports:
It's a Sarita truck like these ones that 22-year old Raynard Garbutt and 43 year old Robert Crawford were in on the Hummingbird Highway, westbound from Dangriga to Cayo yesterday afternoon.
Elmer Juarez, Recino's Imports - Sarita Division
"The truck left Dangriga - actually the last store they visited was like minutes to 3:00 and they were to head back to the warehouse here in Santa Elena. They were schedule to arrive around 5:30 - 6:00."
"It was aorund after 3:00, aorund 3:20 - 3:30 that the supervisor started to calling the driver and there was no reposes from them."
Between St Margaret's and Armenia village they came under attack.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"We do believe these persons were being followed, they were being monitored and that is why they were able to do what they have done."
Reporter
"What does the location of where the bodies were found? What does that tell investigators? You said it was a feeder road away from, what does that say?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"Well, that suggests that they were taken to that location and presumably under some form of duress.
"So that is what we are looking at. Also, interestingly, the vehicle was parked on the side of the road. So something happened that may have caused the driver of the vehicle to believe that he was stopping for a legitimate purpose when, in fact, that was not the case."
Robber or robbers cleaned out the cash pan - but Garbutt and Crawford were found some distance away - both shot to the head:
Raynard Garbutt Sr., Father of Deceased
"And I used to always pray for him. I pray for my kids every morning, and I would always tell him, Ray, please be careful out there, because you and the driver."
"Because they have made an attempt to rob the truck about a month ago on the Loma Luz Boulevard. They managed to escape. And he called me and he told me and I said, Ray, you need to speak to your supervisor and ask him to get security guards to go with you guys because you travel with a lot of money."
Two working men ruthlessly murdered in what appears to be a robbery. The loss to their families is incomprehensible and the grief like a searing wound.
Marcelia Crawford, Wife of Deceased
"Two nights ago, he called me. He was so happy because Wednesday I went to Flores and he gave me $100 to buy a watch that he really loved."
"He gave me the picture of the watch. So when I came back from Flores that same Wednesday in the night we video chat. He was so happy, he was so excited when I showed him the watch. He told me, my wife, I love you."
"I'm coming home tomorrow as soon as I reach from work. I know I made a mistake, but I will go into I will going to renew my vows with you, my love. I love you. I love you. I tell him, I love you too. I will be waiting for you."
Raynard Garbutt Sr., Father of Deceased
"I will remember that last week, Saturday night, there was a celebrity basketball game in San Ignacio. So after the game, we met outside and he said that your team lost. And I said, son, it's not about losing. It's just about having fun. And I hugged him and I said, son, I really love you. And he said that I love you. Those are the last words I will remember from my son and the hug that we gave each other, how we embrace each other."
And for Garbutt's mother - who is an ex police officer - it is doubly troubling because 5 weeks ago someone else tried to rob her son in Cayo:
Voice of: Michelle Coleman, Mother of Deceased
And Jules the hurfullest part is that up to this day, not a police officer statement from my son. And my son told me, mommy, I could identify one of the person. Because I see him around Santa Elena, so I know him."
"Nobody take a statement from my son on that first attempt. What if it's the same people? How come you all never take a statement from my child or the driver? They issue a medico form and that just stayed right there. They didn't even photograph that thing as far as I had understanding from my child. Then I have to honestly blame the company at one sense too because they already knew that they made attempts to rob. Why didn't you get your security? Get a police officer to go with them like what Madisco does."
Elmer Juarez, Recino's Imports - Sarita Division
"There has to be going forward more to be put in when it comes to protocols. I am sure that the company is already looking at how to improve certain areas. One, the important thing would be security, which is priority. And there are other things that will just come into place in trying to improve or try to mitigate problems occurring in the future. I mean, things will continue happening, but we try to at least put something in place to minimize these events."
Michelle Coleman, Mother of Deceased
"I just think that negligence from all angle, no matter what I say, no matter what I do, will never bring back my baby to me. Never. And this is a pain I will have to live with for the rest of my life."
Endless pain, too much of it to go around. And also anger.
Marcelia Crawford, Wife of Deceased
"To find those criminals. To find those criminals because he didn't deserve to die like that. He didn't deserve it. I can say they are animals because animals do not what they did. If animals kill somebody, they eat it, but they just kill for kill. They are killers out there just trying to harm people. They don't want to work. I just want justice for my husband."
Michelle Coleman, Mother of Deceased
"So whoever took my son's life really hurt me. You kill my son for money that is not even for him. God, take the money and go. Why kill him? It's not for him."
Raynard Garbutt Sr., Father of Deceased
"Just become the father of a one-month and four-year-old baby who was his life."
"This was rough. It's very rough. I pray that whoever did it will walk into the police station and said, I committed the crime on the Hummingbird Highway. I took the two lives and give himself up, you know."
