And while those murders and the possibilities of retaliation against the police that they raise are chilling, the truth is that when we talk about murders of innocent people, there's no question on of degree: as in which case is more or less painful; they are all incredibly difficult for the families coping with an unbelievable, inescapable grief.
That's how it is for the family of contractor Abner Rodriguez. The working, family man went out with his friends on Saturday night and turned up dead a few hours later.
Monica Bodden went to find out why:..
Monica Bodden Reporting
This was the spot where the body of 39 year old Abner Rodriguez laid dead in a pool of his own blood.
He was found face up with several injuries to his head and a large cut wound to his forehead.
There are reports to police that on Sunday around 12A.M he was walking on 7th street in the Kings Park area - and was being followed by a red tinted car.
Minutes later he was found dead.
According to his wife, the last time she saw her husband was around 6:30 on Saturday evening. That was when he told her, he was going out for a night out of socializing with his workers.
Nerba Rodriguez - Wife
"Well that night when he came from work - that was like after 6:30 he told me that he would be out with his workers socializing for a while. At around 11:30 I call him to see what was happening, he explain to me that he will be home shortly. Then I call back like after 12 that night. The sergeant pick up the phone and told me what had happen to him on 7th Street."
That was when she was informed that her husband Abner Rodriguez was murdered.
Nerba Rodriguez - Wife
"I was very shock, he was brutally murdered and I would really want for justice to be done and to find out who and what happen that night. I really need to know that. To my understanding people out there have seen what happen. I want to say to them to please do not be afraid and to come out and let us know what is happening. As a country, it's too much crime here in Belize and everybody being afraid. We shouldn't fear anything. What I am going through I don't think we should fear anything."
Not known as a troublesome person, Rodriguez's wife is still trying to figure out why someone would want to kill him.
Nerba Rodriguez - Wife
"No i don't know his as having any enemies. He was always a positive person, he always was the person that if he sees a fight he would want to make peace - he was that type of person."
Rodriguez strongly believes that her husband's employees may be able to help the police with information since they were along with him around the time of his murder.
Nerba Rodriguez - Wife
"Well it different things that come in from the others that were along with him. It seems to involve more, but I don't know. I just want to find out what happen. He wasn't alone, he was coming along the others he was with."
Jose Sanchez, Reporter
"So they do know something."
Nerba Rodriguez - Wife
"Yes they do know something. That's why I need to know what happen, so that the law can do justice."
Abner Rodriguez was the father of 2 little girls - ages 2 and 4.
Nerba Rodriguez - Wife
"Abner was my beloved husband. He was a very good husband, a friend to me, my advisor, my confidant. We share everything with each other. We know each other for 13 years. This would have been our 6th year anniversary, 7 years as my boyfriend and he was a loving father, very dedicated with his children, very helpful father he was very close to them."
Abner Rodriquez was a friend of ours here at Channel 7, he did all the repair work on our buildings; we are saddened at his loss and our condolences go to his family.
So far no arrests have been made…
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