7 News Belize

Well-Known Rudy Cruz Stabbed To Death In His Home
posted (June 1, 2012)
This morning in Belize City, a man was found dead in his home - he had been stabbed to death. The victim is 35 year old Rudy Cruz, very well known in the entertainment world as Belize's premier light technician.

But last night - police believe he was killed in his sleep by someone who did not break into his home.

It is a murder that has all the indicators of a crime of passion - and today Monica Bodden tried to find out what led to his death:..

Monica Bodden reporting
Family members, neighbors and friends gathered outside this house on Allan Pitts Crescent - the home of 35 year old Rudy Cruz - his body lay dead inside his bedroom - where he was attacked and viciously stabbed over a dozen times.

Cruz was last seen alive last night at the Princess Casino. Around 6:30 this morning his lifeless body was discovered on his bed inside his home by a friend who went looking for him after he didn't show up to an early morning job.

According to family members, Cruz may have been stabbed to death while he was asleep because they were no signs of a struggle nor were there any signs of forced entry - which cause one to believe that Cruz murderer may have been someone familiar to him.

Nothing was found stolen from inside his house - except for a bunch of missing keys. It was an emotional atmosphere early this morning as family members held on to each other and tried to console one another the best they could.

After police crime investigation team processed the crime area - Cruz's body was taken out from his home.

Wrapped in a sheet, he was placed on a stretcher and escorted through the crowd - where he was put behind the pan of a police pickup truck and taken away to the morgue.

Aracelli Cruz - Sister of the Deceased
"My little brother called me sometime between 6 and 7 o'clock. I don't know; I didn't look at the clock. He called and told me that someone stabbed up my brother, but I didn't think that he was dead. So, I just called back to find out if he was at home, or if he was at the hospital. He told me that they can't move him, so I hurried over here. I really didn't think that he was dead in his bed."

Cruz lived alone at his residence. For his friends and family, he was an easy going guy. He worked alongside the National Institute of Culture and history on numerous occasions and later invested in his own business. He is described by many as one of the best light design and technician in the country.

Seen on the night stand beside his bed where he was murdered- are pictures of him and his fiancé. We were told his wedding date was set in December.

Aracelli Cruz
"My brother, the only think I can say about my brother is love. Love for his family; nobody gets between him and his family. It doesn't matter how - like any other family - we might have our problems, Rudy is not the type to hold anything against anyone. Rudy just leave things as they are, and he just lives like whatever will be, will be, but family is family. That is one thing. His friends, it's the same thing; he treats them like family. Rudy is the type of persons that if you need something, and you go to Rudy and ask him 'Rudy, I need a $100, he would give it to you without even thinking about it. If he lends you, he is not the type to come back and remind you that you owe him. Rudy is the type that believes that whenever he lends, he doesn't ask back for it. If he gets it, fine, and if he doesn't get it, that's it. That's Rudy. In his job, he is very punctual, and very serious, and his love for his family."

And Cruz's family is another added to the long list of those waiting for justice - in a society where justice seldom prevails.

Aracelli Cruz
"Everybody wants justice, everybody, but I'll leave to their conscience and to the hands of God. That's all I can say. And to that person, I hope he or she knows exactly what they did."

Police have no suspects at this time.

Cruz started out his career at the Arts Council where he was trained by a Peace Corp Volunteer and since then he came into his own as a private entrepreneur.

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