If you have been to the emergency room at the KHMH, there is a fair chance that you might have been treated by Dr. Ivan Garcia.
But, tonight his colleagues in the E-R are in a state of shock after the Doctor they worked with for nine years was found dead in his home this morning; he had been murdered.
Monica Bodden was on the scene and she has this report:..
Monica Bodden reporting
Around 9:30 this morning, the body of Doctor Ivan Garcia lay dead inside his 2 story concrete home in Belama Phase 1- Police along with a team of crime investigators processed the crime scene thoroughly -in this quiet residential neighborhood.
A number of doctors gathered outside Garcia's home this morning- still in shock and in disbelief - as they patiently waited for the body of their fallen colleague to be removed from inside the house.
About an hour later, his body was brought out on a stretcher, fully wrapped in a white sheet - and placed in the pan of this police pick-up truck - It was taken away to the morgue.
Doctor Ivan Garcia's body was discovered around 7:30 this morning by his maid.
He was found lying on his bedroom floor. He had a cut wound to the head and a black and blue eye, which indicated that he had been struck.
His neck also showed signs of manual strangulation - which is believed ot have been the cause of death.
There were no signs of forced entry on the house - which suggested that Doctor Garcia murderer may have been someone he was familiar with.
One thing we do know is that his vehicle was stolen.
Garcia was last seen alive last night socializing with one of his colleagues.
Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"The maid arrives at his residence in Balama Phase 2 where she is saying that from she arrived there she found it strange that his vehicle was missing - his green Geo Prizm car. She is saying when she gained access to the bedroom she found Dr. Garcia bleeding from the head on the floor - this would be between the bed and the wall itself of the bedroom. She immediately calls police. Police visited that scene and yes we do suspect foul play in this. We have classified this investigation as murder."
"Off-hand all she can say is that car was missing. She wasn't certain whether other personal items had been stolen. We know that the police officers are still on the scene, they are trying to ascertain from relatives or family whether or not any items were stolen."
Investigators believe that the murder of Doctor Ivan Garcia took place sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning since his body showed no signs of decomposition.
Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"It might have been overnight because the condition that the body was found in - there was no state of decomposition, so that would suggest that it took place overnight."
Police have confirmed that Garcia was found in his boxers and there were three used condoms on the floor.
46 year old Garcia was a Guatemalan who had made his home in Belize. According to the KHMH, he had a wife and children in Guatemala.
So far no one has been detained but police are asking the public to be on the lookout for his car - which is the only thing that was missing.
The car is a green Geo Prizm with license plate BZ-C-26203.
Later on we'll have the reaction from the KHMH Medical Chief of Staff, Dr. Adrian Coye.
Email
Print