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Was Relative Responsible for Cayo Killing?
posted (December 24, 2012)
This weekend, the 140th and 141st murders for the year occurred outside the city. The first occurred in San Ignacio, the second in Dangriga. Monica Bodden found out why Rene Vera's relatives say he was killed by one of his own kin.

Here's her story from San Ignacio:

Monica Bodden Reporting

36 year old Rene Vera was found dead inside his home in Santa Elena Town-His body was discovered by one of his room-mates on Saturday morning.

He was lying in a pool of blood inside one of the bedrooms with 9 stab wounds to multiple parts of his body.

Erin Gillett - Niece of Deceased
"When I found out about my Uncle, I was in Orange Walk, and we found out Saturday evening when one of the roommates got home. He texted everybody and we got a text saying Uncle Rene died. We didn't believe it, so we called and confirmed it. We rushed down, and on the way there, they told us that they found him in the next room - not his room - and he was on the floor in a pool of blood."

But what took place inside Vera's house is still left to be determined by police. Cups were found on his dining table, which may indicate that Vera had company over. Speculations are going around town that Vera was murdered by one of his family members. We understand that the man was detained for questioning yesterday by San Ignacio police.

Erin Gillett
"They said that he was stabbed 9 times, and he was hit by something which left a bruise behind his head, like someone broke a glass on that spot."

Monica Bodden
"Does he reside there alone?"

Erin Gillett
"He was there alone when they found him, but he lives with these 2 other roommates. One of them works in Pine Ridge, and he come down every week. The other one went down to PG with his family. We don't know exactly what happened, who he was with, or anything like that. But around the house, there was blood in 2 of the rooms and by the table, which had cups. To what people are saying that it's our own family, we're surprised. There were scratches all over the person's body. They found chain with beads in my uncle's hand. When we were at the police station yesterday, that family member was there, but he didn't want to say anything to us."

Vera is an employee of Central Farm. He resided at his residence along with 2 other room-mates who both were not at home at the time of his murder.

Erin Gillett
"My uncle, he worked at Central Farm. He used to hang out with friends and family. He was a people-person. He enjoyed tending to animals, plants, fruits and things like that because we were raised up on a farm. I would say that he cared about everybody just as if they were his family. He had 'beef' with other people, but they next day, they would talk again. So, he really didn't have any problems unless he was drinking, but only for that moment. This was a shock for us because we know that he hangs out with friends every weekend, and nothing ever happens."

Police are still investigating and presently have 3 suspects.

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