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Western Corridor Aflame!: Two Murders In Camalote, Now A Killing In Teakettle
posted (October 1, 2013)
It's been a rough three days for the western corridor, namely the adjoining villages of Roaring Creek and Camalote where there have been four murders in 72 hours. First, on Saturday there was 25 year old Phillipina Alry Rose Sardido and 63 year old David Lowel Reichel who were both killed in Roaring Creek. Then, yesterday evening in Camalote, Juan Olmedo was gunned down. And then, shortly after, a man who lived not far behind him 37 year old Oscar Leonel Benitz was also shot and killed, likely by the same shooter. Two brutal murders in a small village, within such a small period of time.

It's truly bewildering for residents, and unspeakably tragic for their families who Monica Bodden tracked down today. Here's her story:..

Monica Bodden reporting
This pool of blood marks the spot where the lifeless body of Juan Olmedo was seen laying face up.

He was brutally murdered in front of his common-law-wife and children inside their home. It happened in Camalote Village at around 4:30 yesterday evening.

Olmedo was at home with his family when a masked man, armed with a handgun entered the house and demanded money.

When he refused to hand over anything, the gunman pulled the trigger at least 3 times at close range.

Lorraine Burgess - Common-Law-Wife
"About around 4:45 yesterday evening I came from babysitting. I have two jobs; I cook in the morning from 6am-10am and my boyfriend Juan Olmedo takes the food to sell. I then went to my other job which is babysitting. I came home at 4pm to meet him so that we could go and purchase vegetables at the market."

"When I reach home he arrives at the same time with the food. He told me that he didn't sell everything; he only brought back 4 plates. I told him to put it on the table."

"While we were beside the washing machine he was waiting for me to find my clothes to get dress. While searching I heard him saying "wat up G" I wanted to know who he was talking to. When I lift up my head I see the mask man by my washing machine with the gun pointed at us. My two children were in the house watching TV. The mask man told Juan 'where is the money' I told the mask man that we didn't have any money, only the food we have. I ask if he wanted the food and he said no, he wanted the money."

"The mask man was demanding money and my boyfriend told him that there is no money. As he said that the mask man points the gun at my boyfriend and tells him that he doesn't have time to play right now, run the money or else everyone will die."

Burgess said that was when she went inside her room to get money from the sale's she had made that day.

Lorraine Burgess - Common-Law-Wife
"My daughter Shauna started to cry and she said 'no, don't shoot my mom please, my mom will give you the money.' I went to get the money. By the time I went for the money I heard 3 gunshots. He had already shot my boyfriend and he fell."

"I went to search him for the money. I took the money from his pocket; $300 plus and I had mine in my wallet. I took all the money and gave it to him then he ran through the door."

"He had the gun on my head to get the money and if I didn't get the money he would have shoot me too. My daughter was begging not to shoot me and that's why I gave him all the money that I have."

"When I heard the 3 gunshots I am standing right there watching him shoot him - watching him in the eye how he shoots my boyfriend 3 times."

Mike Rudon, reporter
"So he just cold blooded stand up and shoot him?"

Lorraine Burgess - Common-Law-Wife
"Yes he shoot him right there. He had all of us in one spot. We couldn't move or do anything."

Olmedo was shot 3 times; one to the head, chest and nose. His common-law-wife strongly believes that he may have recognized his killer's voice and that is the reason he was cold bloodedly murdered. The mask man armed with his handgun then fled the scene with almost a thousand dollars in cash. It is said that he ran off into the bushes in the direction behind Olmedo's house- which leads to a dirt road. That road was where the body of 37 year old Oscar Benitz was found dead shortly after the first shooting. Benitz who is Olmedo's next door neighbour - and also who is deaf and mute, was returning home from his farm around the same time - when it is believed that the same gunman who fled the first murder scene may have ran into him and shot him 3 times in his face. He was found lying dead beside his grey beach cruiser.

Berta Diaz - Mother of Oscar Benitz
"I went to look for him but he didn't reach, so I send Pedro to pick him up. He came back and told me that he is dead, he found him dead. I called the police and they came to assist."

"I never went to see him because I don't have the strength to see him, but they told me that he got a gunshot under his throat and 4 other shots. One of the shots was to his eye."

So far police have made no arrests for this murder and are seeking one person for both murders. He is believed to have used a 9 millimeter pistol.

And now, tonight we have confirmed that there is one more killing to report in that same area, this one in the next village, Camalote. We can't say it's murder because there is the aspect of self defence and protection of property to consider. But it is a very strange story. We don't have any names yet, but Belmopan police have received a confession from a farmer form the Arizona area of Teakettle who claims he shot and killed, and then burned up a man who was stealing form his farm. He says the man had stolen three thousand dollars' worth of green pepper already - and when he caught him on Friday, the man tried to attack him with a machete. The farmer says he shot him dead and then burned his body. There are no witnesses, and only small parts of the bones of the deceased left, so police are asking the DPP for advice on how to proceed. We'll have more on this tomorrow.

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