7 News Belize

Guat Fugitive Facilitated in Belize?
posted (November 13, 2013)

Tonight, there's an interesting report coming out of the Guatemalan media about the high profile disappearance and possible murder of 33-year-old Cristina Siekavizza on July 6, 2011, in Guatemala City.

The preliminary findings of an investigation conducted by Guatemalan Police reveal that her husband Roberto Barreda was able to remain on the run in Mexico for over two years with the help of family and friends who fed him money through Belize.

 

Barreda disappeared with the couple's two children, now 9 and 6 years old after a domestic dispute with his wife – who hasn't been seen since.

Barreda was finally detained in Merida last Friday, November 8th, as he was leaving the children's school. On November 1st, Guatemalan authorities requested his extradition. According to reports, some 25 thousand people were using social media to track down Barreda.

It is believed that a year ago Barreda made multiple trips to Belize to meet his Guatemalan attorney who would then hand over money from Barreda's family.

The Siglo 21 newspaper notes that when his attorney, who has Belizean roots passed away, it was Barreda's family members who took up the responsibility of dropping off the money to him. The media also reported that stubs showing monetary transfers via Belize were found at his Merida home.

Barreda was extradited to Guatemala, where he faces charges of murder, violence against women and the obstruction of justice. Reports indicate that his mother, Beatriz Ofelia de Leon, former president of the Guatemalan Supreme Court, is among the 8 people being processed in the case and is charged for obstruction of justice.

When he appeared in court, Barreda maintained his innocence saying he left the country because his in laws wanted to take the children away from him.

Guatemalan authorities to date have conducted 1 hundred 60 searches, 80 verifications of human remains and 40 exhumations but have come up empty. Barreda said only God knows where Christina Siekavizza is.

It is notable that other Guatemalan media outlets including Prensa Libre are reporting that at the time of his arrest Barreda had false Belizean immigration documents on him, but the official report from Guatemala's Public Prosecutor's Office indicates that at the time of his capture, Barredo identified himself as a Mexican with false documentation in the name of Carlos Roberto Barreido Villareal.

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