Canadian Brian Townsend has been cremated, and now memorial services are being planned. On Thursday, with the facilitation of the Canadian Embassy in Guatemala, representatives of the family went to San Benito Guatemala to identify the decomposed body. It had been found in the Macal River on the Guatemalan side of Arenal Village on December 27th. One of those who went was Gelder Gamboa, a pastor for the 7th day Adventist Church who was assigned to assist the family since Townsend was a church brother. He told us that it was a grim mission - but it gave the family some closure:..
Gelder Gamboa
"We went as a team to San Benito to identify the body. The body was 60% decomposed. He had multiple wounds on the body, but certainly we were able to identify brother Brain, it was him. From there the Guatemalan counterparts brought the body to Belize, where his son also identified him. Certainly it was Brian. It brought a closure to him. His body has been cremated and on this Sunday 12th, we will be having a funeral service at Valley of Peace Seven Day Adventist Church and then the remains will be guided back to Canada for the 19th of January for a funeral service by the family."
Jules Vasquez
"Is this an unimaginable end for someone who you know was a Christian who did community work?"
Gelder Gamboa
"We never did imagine that something like this would happen to him, but nevertheless, we know that God is in charge and certainly justice is in his hands."
Gamboa also sent thanks to all those who prayed and assisted during the search - which started on Christmas day when Townsend was discovered missing with traces of blood left behind in his house in Valley of Peace.
Reliable reports say that his caretaker - who was of Central American origin - has also not been seen since Townsend went missing.
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