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Senior Citizen And Hot Dog Vendor’s Throat Slit in ‘Griga
posted (December 29, 2014)
A senior citizen who's also a hot dog vendor was murdered in Dangriga Town over the Christmas Holiday.

72-year-old Honduran Felix Castillo Carranza was found in his home on Saturday with his throat cut. There are several conflicting reports surrounding this murder but police are trying to untangle this web of allegations to solve the case of murder for a man who had no known enemies. Courtney Weatherburne traveled to Dangriga today to find out more.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
This is where 72 year old Felix Carranza came every day to sell his famous hotdogs: Right in front of GrigaLizeans Store near this rusted bicycle rack.

Now this space is left empty after Carranza was executed in his small wooden house on Saturday. It was a morbid scene behind this door and According to 36 year old Marsha Castillo, her 11 year old daughter found Carranza's body.

Marsha Castillo, Tenant
"My daughter said that he had a big slit on is throat and the murderer cut out his tongue and on the door was full of blood. Some blood was on the fan. The police took all of them as evidence. A lot of blood was in the bedroom. Blood was on his slippers and even on the sheets and all over his house."

As one can imagine, this mess has left 11 year old Jemeiah traumatized.

Marsha Castillo, Tenant
"She can't sleep at night. Every night she goes to bed crying because it's something tragic to the little girl. First time she saw a dead body in her life. He was the sweetest man. Every time on my daughter's birthday, he would buy her new sandals, chocolate, ice cream and all kinds of gifts and he took it upstairs free of charge. He is like family to us. Every Christmas he gets his dinner, cake and soft drinks from my mother."

So why would anyone want to harm such a kind man?

Marsha Castillo, Tenant
"I believe the motive of his killing was money. It was a robbery thing. He came here to rob the man. It was one of his friends because as Mr. Felix opened the door for him... because it happened at night. It was money he wanted because he stole his wallet with all his money, he stole his TV, the DVD and lots of other items are missing from out of Mr. Felix house."

But according to Carranza's stepdaughter, the possibility of it being a nocturnal attack is very low.

Bertha Membreno, Stepdaughter
"I don't think so. My dad goes to sleep early and he doesn't sleep in jeans pants and under shirt, so he was getting ready to go out there and work."

Bertha also introduced another dimension to the story. She says she got an alarming phone call Christmas night from her father saying that he had a few unwelcomed guests at his house.

Bertha Membreno, Stepdaughter
"We had dinner and we had fun. We opened the gifts and then he went home early. Like 15 minutes later when he reached his home, he called me and he ask if I could please send my husband Steve to accompany him because he feels kind of funny because 3 guys that were there and one of them were the lady nephews and so my husband went there with him. Like how he was already with us, home, I decided to get ready and I left after them and we stayed there."

But that did not deter the murderer or murderers from carrying out this gruesome crime. Bertha laments on the moment she heard the dreadful news.

Bertha Membreno, Stepdaughter
"When I was getting ready to go to the gym, my mom came and said that they kill your father and that was the last thing I ever heard about him and the 26th was the last day I saw him."

Courtney Weatherburne
"As you said earlier before the interview, you had a very close relationship even though he was your stepfather - that didn't matter because he was your father, he raised you."

Bertha Membreno, Stepdaughter
"Of course, my father loved me."

While Bertha must find her way through this tragic time in her life, the investigation into her father's murder begins.

Sgt. Wilfredo Ferrefino, Crime and investigation Branch, Dangriga
"At this point we do believe that robbery was probably a part of it. However, the circumstances from going on from robbery into a murder - we are still investigating that."

Police note that there was no sign of forced entry on the house. His step daughter, Bertha says that officers found an Identification card belonging to one of Carranza's friends in the house. But she says Carranza was simply holding the ID for his friend. That's quite a strong lead and so far the police have detained several suspects.

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