A man was found murdered in his home this morning in rural Belize last night. Around 11:00 48-year-old care taker Prudencio Gonzalez was found dead in his home in the Ridge Lagoon Area - which is off the Burrell Boom Road on the road to the Bacab Eco Park. He had been shot once to the head sometime around 9:00. When we spoke to the family today they told us that they have no idea who would want Gonzalez dead but they did reveal something about him that could have factored into the murder. Courtney Weatherbune reports:
Courtney Weatherbune reporting
Bushy overgrowth and withered coconut trees conceal the home of 48 year old Prudencio Gonzalez.
He lived alone in this small house - right up the road from his work place at the Bacab Eco Park.
It is usually quiet around here without the steady flow of traffic and people - but that changed last night when Gonzalez was shot and killed inside his home - where his body was found partially nude on the floor. When his family and friends got the news - they were in utter shock.
Roberto Sagastume, Co-worker and Friend
"We never knew of any problems he had, we worked together and now in the morning they gave me a surprise when they told me that he was laying down dead and that he was killed and we didn't know because for us we didn't have any problems - we were all friends and always when you work together with someone you know would talk about our problems."
He might not have had any conflict with anyone but he did have a drinking problem:
Roberto Sagastume, Co-worker and Friend
"When this morning I woke up when I was going to work and his cousin who is coming now called me and told me Prudencia is dead and asked him what happen and he said I don't know - so we thought…like at times he would drink, we thought he killed himself but no."
Santos Lopez Gonzalez, Cousin
"well last night they called me and told me that he was injured but when I got here - that wasn't the case , he was dead - he had a gunshot to his head up here to the right side and he was thrown on ground inside the house. The door was opened and the light and TV was on and around him were bottles of beer that I believe he was drinking. Every day, he would drink his beer, just beer, and he would buy his 5 to 6 beers but he usually drinks it at home - if he would drink outside it would be just 2 or 3 but the rest it's in his house."
His house: where he enjoyed his late night cold beers in solitude, became a house of horror for him and his family.
The family arrived at the house to for the last time. But instead of meeting their beloved relative sitting on the verandah waiting for them, they found blood stains inside - a gruesome reminder of his death.
While the family endures this loss, the police are trying to pick up the pieces to solve this case.
Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster, Commander, Eastern Division Rural
"Around 9 o'clock a shot was heard and investigation was carried out by individuals on the ground around the area to try and ascertain where the shot came from, but they did not discover Mr. Gonzales until 11 that night where he had 1 gunshot. Apparently 1 gunshot wound over the right eye. The investigation into that matter is being conducted as we speak."
Police believe that robbery could have been a motive but have no leads on suspects at this point. Gonzalez had a wife and no kids and worked as the care taker of the Bacab Eco Park. He has been working in Belize for 10 years.
Bacab Eco Park sent out a statement saying he was a very faithful and long standing employee and friend."
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