Police in San Pedro are investigating the murder of Melvin Almendarez, an island football star. He was found dead in the Mosquito Coast Area of South Ambergris Caye. Original reports were that he was shot once to the head, and that the cops had detained a Canadian national for it. But no arrests have been made. And the community is left to speculate, and grieve for the well-loved footballer. Today Emanuel Pech traveled to San Pedro to find out.
Emanuel Pech reporting
This is Melvin Almendarez- a 31 year old Honduran National, who moved to Belize over a decade ago with the woman who became his wife and mother of his three kids.
He didn't have a regular 8 to 5 job. He worked in San Pedro as a freelance artist and did just about anything to sustain his small family.
But if there is anything that Melvin will always be remembered by it is his passion and love for football.
Nancy Tun, Wife of Deceased
"I will always remember him playing football."
Kent "Bob" Gabourel , Sports Coordinator
"The passion that he had for football was beyond expectation. He had dreams to one-day play in Belize National Football Team or go back to Honduras and play professional football over there. But we all have dreams and sometimes it doesn't come to light. One more thing I can tell you is that his vision was for his son to grow up to be a professional footballer."
But now the family is left behind picking up the pieces of these broken dreams, shattered by the death of Almendarez.
Supt. Sandra Bodden, OC, San Pedro Police
"On Friday May 6th at about 11:30 PM acting on information received, police visited the south of San Pedro Town; about a half mile south of the town where on arrival about 130 feet into a feeder road on the left hand side they found the lifeless body of a male Hispanic person."
And it was much to the disbelief of the family, friends and the community at large that this Hispanic male person turned out to be Melvin Almendarez or "Catracho" as he was more commonly known.
Nancy Tun, Wife of Deceased
"I did not believe that they killed him. For me it was a big shock because when they went to look for me and said 'they killed your husband', I said 'I can't believe it'. They took me to the place and I did not want to see the body, I just told a friend to go and check if it was my husband and they told me yes. I cannot believe it; why did they kill him? He was a nice guy here on the island. Everybody loves him."
Kent "Bob" Gabourel, Sports Coordinator
"I went with the intention 'I hope it's not him, I don't want it to be him, I hope'. So when we got to the feeder Road and walked a couple meters in, flashed the light and I saw the body there crouching position. I was looking and was like 'no this can't be'. The police man asked if its him and I said 'yeah'. I held my head and was like 'no this can't be' and said 'yes officer this is Melvin; this is Catracho'."
Supt. Sandra Bodden, OC, San Pedro Police
"The male person was dressed in a checker short pants and he had no shirt. He was seen with injuries to his head, his face and abrasions to his chest."
Residents report hearing a single gunshot in the area, although police say they found no expended shells and could not confirm if Almenderez indeed died at the end of a gun barrel. But, why would anyone want to kill a beloved community resident and rising football star like that?
Authorities are remaining tight lipped on the situation so far, but reports have it that the main suspect for the crime is a Canadian National-someone well known to Almendarez, and someone who in fact sponsored his football team.
However no arrest has been made. In the meantime family, friends and the entire community of San Pedro grieves for the death of Almendarez.
Kent "Bob" Gabourel, Sports Coordinator
"He played a big role in our community, trying to uplift sports in our community with the kids so it's a big loss to the community and the kids."
Almendarez's family is having a vigil for him tonight meanwhile police continue to investigate.
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