Email

Print

Today, our news team traveled to San Pedro to get some answers, and Daniel Ortiz reports:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
44 year-old Jose Felix Ayuso, a beloved member of the San Pedro community, was found dead inside his home on the Island last night at around the start of the evening news.

His sister last saw him alive at around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday; he was here at his business place, Jose's Salon where he catered to the hairstyling needs of locals and tourists. When he didn't show up for work on yesterday, his sister decided to check up on him, and that's when she found his body. He had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"That murder took place earlier in the day in san Pedro where police officer were called to that scene. The evidence on the scene proved that it didn't occur recently. For one, the blood was already clotting."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Are you able to say what the instrument was used in killing him?"

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"Well, at this time I cannot officially say but for stabbing, whenever it's a stabbing incident it leads more towards a crime of passion. So we have several angles that we are looking at but we believe that it was a sharp object, I don't want to be specific. There are various subjects that you can sharpen and use as a weapon."

For his friends and family, and those who knew him, the news of his gruesome murder is unthinkable, and it still hasn't set in.

Leonel "Leo" Millian - Close Friend of Deceased
"I was so close with him that I respected him as a brother. Last night when I got the news I was in a shock until now I am still in a shock and I now I just can't believe. He was part of my family. I have no words to say what I'm going through right now."

David Jenkins - Close Friend of the Deceased
"To be completely honest I'm not sure that we have gotten that far yet. It's still so new from last night. It came out of nowhere. Everyone in the group and family members that I talked to, we are still in disbelief. I don't know if it's sunken in yet, but shock is probably the best word I can use to describe at moment."

One possible line of investigation that the police are pursuing is the 2 or so times that someone burglarized his home at the corner of Jew Fish and Seaweed Streets. At this time, however, it's a tough investigation for the cops.

Leonel "Leo" Millian - Close Friend of Deceased
"For the past one and half month he commented to me that people broke into his house and they stole some of his things. My advice to him was, why you don't move from that house find another place. He is a professional hair stylist. He owns his own beauty salon. He has a big apartment where he has his shop. I told him why doesn't he move from his house and just leave your shop where it is. He said no he is fine where he is. So only this year they broke two times into his house and stole his things. So I don't know if it was the same person who stole from him but the person who commit this crime doesn't have a brain."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Is this an angle that you all are looking at? Was there anything taken?"

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"We cannot ascertain at this time if anything was taken on this particular occasion. But I can't tell you that investigators have been looking at that angle also. But who could ascertain what is missing or if any item is missing being that the sole resident of this place is deceased. So then we have to really canvass that area and the police have been out there since the discovery of this body and we will not let this go cold. We are on top of it and as soon as we have those answers for your questions I will get back to you."

But, whatever the motive is, the killer has ended the life of a man who contributed greatly to the island. He was a community activist who was the engine behind the San Pedro Aids Commission. He also had passion for the San Pedro Carnival, which he also very involved in.

Leonel "Leo" Millian - Close Friend of Deceased
"I was part of the carnival as well for a few years. I was actually his right hand for the carnival. He was the president of the san Pedro Aids commission which I am a member as well. He was just dedicated to help people. I can't believe how people could do this to him and when he is a person that wouldn't mess with anyone. He is a person that if he sees you need water he will get you water. If he sees you need some money he will give you money. He did not discriminate against sexuality, colors. He was an icon for me."

David Jenkins - Close Friend of the Deceased
"He convince us to join his aids commission group and I am now the vice president."

Leonel "Leo" Millian - Close Friend of Deceased
"He used to dance carnival in a group before, but 7-8 years ago he decided to create his own group which I was fortunate to dance with him for the past 3 to 4 years and we have been winners for 7 years in row actually and he was getting so ready and excited and looking forward to this year. We will work together as a group and decide to bring this carnival again and dedicate this in his honor."

David Jenkins - Close Friend of the Deceased
"He was San Pedro Aids commission. He meant everything to that group. He really did. We all do what we do to help them out when we can but orchestrated everything. It was amazing what he was able to do with such little resources and such little help from us. The amount of amount of patience that he had that he was able to provide aide for and just what he lived for that, that's what he was, that was his true passion. You can see it through carnival especially. How much he enjoyed the pageantry and elegance of everything that he brought to this group to that competition was just his trademark."

Leonel "Leo" Millian - Close Friend of Deceased
"The last thing we did together was on Sunday evening when we reunited to watch miss universe pageant and he was all excited to watch miss Belize Rebecca Rath. We were all screaming for Miss Belize and that was the last thing I heard from him. Go Belize."

David Jenkins - Close Friend of the Deceased
"There is probably not a person that I know of that had his size of heart. His giving spirit, altruism. He exhibited everything, all the best characteristics that we all want for ourselves, he had in spades and again I think that's why everyone is so in shock, because he was such a beloved member of this community for this to happen. It has still not yet sunken in."

So, Police are hoping that San Pedro will give back to him, by helping them catch his killer.

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"The door for the victim, Mr. Ayuso was left open so we tried our best to canvassed the area to find out who was the last person he was seen with or who was the last person seen coming from his residence. We have someone of interest that we are looking for and we are hoping that the people of San Pedro especially his neighbors could help us in this investigation."

"whenever a murder occurs and the police finds out about it hours later, it leads us at a disadvantage to begin with because the perpetuator of that crime had ample time to leave the island, come to mainland and then we would have to have that suspect in custody to really question that person and see what was his motive or was this because.... - first to specify that maybe it's his lifestyle it would be unfair to him and to the accused one. We need to investigate first and then we can comment on that question."

Ayuso leaves behind a son, a daughter and 2 grandchildren. The San Pedro Sun Newspaper reports that the police have detained two persons for questioning.