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Alex Courtenay reporting
Florencio Bardalez served the Baptist churches in San Ignacio as a pastor for most of his life. In his old age, Bardalez handed his position over to his son-in-law, and spent his days on his farm tending to everything from tamarind trees to an orange orchard. And it was at that very farm where he spent so much time that he was found dead late last night. After he failed to return home yesterday evening, a member of his family and the San Ignacio police went looking for him, and found him dead, under a tree.

Superintendent Daniel Itche - ASP San Ignacio Police
"At about 7:45pm last night April 3rd, 2017, a family member of Mr. Florencio Guerremo Bardalez visited the San Ignacio Police Station seeking the police assistance to go and look for him on his farm, because he did not return home. He left to his farm sometime around 8am and was expected to return sometime between 4:30 and 5pm, but he did not return home."

"As a result the police along with the family member visited his farm behind Esperanza Village where Mr. Bardalez was found lying on his back under an Orange tree. He was seen with injuries to his head and face, a piece of stick and a stone was found near his body. Mr. Bardalez was 79 years old, born on the 27th October, 1937, Belizean farmer."

"The scene was processed, the body was transported to the San Ignacio community hospital, where the medical officer pronounced dead on arrival. We have 1 person in custody. The investigators are within the area at this time canvassing the area, gathering further information."

While Police already have a suspect in custody, they are still looking for a motive. Itche told us that Bardalez may have had an argument with someone in the past, but so far that incident is unrelated to his murder and the suspect, who is a resident of Esperanza Village.

Superintendent Daniel Itche - ASP San Ignacio Police
"They may have been some misunderstanding in the past."

Alex Courtenay, 7News
"Does the suspect have any connections to those misunderstandings?"

Superintendent Daniel Itche - ASP San Ignacio Police
"No."

Reporter
"Someone from the area sir?"

Superintendent Daniel Itche - ASP San Ignacio Police
"Yes, from the area."

Reporter
"We received a call this morning that about midnight last night, the police were doing some pickup and so on of an individual in the neighborhood Esperanza Village. Would you be able to ascertain whether or not that particular police patrol was able to pick up the suspect or was just that another part of the investigation?"

Superintendent Daniel Itche - ASP San Ignacio Police
"It's as a result of the investigation being conducted that we detain a suspect."

Regardless of any misunderstandings Bardalez may have had, his murder came as a surprise to those who knew him. He was known to the communities of both San Ignacio and Esperanza as a kind and friendly man.

Alexander Crawford - Close Friend
"He was friendly all the way. He didn't bother with anyone."

Alex Courtenay, 7News
"He isn't the type of person who would get into any kind of trouble or anything like that?"

Alexander Crawford - Close Friend
"No. He was always a peaceful man going to his plantation coming back and forth. He didn't bother with anyone. He was a very nice man to everyone in the village. I am really sorry to hear what happened and I am sorry that it happened in the village of Esperanza where he's been for so many years. I don't see why anybody would do him anything. He was a teacher at Listowel. He was very nice to people. I didn't find any fault with him."

Police are asking for the public's assistance in solving this murder. If anyone has any information, or saw anything suspicious in the Esperanza area, they are urged to contact the San Ignacio Police Station as soon as possible.