Family of Fallen BDF Soldier Demands Transparency in Investigation

The family of a Belize Defense Force soldier who lost his life in a road traffic incident in Toledo is calling for transparency from the authorities. On July 12, 31-year-old Venancio Coy Jr. was hit by a motorcycle on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway after leaving Roots Rock Night Club. Coy was transported to the Punta Gorda Community Hospital but airlifted to the KHMH, where he succumbed on July 21. Today, his family took to social media to express concerns about the police’s investigation into his death. They have allegedly not been able to get any information from the police and claim that Coy’s death could have been prevented. His sister, Petrona Coy, spoke to our newsroom about the family’s plea.

Petrona Coy, Sister of Deceased: “We haven’t seen a single police officer. No one has visited the family. No one has visited the hospital while we were there and because of that I took it upon myself to find out what is happening to get some information from the police as to what happened at the time of the incident or the accident with my brother. I visited the police station on July 16th at around 9:30, 10 a.m. the morning. I went to the police station, the Punta Gorda police station, to ask I asked who was in charge of the accident, which officer was in charge of the accident at the time I’d like to speak to him or her because I want to get an update on the accident from my brother. I was told that the investigating officer was not in, he was not working at the time, and if I can leave my number, that they would return my call at 10 a.m. that same morning. I said, okay, and I informed them, they were not aware how critical my brother was listed, and I informed them. I said, I am here to check mainly because my brother is on life support clinging for his life and I’d like to know what is going on with this investigation, who knocked him down you know and so forth I said this is information I needed to know so my number was taken. Up to today’s date I still haven’t gotten a call or anything from any police officer.”

Coy’s family has received numerous reports of their loved one being evicted from the club and hit by police before he walked onto the highway. They are calling for the police to provide them with an official report to lay the rumors to rest.

Petrona Coy, Sister of Deceased: “I don’t know what happened to my brother. There are speculations going around saying that my brother was hit, was evicted out of a club. My brother was hit by a police officer prior to his accident. I don’t know because we have not been given an update from the police department any at all. Up to today’s date, we haven’t seen anyone visited us to give us an update to inform us or to tell us anything at all. A life has been lost here and this is so frustrating. This is a Belize Defense Force soldier who served his country for 10 years nine months to be specific. And he basically, from what I can conclude, is like, you know, the authorities don’t give a damn about, sorry to use that word, but about you know a soldier lost his life and that’s it. I hope that, you know, while I’m pleading on the authorities of the police department to give us an update, give us some closure. We want justice for my brother. He’s not just a human being, maybe for the world or for other people he’s just a human being, but he’s my brother. He’s a dad. He left a four-year-old son. And I just don’t want him, well, the accident to just go like that. I am calling on the authorities to give us an update, give us some closure. We want justice for him.”

Coy’s family also expressed concern about the lengthy process they faced at the morgue.