Gruesome Discovery: Body Found in Barrel, Suspect Charged with Murder

In other news, Police have levied charges against 25-year-old Loren Vanegas for the murder of 34-year-old Manuel Fernandez. On Saturday morning, Dangriga police received reports that Fernandez had been killed at a meat shop on Ecumenical Drive but only found stains of blood on the walls and several grams of cannabis in the refrigerator. Officers then detained Vanegas who was at the establishment, and hours later discovered Fernandez’s body inside a barrel floating in the sea. ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander of the Eastern Division, gave us more details about the investigation.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division: “On Saturday the 19th day of October 2024 police responded to a report at a meat shop in Dangriga where information was received that someone had been stabbed. Police arrived there and found a proprietor, Loren Vanegas, he was questioned and he was acting suspicious. He was taken into custody and the scene was processed. On Sunday the police responded to a report that a body had been found inside a plastic barrel in front of the Pelican Beach Resort in Dangriga. The scene was processed, the person was removed from the barrel and he was identified as Manuel Fernandez. Investigation revealed that Manuel Fernandez and Loren Vanegas were involved in a fight at the meat shop and Vanegas inflicted a stab wound to Manuel Fernandez causing his fatal injuries.”

According to the family, Fernandez left Roaring Creek to go to Dangriga on Friday and was not known to be a troublesome individual. Adam Mendoza, uncle of Fernandez said that the news of the gruesome murder came as a shocker to the family. 

Adam Mendoza, Uncle: “The Monday m brother came to look for him near my sister in Roaring Creek because we live beside the burying ground and he said like this “Rico bro I want Manuel to go with me to butcher because he said _____ was running down the shop and then the Mennonites were looking for him to collect because they say that _____ got the meat and he’s not paying. And so my brother even offered my son Joel Mendoza to go to the shop and he ended up going to the shop to take over. So they went the Monday and they came back the Monday night and the Tuesday my sister called Glen and he said bro where are you ? He said I went back to Griga. She asked and where is Manuel he said he left Manuel at the farm but Manuel would come down Thursday or Friday with Rambo our next brother. And the Friday Manuel went down with Rambo and he went to the meat shop to hold over the meat shop for Glen for Saturday morning when they would open because Glen came back and went to the farm on Friday night to check the animals. And then Saturday morning when Glen came to market and I was busy because I was just filling out at PO to see some meat and the lady was in a hurry. So he said bro what’s going on but up and down he was walking but he wasn’t paying me any mind right ? So he said bro I’m going and I told him sure. I said when will you come back, he said later. And my sister now my sister came and she said they called Glen and they said _____ killed Manuel ? I said but why would he kill Manuel for if Manuel is not somebody, Manuel would sit in that shop and not say A nor B if you don’t talk to him he will not answer you. He won’t talk, he won’t say anything. I said man this is really rough. I said you’re sure ? Yes she said. Then I started calling people that I know and I started to ask and they said yes something transpired at the meat shop in Dangriga.”

Vanegas was charged this afternoon with one count of murder whereby no plea was taken due to the nature of the case. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to drug possession and was sentenced to 10 months improvement for the offense. His next court date is January 25, 2025.