North Creek Resident Killed and Dumped at Lord Ridge Cemetery

Police have launched an investigation into the discovery of a lifeless body at the Lord Ridge Cemetery in Belize City. The corpse was found in the earlier hours of his morning around six-thirty, displaying several apparent gunshot wounds. He was found by another person who was walking through the cemetery this morning. But who killed Russell Bernardez? Giovanna Moguel went looking for answers. Here’s what she found out. 

Giovanna Moguel for Love News: The body of an unidentified man was found on the ground at the Lord Ridge Cemetery in Belize City earlier this morning. The shocking discovery was made sometime around six-thirty, by a passerby who was walking through the graveyard. This individual immediately contacted the authorities and police arrived at the scene shortly after and began processing the area looking for evidence. The body was then transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Police Press Officer, ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, explains that the man sustained several gunshot wounds to the body.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Public Relations Officer, Belize Police Department: “Police officers from precinct two area responded to a body being found sometime around 6:20 this morning by a passerby at the Lord Ridge Cemetery. Police went in there they processed the scene where they found the motionless body of a dark complexioned male person.”

Giovanna Moguel for Love News: The man was dressed in a white T-shirt and khaki cargo short pants and was barefooted. Just before midday, the body was identified as that of thirty-five-year-old, Russell Bernardez, of the North Creek Area in Belize City. However, the little info on his identity answers only one of the police department’s questions about this recent case of an apparent homicide. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, says that several persons are being interviewed to try to ascertain why Bernardez was targeted and who the culprit may be.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “We are interviewing people in the area and noone is saying that they may have heard any gunshots so what we’re believing now is that he may have been shot and killed somewhere and then the body was taken to be dumped there but investigators are viewing several cameras in the area and we’re hoping that we will be able to get some lead to bring some closure to this latest homicide in Belize City.”

Giovanna Moguel for Love News: The discovery of the corpse comes as a shock to the community, and many are left wondering who could have committed such a heinous act. This is only the fourth murder for the month of February, the most recent one occurring over a week ago. But, ComPol Williams says the police department continues to work hard to keep these numbers low. 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Well we cannot be naive to believe that we are going to live in a country that is murder free. As hard as we may work and as much as we may do we do anticipate that there are going to be murders now and then. What we try to do as law enforcement is to contain these incidents and do what we can to avert them from occurring but there are always going to be murders and yes every murder is concerning. We would not want to see anyone losing a loved one regardless of what the person’s history may be. I am of the firm belief that no matter how bad you are there are always people out there who love you and if you are to depart this earth unexpectedly or at the hands of someone those persons who are going to be left behind hurting or grieving for you so we must always do what we can to save life and not to see life being lost.”

Giovanna Moguel for Love News: The body is currently waiting to undergo a post-mortem examination. Giovanna Moguel for Love News.