Today, the family of Alexander Montero, 52, a taxi operator and the father of 6 children, is grieving over his murder. Montero was stabbed multiple times on Saturday, February 18, and was found in his vehicle, a Honda, in an empty lot off La Croix Boulevard in the Lake Independence area.
A post-mortem this afternoon has since ruled that Montero died of internal and external bleeding.
Margaret Bernard, his common-law wife, is a nurse at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, and she told us that after leaving work at the end of her shift Saturday night, she didn’t expect to be called back to work, but that is what happened.
And what she met when she returned stunned her: Alexander Montero had died after being stabbed in the abdomen and chest.
Bernard, who lived with Montero on Allan Pitts Crescent, recalled that when she arrived back at KHMH, some staff members hugged her for support, and then told her that “Alex get stab up.”
Police say that late Saturday night, around 11:50, they found Montero, 52, with multiple stab wounds, in the driver’s seat of his rented taxi.
Montero was transported to the KHMH, where he was pronounced dead on arrival early Sunday morning, February 19, which is the date listed on the death certificate.
She said she was, and still is, in shock after learning the fate that was dealt to her husband. According to Bernard, Montero didn’t pick up just anyone; he mostly served people he knew as his customers.
We were also told by Bernard that as far as she knows, Montero had no enemies, had no altercations with anyone, and she doesn’t know why anyone would want to hurt him, much less murder him in such a savage manner.
Amandala also spoke with Clinton Montero, Alexander Montero’s son, 28. He informed us that he found out about his father’s death about 2.00 a.m. Sunday. He said police called to deliver the bitter news.
He also was the one who identified his father’s body at the morgue. Although it was difficult to see his father in that state, he did notice large stab wounds on his shoulder and forearm.
Clinton told us that his father was not the type to bother anyone. He recounted that the last time he spoke with his father was on Saturday by phone and that he didn’t seem troubled at all.
According to Clinton, his father had started doing taxicab work about 2 months ago. He had a cab which he rented and had plans to buy his own.
According to one eyewitness, Montero was behind the wheel and tried to take off, only to crash into a fence.
Police later said that he had been stabbed multiple times in the face, shoulder, chest and hands.
Another witness said it was the loud bang caused by the accident that awakened her. She told us that she saw three men running from the area.
Montero told us that he wants justice to prevail through the conviction of the person/persons responsible for his father’s murder. His claims are similar to those of Bernard’s – that anyone who knew his father, knew him to be a friendly person.
Bernard shared the same sentiments when asked what she wanted to come out of this. She said she “hope[s] and pray[s] that anyone who may have seen or heard anything, would contact the police and that the murderer will be brought to justice” so they can have some kind of closure in their lives.
According to Montero, police don’t suspect robbery to be the motive, because Montero’s cell phone and wallet were still on his person, and some personal belongings were in the car as well.
This was the first time, a witness said, that they had seen Montero in the area.
Montero used to work for the government. He drove the water truck for the Ministry of Works then went on to transport nurses who travelled out-district for the Ministry of Health.
He then started driving trucks for different companies for some years, and only just started driving a taxi in early December.
Alexander Montero was the father of six children – four boys and two girls. There are plans to lay him to rest on Thursday in Ladyville.
Exactly a week ago, a well-known taxi operator of Orange Walk Town, Antonio Cowo, was found lying in the back seat of his taxi, a green wagon, in an area on the San Andres Road, in Corozal. Cowo was found with multiple stab wounds in the abdomen and chest.
His family told us they were bewildered by his death, and could not quite comprehend why someone wanted him dead.