Barrow and friends, Albert Leslie and “Mark,” were all released unharmed after having their belongings stolen
MATAMOROS, Mexico, Mon. Feb. 12, 2018– Over the weekend, word had quickly circulated that the winner of the 2013 Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, Darnell Barrow, had been kidnapped in Mexico.
The news caused widespread panic and controversy, and so Amandala began to investigate the matter, only to find out that Barrow was alive and well after his life flashed in front of his eyes.
His mother, Sharon Barrow, today told Amandala that her only son, Darnell, his friend, Albert Leslie, and another man identified as “Mark,” had gone to the United States to buy four vehicles.
However, at around 5 p.m. on Friday, while coming across the border, they were kidnapped in Matamoros, Mexico, which is situated directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas.
They were forced off the road five minutes out of US territory and then held at gunpoint, and forced into another vehicle.
Their attackers tied them up and drove them to an undisclosed location in Matamoros, but while being transported, Leslie attempted to peep out the window but was pistol-whipped by one of his kidnappers.
The men were held for two hours and relieved of their possessions and travel documents. Fortunately, they were released without any serious injuries, and their kidnappers demanded no ransom.
The men reported the incident to Mexican authorities and were taken to Houston, Texas, by a Good Samaritan.
For now, the men remain in Houston and don’t know yet when they will return to Belize, and whether they will do so by road or air.
According to Sharon, she spoke to her son on the night of the incident and today. She had only learnt of the incident by watching the evening news, she said. She told Amandala that she was so shocked and alarmed that she almost fainted, not knowing if her only son was dead or alive.
She explained that Darnell, who has no children, normally travels through Mexico to the United States, where he buys vehicles for sale. According to her, he has been doing this for years.
Amandala will have a comment from the cycling sensation, Darnell Barrow, whenever he returns to Belize.