SAN JOSE SUCCOTZ, Cayo District, Tues. Oct. 15, 2019– Juan De La Cruz Carrias, 56, a construction worker of Santa Familia, Cayo District who was the father of 11 children, left home on Thursday to socialize with friends in the village and other areas, but did not return home on Thursday night.
At about 8:30 Friday morning, his body was found in a house in San Jose Succotz, a village in which he was not well-known, and which was a considerable distance away, from his home village. The house in which he was found was not a place he was known to visit.
Police said that when they arrived at the house, they saw Carrias in pools of his blood in the hall. He had multiple chop wounds in the back of the head, and he had also been stabbed four times in the back, and once in the left ear. His body will soon undergo an autopsy at the Western Regional Hospital.
Residents who live near the house in San Jose Succotz say that a couple lives in the house where Carrias was found, but they were seldom seen and were not known to the residents. They said that during the night, they did not hear any noise or cry for help, and that they were not aware that such a heinous crime was being committed in their area.
A police investigation led to a Guatemalan national identified as Cesar Agusto Lopez Mendez, 26, of Succotz, and a wanted poster for his detention has been issued. Police believe that he could provide information on Carrias’ murder.
During the regular Tuesday police press brief held this afternoon at the Raccoon Street Police Station, Senior Superintendent Hilberto Romero said that Carrias was at the house drinking with two men. It is not known what led to the brutal murder, but they are looking for the two men, including Mendez, who were drinking with him.
The name and picture of the other man have not yet been released.
Police believe that the men may have escaped to Guatemala. It is also not known if Carrias was robbed. There was a suggestion that there may have been a 3-way love affair, and a jealous boyfriend went into the house and murdered Carrias, but Romero said that they have no knowledge of this, and they can only say that he was drinking with two men at the house and he was killed, and police are looking for the two men who they believe can help the investigation.
Carrias’ daughter told the media that her father was well-known and that he had many friends. The family is clueless as to why he was killed. They are all shocked and devastated by his death, she said.
Anyone who sees or knows the whereabouts of Cesar Agusto Lopez Mendez, or has information that could help police locate him, is urged to call the nearest police station, or call 911, or 0800- 922-TIPS.
Police say that they are collaborating with Melchor police in an effort to find the two men.