BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Sept. 30, 2021– Police have found the body of a retired employee of the Belize Port Authority after he was seen in an injured state in the back of his SUV. Geoffrey Crawford, said to be in his 60’s, was reported missing yesterday after two men suspected to be his assailants sought assistance as they attempted to jumpstart his red Nissan Pathfinder. Reports are that he was found by police this afternoon near Biscayne village in a shallow grave.
The men allegedly asked a neighbor of Crawford’s to assist them in jumpstarting the car. Thinking they were his family members, the neighbors rendered the aid, but upon completing the task, they saw an unconscious Crawford with an injury to the head in the back of the car.
The neighbors who provided the assistance said that the vehicle drove off and police were called to the area, but there was a delay before those officers arrived at the scene, which made it possible for the suspected assailants to escape. Unconfirmed reports are that police did stop the men in the stolen vehicle and they informed the officers that they were taking the injured person to the hospital. The victim’s body and vehicle was not found until today.The Police Department’s Scenes of Crime personnel subsequently found blood on Crawford’s property while canvassing the scene yesterday morning, indicating signs of a struggle, and injury, but neighbors said they had heard no commotion or gunshots.
Police are currently piecing together this investigation following the discovery of Crawford’s body.