BELIZE DISTRICT, Mon. Nov. 23, 2020– The fears of the family of Jose Mendez, 46, a fisherman of Franks Eddy Village who went missing on November 18 when a boat in which he and others were traveling capsized, have been confirmed.

On Friday, November 20, at around 2:20 p.m., a body was located in the area of Darknight on the river, and Scenes of Crime personnel were dispatched to the area to process the scene.  Investigators have affirmed that two of Mendez’s sons confirmed his identity on Friday.

Describing the events that led to Mendez’s death, Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvett, Officer Commanding the National Crime Investigation Branch, has said that Enrick Mendez, “along with his father Jose Mendez and another male person were in the process of crossing the flooded river to secure some items they had on the other side of the river, and at the time they were in a small canoe that had an outboard engine”.

Myvette went on to explain that. “somewhere near the middle of the river, the engine shut off, and they drifted for a little while and eventually, the vessel capsized, and during the process, Enrick Mendez and the other person were able to swim to shore, whilst Jose Mendez was not found.”

There was an ongoing search by Coast Guard officers, police, villagers and family members of Mendez, which ultimately led to the discovery of his body.