Another taxi driver, a father of three children, has been murdered on the job.
Orlando Smith, 47, a taxi driver of Roaring Creek who operated for about 9 years in Belmopan, was found with his throat slashed at about 7:30 Thursday night on the side of the road in Salvapan, Belmopan.
Police say they found Smith on Costa Rica Street Extension in a remote area. His taxi was missing, but it was later found on the George Price Highway between Miles 44 and 45. Police believe that robbery was the motive for the murder, and are looking for three persons who were seen in Smith’s taxi just before he was found dead.
Reports are that Smith was seen travelling to the Salvapan area with three passengers – a woman and two men – in his taxi.
Superintendent Sinquest Martinez, Officer Commanding Belmopan Police, said some items were stolen from Smith’s taxi, which is why they believe the motive for the murder to be robbery.
Police are looking for the two men, who are of interest to them in their investigation of the murder.
Smith’s grieving wife told the media that she talked to her husband earlier that Thursday evening, and he was fine. She was in her home in Roaring Creek when she got a call from her sister-in-law telling her that Orlando was dead. She said that she was overwhelmed with shock and disbelief.
She said that “seeing is believing,” so she went to the morgue, where police allowed her to identify him. Orlando was the breadwinner and a good father, and those who killed him are heartless, she said.
Police said that they are also seeking public assistance in solving this murder. Anyone with information can call the nearest police station or 0800 – 922 – TIPS.