In a bizarre story reaching our news desk tonight, yet another US fugitive was nabbed in Belize today, following a police raid that reportedly unearthed a stash of an unlicensed gun and ammo in Punta Gorda.
Whereas the usual fate of such persons is deportation back to the USA, the accused, Scott James Heinke, 43, of Florida, USA, who police say was wanted in the US for alleged fraud and other crimes, hanged himself from a pole about 20 feet high, police say, while in their custody.
A police report released at press time tonight says Heinke was arrested along with another American, Elsie Roberta Strout, 27, after police found “(1) .38 Special Smith & Wesson Revolver, (6) live rounds of .38 caliber ammunition and (15) 12-gauge cartridges.”
Both were arrested, charged and remanded for court reappearance on June 9, 2011.
“During this time, Punta Gorda police received confirmation from the US Embassy that Heinke was wanted in the United States for fraud and other crimes.
In court, Heinke informed the Magistrate that he had a large amount of cash on his boat, enough to pay his fine,” police add.
They say they then escorted Heinke to secure his vessel and property onboard.
“At 4:30 p.m., whilst the sailboat was docked at the Custom’s wharf, Heinke climbed to an area about 20 feet high and tied a rope around his neck and refused to climb down,” police add. ”After a standoff, about 6:40 p.m., Heinke jumped from the pole, subsequently committing suicide.”
Police say that his body was transported to the Punta Gorda Town Hospital, and a post-mortem is pending.
Police also report another apparent suicide yesterday, on San Pedro. They say that at about 11:31 a.m., they went to Pedro’s Inn on Sea Grape Drive and were directed to room #3, where they found the motionless body of Michael Donald Virgin, 41, of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, USA.
Police say he was, “…seated in an upright position on a single bed with a piece of green rope wrapped around his neck, suspended from a beam.”
His body was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City. Pathologist Hugh Sanchez has certified that Virgin died from asphyxia due to hanging.