Livestream Leads to Budna’s Kidnapping

It started with a livestream and ended with a mystery that crossed borders. Joseph Budna, known for his outspoken presence on social media, went live from Orange Walk on Friday night. But just minutes after signing off, he vanished. What followed was a whirlwind of rumors, shocking claims, and a dramatic twist that landed him in Guatemalan custody. Tonight, we unravel the strange and troubling story behind Budna’s alleged abduction.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Joseph Budna took to Facebook Live on Friday night, streaming from a spot near the Orange Walk Police Station. For forty-five minutes, he spoke directly to viewers, but just as things got intense, he abruptly ended the broadcast. What happened in that final moment? That’s the question everyone’s asking.

 

Joseph Budna, Social Media Personality

“Listen to me…..I hear something just now. I hear somebody say Budna. Nobody deh around here. Let me go, and unu the mek I feel a way, look at the boo boo three, right there you can see it.”

 

Just an hour after Joseph Budna ended his Facebook Live, a social media user, going by the name Urlese Belizean Gill, posted on Facebook, claiming Budna had been kidnapped.

 

Urlese Belizean Gill, Social Media User

“This is about Mr. Ryan Budna that I just get from Orange Walk. Mr. Budna was kidnapped, thrown in a vehicle and some people say they were trying to help him, nobody stopped them.”

The morning after Budna’s livestream, police issued a vague statement about an incident near Hospital Crescent. His SUV was found abandoned, and rumors exploded online. Some even claimed he’d been killed. But by midafternoon, photos surfaced from Guatemala. Budna was alive, and in police custody. He’d been picked up in Arenal Village, a border community split between Belize and Guatemala. How did he get across three districts and multiple checkpoints? An audio clip, allegedly of Budna, later surfaced with serious claims against the Belize Police Department.

Voice of: Joseph Budna

“And as I done lock off the live, police the run from by police station and from Banquita yard with mask. They wap me in my head, tape my mouth and handcuff me and dash me in a sky blue SUV. The people don’t know it is the police? And they bring me dah Arenal.”

The Belize Police Department later released a more detailed update, confirming what many had already suspected, Joseph Budna was in Guatemalan custody. According to the Commissioner of Police, a witness saw Budna in a heated confrontation with several men before he was forced into an SUV with Belize City plates. Then came another twist. In a second audio recording, Budna claimed the same vehicle had been tailing him since the night before, suggesting his abduction may have been planned well in advance.

 

Voice of: Joseph Budna

“They travelled for almost three hours and my eyes were blinded with grey duct tape and when I opened my eyes it was at the Arenal football field when I saw three national civilian police and they came out of the vehicle, Belizean police came out of the vehicle and handed me over to the Guatemalan through that area, on the football field at Arenal.”

The Belize Police Department held a press conference this afternoon. Commissioner of Police, Doctor Richard Rosado, was present. He was asked how none of the checkpoints along the highway detected Budna.

 

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“Our initial investigation revealed, and from the footage, the information we are getting several description of several different vehicles and we have to admit that while our checkpoints were out at strategic locations, we cannot ascertain where that vehicle that took Budna went to.”

But there is a fixed checkpoint on the Hydro Road going to Arenal. So, did the officers at that checkpoint make any observations?

 

Dr. Richard Rosado

“You have to realize that we have several ways to reach Arenal, through the Santa Rosa, almost have three routes. So far the investigation is ongoing and whatever is uncovered we will reveal that. So far, we have not uncovered if any dark colored Chevy Equinox passed the area.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“Is there anything to confirm what Mr. Budna is alleging that he was abducted by police officers?”

 

Dr. Richard Rosado

“Let me be unequivocally clear, the police department was not involved in the apprehension or alleged extradition of Mr. Budna. Serious allegations were made and form our initial investigation, what is being alleged was not conducted by our police officers or sanctioned by the senior command of the Belize Police Department.”

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now backing the police investigation into Joseph Budna’s disappearance. Officials say Belize’s embassy in Guatemala has been instructed to work closely with authorities there to gather any available details. In a statement, the ministry also emphasized that there’s no evidence that Guatemalan police crossed into Belize to grab Budna. This morning, we caught up with Prime Minister John Briceño and asked the tough question: was this a state-sanctioned extrajudicial extradition?

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I am let me just answer your question, obviously no, the government would never sanction such thing. We would not be a part of that, so no. the government did not and would never sanction any such thing on any citizen of this country?”

 

Paul Lopez

“Did Guatemalan authorities carry out operations on Belizean soil?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Listen right now the police is doing their investigation, so I don’t think we should be speculating. Let police do their investigation. The abduction of any citizen in this country is a serious one.’

One thing is certain, Budna’s confrontational and loud personality made him many enemies. Three days ago, Prime Minister Briceno encouraged him to take a different approach to his social media broadcast. Now, while that particular encounter had nothing to do with Budna’s abduction, it shows just how much attention he was drawing. Wherever he went, eyes, and questions, seemed to follow.

 

Joseph Budna

“I believe that politicians are using the police to silent Budna.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“That is not true. That is not true.”

 

Joseph Budna

“The people are watching.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I have no problem with that, because I know what I am talking about. All I am asking is for you to be a responsible journalist.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.