Category: Crime

Residents of Unitedville were left stunned on Wednesday afternoon after a heartbreaking discovery near the village cemetery. Around four p.m., a young boy on his way to a football game noticed a strong, unpleasant smell. When he looked closer, he saw something no child should ever have to witness, the lifeless body of a man lying among the graves. Police and concerned villagers quickly arrived at the scene, but the man’s identity was initially unknown. It wasn’t until a photo of the body began circulating that family members came forward and identified him as forty-seven-year-old Paul Serano, a landscaper who lived between Unitedville and Belmopan. Authorities reported that Serano’s body was already in an advanced state of decomposition. He had suffered three gunshot wounds, one to the neck, one to the shoulder, and another to the abdomen. The news has devastated Serano’s family and the communities he was part of. A relative shared that the discovery came as a complete shock, they hadn’t even realized he was missing. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Serano’s death.

Voice of: Relative of Deceased

“He was staying with her, with my cousin in Belmopan. And that’s why she knew that it was her dad, because when he left from Belmopaan, he went to United Village. The same Saturday he left, he went there with our next cousin that he was staying with, She noticed that he haven’t returned home Sunday, Sunday night. But that was the same time that people in the village were saying that they heard gunshot within that same period of time in the village, but it was nothing strange due to the fact that they always have a set of boys. Who always shooting for no reason. So people paid no attention. But when they found the body, they thought he went back to his daughter in Belmopan for those days that he didn’t return to my other cousin in Unitedville. They thought he went back to Belmopan. Meanwhile, my cousin in Belmopan was thinking that he was still in Unitedville. So it was a miss crossing, thinking between the family. So we wasn’t even sure if he was, because he’s not a problem person. He’s not a drunken type, and he’s not a violent person to say when he goes, we don’t know where he at. Whenever he goes, we know where exactly he is because he’s a family-oriented person. He is a jovial person. He is this type of person who is very well known in Unitedville. He has no issue with no one. He has no problem with no one. He is someone that you could lift him in your yard to do work, which is, that is what he mostly do. He usually do landscape for people in their property in Unitedville. So it is something that is very shocking because he is a loving, respectable person. He, if he have something that he know you want, he would rather give it to you before any trouble. He would rather avoid problem if you come wrong and problems that he’s that type that will walk away.”

A powerful new book is shedding light on the complex realities of gang life in Belize City, and it’s sparking important conversations about violence, identity, and community. Today, sociologist Doctor Adam Baird officially launched his latest publication, From South Central to South Side, at the University of the West Indies. The book, published by Cubola, explores gang transnationalism, masculinity, and what Dr. Baird calls ‘disorganized violence’ in Belize City. Doctor Baird has spent years researching gang dynamics in Belize and beyond. His work connects the dots between local struggles and international patterns, offering a fresh perspective on how violence takes root, and how it might be addressed.

Dr. Adam Baird, Sociologist & Author

“The book is a history of gangs in Belize, particularly on the south side and it focuses on how gangs came, the Bloods and Crips, from the USA into Belize, how the gangs grew, how the violence escalated. Critically, what I am trying to do in the book is to provide some sustainable solutions and responses to gang violence because, as everybody knows, it’s a critical issue in the country and we’re struggling to find solutions.”

Isani Cayetano

“What was the motivation behind putting this book together? You said you’re a researcher, you’ve done extensive work here in the country. What brought you to the point where you decided to the point where you decided to put all of this in writing?”

Adam Baird

“Well I first came here in 2011 and I designed a gang intervention program for the UNDP called the South Side Youth Success Program. What really struck me were two things: the first thing was the very high levels of violence in the country; and the second thing, myself as a gang researcher, I went to the academic literature and said, what can I find on a history of gang violence in Belize and there were very few publications. These did begin to come out, Dr. Herbert Gayle, Nelma Mortis-Jones wrote that book, “Like Bushfire” and also, Nuri Muhammed wrote his book on insights into gang culture. For me, it was very important that a foreigner comes to the country and casts an eye over what’s happening to give you a bit of an outsider’s perspective on what’s going on inside the country. And in the first book launch here at the University of West Indies, I think there was a confirmation that we share a lot of the same type of analysis about the reasons that we have gang violence and what drives gang violence in this city. So I left that first session today feeling very hopeful that we can collaborate together and generate new ideas about how to solve gang violence.”

From South Central to South Side is now available through Cubola Publishers. It’s a timely and thought-provoking read for anyone interested in the deeper issues shaping our communities. 

Police have formally arrested fifty-five-year-old Rafael Cal for the murder of his own brother, Romano Cal, the beloved alcalde of Medina Bank. The brutal killing happened last week, right in front of Romano’s daughter. The fifty-year-old community leader was known for his years of service as both village chairperson and alcalde, earning the respect and admiration of many. The news that his own brother is now accused of the crime has left the family, and the entire village, devastated and searching for answers. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith shared more details on the arrest, as investigators continue to piece together what led to this heartbreaking act of violence.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Tuesday twenty-seventh, May, 2025, as a consequence of policing efforts, Rafael Cal of Medina Bank Village was apprehended in the Tambran village of Toledo District. Cal was being sought by police as the investigation into the murder of Romano Cal revealed. That he was a person of interest. Subsequent to his apprehension, Cal was formally arrested and charged for the crime of murder and taken before the Punta Gorda Magistrate court where he was arraigned and subsequently remanded.”

Police are not detailing the motive for the murder at this time

A disturbing discovery in Orange Walk has taken a grim turn, as police confirm that forty-nine-year-old James Mendez was fatally shot before his body was found at the bottom of a well. Mendez, a well-known mechanic and car dealer, was reported missing on May twenty-first. Just two days later, his body was discovered on his farm in San Pablo Village. The shocking revelation that he had been shot has intensified the investigation. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith says authorities are actively pursuing leads and are still searching for suspects in this case.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer 

“As it relates to the murder investigation concerning James Mendez, which occurred in Orange Walk. The postmortem was conducted on the body of Mendez and the result is that the injury that was observed on the body when it was discovered was a gunshot wound, which has been designated as the cause of the police investigation into this matter continues.”

Reporter

“Any suspects?”

ASP Stacy Smith

“No suspect so far.”

Reporter

“No possible motive, Was he involved in anything drug related or anything like that? Was he known to police?”

ASP Stacy Smith

“He was not known to police. However, the investigation is still his infant stage and investigation will continue.”

Three well-known men from Belize City’s southside have been remanded to the Belize Central Prison after being charged with promoting gang activity. The men: Jason Anderson, twenty-seven, and brothers Ervin and James Fitzgibbon, aged thirty-six and twenty-eight, were each charged separately but for the same offense. Police say the men were seen in photos displaying gang signs, with Ervin allegedly linked to the Supal Street Gang. All three pleaded not guilty in court. Because the charge falls under the Crimes Control and Criminal Justice Act, the magistrate is not allowed to grant bail. Magistrate Ludlow Black explained that only the High Court can consider bail in such cases. The men, who appeared without legal representation, were told they can apply to the High Court if they wish. Anderson told the court the photo used against him was taken in 2017 and claimed he tried to explain that to police but was still charged. The trio will remain in custody until their next court date on June sixteenth, 2025, when police are expected to present evidence in the case.

A man has been detained in connection with the brutal murder of 50-year-old Romano Cal, the village alcalde of Medina Bank in the Toledo District. The quiet community was rocked on Sunday by news that Cal had been viciously chopped to death. Shockingly, the main suspect is his own brother, Rafael Cal, who was captured this morning in Tambran Village after evading police for more than a day. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited Medina Bank to learn more.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

A family of ten is now grieving the loss of their father, and the village of Medina Bank is without its alcalde after the shocking murder of fifty-year-old Romano Cal. Around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Cal had just returned home from fueling his bus when he was ambushed in his yard. A machete-wielding attacker struck him fatally in the neck, leaving the community stunned.

Modesta Cal, Daughter of Deceased

“ I was shocked to see that happen because I was there, I saw it, and then I couldn’t know. I didn’t know what to do next because when seeing my dad in that situation, I don’t know what to do after that. But we just inform our family and then they come assist us as well.”

Adding to the tragedy, the prime suspect in Romano Cal’s murder is his own brother, Rafael Cal, deepening the heartbreak for both the family and the village.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer (File: May 26^th, 2025)

“As it relates to the murder in Medina Bank on Sunday, May twenty-fifth, 2025, at approximately eight ten p.m., acting upon information, police proceeded to a residence in that village where the motionless body of Romano Cal fifty years old was observed. The body exhibited apparent chop wound to the upper part of the body, The scene was processed and he was transported to. The Punta Gorda hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The matter is currently under the investigation and police are seeking Mr. Rafael Cal, who is a relative of Mr. Romano Cal.”

After being sought by police for over a day, he was captured in Tambran village. The family is devasted that such a cruel act would come from their own blood.

Modesta Cal

“I think it was just completely out of nowhere, miss, because no fight, nothing happened with time. Nothing.”

Britney Gordon

“So what do you think would lead to something like that happening, especially between family members.”

Modesta Cal

“I think it’s because of jealousy and hatred.”

Romano Cal dedicated years to serving his community, first as village chairperson for six years, then as alcalde, where he was re-elected for a third term after two years of committed leadership. In the wake of his tragic death, the Toledo Alcaldes Association expressed deep condolences to the Cal family and strongly condemned the violence. “This heinous crime impacts our entire Maya community,” the statement read, urging authorities to carry out a thorough investigation and reaffirming the community’s values of peace, unity, and hard work.

Modesta Cal

“The people choose to put my dad in that position and then my dad was always ready for this village. He’s always ready to help people in this village. So whenever, if they put my dad in that position, he was there for everyone because he’s a very kind person.”

Although Rafael Cal has been captured, many questions remain unanswered for the family, such as why such a cruel act would be committed upon their father.

Modesta Cal

“I want justice, miss, to be honest. I just want justice because my dad is not a sick person. Someone just end his life. We have to find peace and lessons.”

The family is now holding on to the memory of Romano and his legacy of humility and kindness he left behind. Britney Gordon for News Five.