Neighbor Arrested for Stabbing Death of Banana Farm Manager

Police have taken a suspect into custody in the fatal stabbing of a banana farm manager in Placencia. Fifty‑one‑year‑old Rolando Vindas Cespedes, a Costa Rican national and General Manager of Fyffes Banana Farm, was stabbed multiple times at his home along Placencia Road on Thursday morning. Emergency responders rushed him to the Placencia Polyclinic, where doctors later pronounced him dead. Investigators say the suspect, a man known to the victim who lives nearby, is now in custody. Police say a knife believed to be the murder weapon has been recovered and they expect to lay charges soon but are still working to determine a motive. Here’s ASP Stacy Smith with more details.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Police have detained one male person in connection with an ongoing investigation into a stabbing incident which resulted in the death of fifty-one-year-old Rolando Vindas Cespedes, a Costa Rican national and General Manager of Fyffes Banana Farm. The ongoing investigation comments on Thursday 26, March, 2025, at around 8:30 a.m. when Placencia Police received a report of a stabbing incident at a residence located on Placencia Road in Stann Creek District. The officers proceeded to that location where they encountered Cespedes with several wounds to the body. He was rushed to the Placencia polyclinic; however, he later succumbed to the injuries that he sustained. Though police have detained a male person and we anticipate that an arrest will be forthcoming, we do not have a motive at this time.”

 

Reporter

“ Was there any known relationship between the suspect and the victim?”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“The extent to which I can comment with that question is that we believe that the suspect was familiar with the victim, given the proximity within which they reside. I cannot comment if the relationship was something more than that.”

 

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