Verdict Nears in Bobby Garcia Murder Case

A pair of young men charged with the brutal 2018 murder of eighteen year old Bobby Garcia will learn their fate on Friday in Belmopan. They were both minors when they were first remanded to the Wagner’s Youth Facility, teenagers facing an adult level accusation that shocked San Ignacio more than seven years ago. Since then, they’ve grown up behind bars and even completed high school with top marks. But despite turning their lives around, they could still be staring down lengthy prison sentences. Tonight, we revisit the crime that rattled a community and the long road to justice for Bobby Garcia. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

On October 6th, 2018, a brutal killing shattered the quiet at the Cahal Pech archaeological site. Nineteen‑year‑old Bobby Garcia was found stabbed repeatedly, his throat slit, and an “X” carved into his chest and face. The gruesome scene immediately fueled fears in San Ignacio of a possible ritualistic murder. Earlier that night, Bobby had told his family he was going to the park. He never returned. When his relatives went searching, they ended up at Cahal Pech, where police had already discovered his body. The family believes he was lured there. They say Bobby rarely went out at night, and the fact that he left the house in pajamas, in the rain, only deepened their suspicion.

 

Voice of: Oscar Garcia, Brother of Deceased (File: October 8^th, 2018)

“I was really curious to find who he was talking to and who was the last person who messaged him to come out, so we checked his personal laptop that he has at home that he usually records music on. We found that his Facebook was logged in and we searched and found two accounts—one as Dank Frank and one as Charlie Chung. And further looking into the accounts, the picture and whatnot, we noticed several pictures were the same on both accounts and both of them were talking about heading to the same location and taking a boom box and some snacks. And that’s how we figured it out and from there we informed the police, handed over the laptop so they can do their investigation.”

 

Investigators soon zeroed in on two suspects, both minors, just fifteen and sixteen years old. Three days after Bobby Garcia’s body was discovered inside a temple at Cahal Pech, the pair was taken to the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court to be formally arraigned.

 

Inspector Wilfredo Ferrufino, C.I.B., Belize City (File: October 11^th, 2018)

“On the tenth of October, police arrested and charged two minors, a fifteen-year-old and a sixteen-year-old, one of San Ignacio Town and the other of Santa Elena Town. Both were charged jointly with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.”

 

Both teenagers were sent to Wagner’s Youth Facility at the Belize Central Prison, where juvenile offenders are housed. Since then, they’ve used their time in custody to complete high school through the Kaina Online Program. In September 2020, while they were still minors, I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with them.

 

Inmate One, First Place Student (File: September 9^th, 2020)

“When I first got here, I mean, I guess it was a little bit of a struggle because I had to get along with everybody else.  So that was kind of one of my challenges because I’m not really used to socializing.  I was antisocial, so I guess that’s one of the achievements.”

 

Like his classmate, the second inmate spoke confidently and showed a real passion for learning. Admittedly, it took being behind bars for him to truly recognize the value of a good education.

 

Inmate Two, Third Place Student (File: September 9^th, 2020)

“It was a bit challenging because the incarceration, I was away from my family, but I built a close relationship with each and everyone, so it was a bit easier to focus on what I was doing.”

 

Both accused are now adults, and their trial for the murder of Bobby Garcia has concluded. On Friday morning, they’ll stand before the High Court to learn their fate. Isani Cayetano for News Five.