Belize City police have an island murder mystery to solve - a double murder at that. Last night, two men were executed on Caye Largo - commonly referred to as Long Caye - about 4 miles South of Caye Caulker. The victims are Mark Seawell and Gabriel Escalante. Now, we note it's not the notorious Mark Seawell who escaped extradition for drug charges a year ago - this Mark Sewell was an older relative of his. Codie Noralez and I took a boat to Caye Largo to find more answers.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
It's not an island getaway, but the fishing camp on Caye Largo is certainly a welcomed break from the city life.
Just chilling in the afternoon breeze with a couple of friendly companions.
And on Thursday night, watchman Mark Seawell, main diver Gabriel Escalante along with another man, were making the most of the cool seaside gusts - that's until the guest shot and killed Seawell and Escalante.
They were hanging out on the third floor of this building around 11:30. The report is that Escalante left after a while and went to his room on the ground floor. That's when the man pounced on Seawell shooting him in the neck and back. The man then went downstairs to Escalante's room and shot him to the head, stomach and wrist. The shooter then hopped on the island owner Byron Marin's boat and sped off. The workers on the island declined comment today but the information we have is that nothing was stolen from the house. Now there are still more questions than answers as to why these men were targeted.
A Caye Caulker fisherman says Seawell was well known on the island. He would pass through Caye Caulker on his fishing trips and other times stop in for a couple drinks at his favorite spots. The fisherman says he didn't know Seawell to be involved in any trouble.
Porfilio Guzman, Fisherman
"The last time I saw him was on Tuesday."
Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"That's Seawell right?"
Porfilio Guzman, Fisherman
"Yah, I saw him fishing in water we stopped and asked him if he need help and he says no I am okay."
"As far as I know he is a good guy, really good guy, nice guy on the island when he comes, cool guy, calm guy that is all I know about him."
Courtney Weatherburne
"So it was a surprise to you when you heard about his murder?"
Porfilio Guzman, Fisherman
"Yes I was surprised this morning when I got the message, it really surprise me. I know him not as a trouble maker, so it surprise me."
It was a surprise for his co-workers on Caye Largo too. They all worked closely together. Seawell had been working on the island for about 8 years while Escalante started about 3 years ago as the main diver.
Their death now a mystery that investigators hope won't be lost to the sea.
Police have not recovered the stolen vessel, nor have they detained the suspect. But, the account we get from our sources is different from the one put out by police in their report. Our information says that around midnight, a group of men came in stealthily, and then stormed the island residence - moving with deliberate violence, consistent with a planned execution. One man who escaped had to do so by climbing on the roof to hide from the killers. For background it is important to note that drugs have been reported to be floating in that area recently - and these wet drops are what often prompt murders on small deserted islands.
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