7 News Belize

Cops Say Teenagers Killed Frutos
posted (March 29, 2019)

3 male minors and 1 man, 22 year old Christian Pineda were arraigned today for Kevin Frutos's murder. 

They were taken to the Belmopan Supreme court and 7news was there to capture them as they exited court.   But because they are minors, two of them aged 17, and one of them 16,  we can't show their faces. 

Now, Frutos went missing on Friday March 22nd. It is believed he was killed that same night, and his body dumped near the George Price Boulevard in Belmopan. We spoke to Frutos's brother who was at court when the accused killers were taken to court. He was surprisingly calm and even said he forgave them. Here is that interview.

David Frutos, Brother of Murder Victim

"To me seeing those guys, they're really young and we're noticing a trend here in Belize that young guys - we didn't have this before, young people are committing these terrible crimes. Those crime, image they cut his throat, I went to identify the body, it hurt me awhile, it really hurt but I stand firm."

Courtney Weatherburne

"Were you enraged when you saw them walkout? You actually saw their faces, what was going through your mind? What are you feeling right now after you have seen them; especially after one of them shouted saying he's not afraid of anybody, he's showing no remorse."

David Frutos

"You're definitely correct, he said he is not afraid of anyone, nobody - meaning someone from earth, someone living on earth but he clearly does not show the respect that is due to the lord for creating him, he does not know the lord - which the message here, yes many will have cried, I have cried, my brothers have cried, my aunts have cried, my mother especially. She's in the US, hopefully she watches the interview and it reaches them - I wanted to forgive them personally. I don't hold much anger in my heart for the lord clears my path."

For context, a by-stander at court hollered something at the boys and one of them answered saying "I am not afraid of anybody". We will keep following their case. Now as it relates to what exactly happened the day Frutos was killed, his brother told us he isn't sure but he knows that those men weren't Frutos' friends and they were not hanging out at the bar together.

David Frutos

"These are not the same guys, the guys that were socialising with him was Mr. Quillen from Cayo Grains, he works with my brother - he does the accounting and my brother is the assistant, they were out socialising. So those clearly are not the guys, Mr. Quillen went to do his statement as soon as he was called in and that is not Mr. Quillen. I have never seen those guys before in my life, I image also that Kevin, none of my brothers, my uncles have seen those guys before. We are from San Ignacio and they are from down this side."

Courtney Weatherburne

"What do you think? Was it a robbery attempt? Do you think they were targeting him specifically?"

David Frutos

"I don't think that's the situation - I haven't gotten any full disclosure detail from the CIB but they told me that those guys, they are known to be trouble makers."

Courtney Weatherburne

"Were they at the bar hanging out and then Kevin was just there?"

David Frutos

"Yes, they were at the bar, he probably met them at the bar or he probably had a connection with one of them, I'm not sure, I cannot give that as a confirm statement but yes, he met them at the bar and from there.... But these guys are known to be these kind of people right."

Courtney Weatherburne

"Was there any confrontation at the bar between Kevin and these guys? You have any information?"

David Frutos

"No, I don't have no information, that would need to be left with the CIB and the higher authorities."

 

The minors are believed to have done the killing and the adult who is. a taxi man is believed to have helped them dump the body. The motive was robbery. 

They will re-appear in court in June.  They are also being investigated for other crimes of theft in Belmopan.

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