We open tonight with the shocking murder of nineteen‑year‑old Jamir Cambranes, a young technician from Belize City whose life was cut short in what family members describe as a senseless act of violence. On Tuesday night, Jamir left his home on Euphrates Avenue to meet two men in a silver Chevy Equinox. Hours later, his girlfriend noticed his phone location had not moved, and when calls and texts went unanswered, his brother went searching. That search ended in heartbreak along Boom/Hattieville Road, where Jamir’s body was found in the bushes. Tonight, his family is demanding answers, police have launched an investigation, and coworkers say they are struggling to cope with the sudden loss of someone they considered family. Zenida Lanza has our lead story.
Zenida Lanza, Reporting
Sometime between seven and eight o’clock Tuesday night, 19-year-old Jamir Cambranes left his home on Euphrates Avenue, riding his bicycle to meet two men for a ride in a silver Chevy Equinox. At some point during that ride, Cambranes shared his location with his girlfriend, something his uncle says was unusual for him. Three hours later, after repeated calls and texts went unanswered and with his location showing no movement, she alerted his brother. He got on a motorcycle and headed out to Boom/Hattieville Road, where he found Jamir’s lifeless body lying in the bushes along the roadside.
Alfonso Noble
Alfonso Noble, Uncle of the Deceased
“The older brother got on a motorcycle and went to look and found him. Reason unknown, why he was picked up. I don’t know why he was killed. I don’t know. The family members are as stumped as anybody can be. This was a young, productive human being, and what I can only describe as animals picked him up and took him away.”
Police say the discovery was reported just before two o’clock this morning, prompting officers to respond to the scene and begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Cambranes’ death.
Stacy Smith
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
“The investigation commenced at 1:56 AM on Wednesday, 22nd April, when officers attached to the crimes investigation branch in Ladyville were advised that the body of 19-year-old Jamir Cambranes of Euphrates Avenue was discovered along the Boom/Hattieville Road. The officers proceeded to that location where they confirmed what was reported. What we have learned so far in the course of this investigation is that Cambranes departed from his residence in Belize City sometime before 8:00 PM en route to visit two persons known to him, and it was when calls from family members of his went unanswered that a decision was made to track his phone. This decision led them to an area off the Hattieville road where the body of Cambranes was discovered.”
For the family, the loss is made even harder by what they say is a growing pattern of young men going missing and later being found dead.
Alfonso Noble
“His father explained to me that the only thanking that he can thank, is that they were able to find his body. This seems to be the norm. I saw earlier last week, I think it was, the mother expressing gratitude for having found her son. I am very much in that same position today. This young man, like most young men, did not deserve this. He did nothing wrong.”
Jamir worked as a technician at Mars Distributors along with his brother. His supervisor says the loss has shaken the entire staff, who considered him more than just an employee. For nearly six years, Jamir helped around the shop before he became old enough to be an official employee.
John Marsden
John Marsden, Supervisor, Marsden Distributors
“Jamir was nothing short of family. Um, kind of like a little brother… The entire staff is feeling it. Emotional today, this morning was a very hard time for everybody at work. Couldn’t grasp the fact that this happened. We literally saw him yesterday. To not be able to ever see him come into that door again is kind of very, very shocking and hard for the staff to manage, you know?”
He also described Jamir as a cautious and aware young man, someone who understood his surroundings and would not have easily put himself in danger.
John Marsden
“I can honestly say he’s an alert guy. He knows when something is going to happen and when something is happening. So I know he would not probably just pick up and go with anybody that he doesn’t know. He’d have to know whoever called him, that would probably signal, yeah, I’m going with somebody. But knowing his character, he wouldn’t go with anybody that he does not know.”
Meanwhile, police confirmed that the silver Chevy Equinox has been impounded and is being processed. Police addressed speculation linking the vehicle to Deborah Arthurs’ disappearance.
ASP Stacy Smith
“ I had indicated in the past that we had identified the silver equinox of interest in relation to the Bree Author’s disappearance. I can confirm that those two vehicles are two separate vehicles, though they fit the same description.”
And while the vehicle is in custody, police continue searching for the two suspects believed to be from Belize City. Reporting for News Five, I am Zenida Lanza.
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