Police Investigate Death of Worker Found Floating Near Brown Caye

Police have launched a death investigation following the discovery of a man’s body in the waters near Brown Caye on Saturday morning.  According to reports, at 7:30 a.m., the Belize City Control Room received information of a possible drowning incident at Brown Caye. Northside CIB personnel, along with Scenes of Crime technician Rosalez and Belize Coast Guard officers departed the Coast Guard Base for the island.  There, investigators met 44-year-old Henry Locke, a Belizean marine pilot who escorted police about 500 feet east of the island’s main deck. There, authorities observed the lifeless body of a man floating face down near mangroves.  Initial investigations revealed that the deceased, identified as Mr. Brooks, had traveled to Brown Caye yesterday to work for four days and was expected to return on Thursday.  However, when his relief failed to arrive, Brooks reportedly agreed to remain until Friday.  Police say Brooks had requested liquor, which was delivered to him around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, which was the last time he was seen alive.  When Locke returned with a workman at about 6:45 p.m. on Friday to relieve Brooks, the worker was nowhere to be found. A search was immediately conducted but proved unsuccessful.  At about 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, Locke and other workers resumed the search and discovered Brooks’ body floating in the sea, dressed in a blue T-shirt and brown long pants.  Police observed visible abrasions to the face, which appeared consistent with fish nibbling. His body was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was officially pronounced him dead at 11:38 a.m.  The body was positively identified by his sister and then taken to the National Forensic Science Service morgue in Ladyville, where a post-mortem examination is pending.