Mata Chica Resort employee dies during altercation at staff party
Sergeant Dwane McCulloch, CIB, San Pedro
Channel 5 Belize | Early Monday night, a staff party ended fatally for an employee of a resort in San Pedro. Fifty-seven year old Gregorio Conejo, a father of two, was hit in the face by a guest at the party at Mata Chica where he was employed for at least ten years. He fell off the pier and into the sea. Conejo was retrieved from the water and transported by boat to the area of the Fido’s dock in town. But he did not survive the incident and passed away before he could get medical attention. Various persons have been detained but no formal charges have been levied.
Jose Sanchez
“The empty beaches on San Pedro signifies the end of the tourist season. The staff of the Mata Chica Resort decided to commemorate this occasion with a staff party. But before the night was over, one man was dead.”
Sergeant Dwane McCulloch, CIB, San Pedro
“San Pedro Police visited a dock here in town where they observed the lifeless body of a male person who was later pronounced dead by doctor Daniel Gonzales. Investigation revealed that while he was at a staff party at a resort, about four miles north of San Pedro, he was involved in an altercation with a male person who punched him in the face and fell into the water. He was later retrieved from the water and placed inside a boat where he started to regurgitate a substance that appeared to be water. He was rushed to town to seek medical attention where he died on arrival.”
This morning, the waves rippled calmly under the dock from which Gregorio Cornejo met his death. The mood however, was somber at Mata Chica Resort, after the staff party that turned deadly. The manager would not speak on camera but said the staff is supporting the family of Cornejo. Cornejo, who leaves behind two kids, did not know how to swim.
Jose Sanchez
“From the time the incident occurred when he was punched and fell in the water, how long did I take it to retrieve him from the water in regards to receiving transportation that would aid in his medical attention?”
Sgt Dwane McCulloch
“Well, he was along with some friends and they were socializing, so I don’t think it took long to place him in the boat. I’m not sure of the time span from there to town.”
Jose Sanchez
“What’s the name of the deceased?”
Sgt Dwane McCulloch
‘His name is Gregorio Eustaquio Cornejo. He is fifty-seven years old. His date of birth is third of the twelfth 52’.”
Jose Sanchez
“He’s originally from Libertad?”
Sgt Dwane McCulloch
“Yes, Libertad Village Corozal.”
San Pedro Police have since detained twenty year old Oscar Barela, an unemployed man of Angel Coral Street in San Pedro. Whether or not he will be charged for murder or manslaughter is not yet known.
Jose Sanchez
“The person who fired that blow. He also was a friend?”
Sgt Dwane McCulloch
“I’m not sure at this time. It was a staff party. Information received is that he was just a visitor.”
Jose Sanchez
“Has that person been detained?”
Sgt Dwane McCulloch
“We have some persons detained pending investigation.”
Jose Sanchez
“The person you have detained is an employee of Mata Chica?”
Sgt Dwane McCulloch
“Ah, some of the person we got detained—we also have a person who is not an employee of Mata Chica detained.”
Jose Sanchez
“Let me understand, even though there is only one person that fired this punch that landed him in the water, it seems like a one man incident. Why do you have more than one person?”
Sgt Dwane McCulloch
“We are still conducting the investigation and hence that is the reason we have them detained pending questioning.”
