Belize City, Mar. 30th, 2023—Two prisoners escaped from a holding cell Thursday morning in Benque Viejo Town around 10:30 a.m.
Sergio Pineda and Pierce Castillo both escaped the holding cell in Benque Viejo Town Thursday morning while waiting to be tried for the March 2021 murder of Gonzalo Rosado.
They were both charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Pineda was also on remand for the murder of Wayne Cadle, which occurred in Benque Viejo Town in 2021.
Authorities report that the prisoners left the Belize Central Prison this morning to attend the Benque Viejo court session. The cuffs were taken off and both prisoners were placed in a holding cell. It is believed they escaped said cell around 10:30 a.m. through a small opening in the zinc roof and traveled through a grassy lot neighboring the court to escape.
Belizean police immediately contacted Guatemalan authorities for collaborative assistance in locating the prisoners and have issued warnings that Pineda is considered dangerous.
Rosado was the retired manager of the Western Border Management Agency. He was reportedly found slumped over the steering wheel of his Nissan Pathfinder with gunshot wounds to his body on March 2021.
Police have reported that Rosado received a call from a female person around 6:40 p.m. and drove to Benque Viejo Town to pick her up. He returned home in San Jose Succotz, and while he was still in his car, three shots were heard. Witnesses reported seeing one Hispanic female and two males flee the scene.
Up to news time, both prisoners were still at large.