By the WBWTN News Team | May 23, 2025
Orange Walk District, Belize (WBWTN) — A tragic discovery was made on Friday, May 23, 2025, after the body of 49 year old James Mendez, a Belizean mechanic from San Pablo Village, was found in an abandoned well near Nuevo San Juan Village.
Mendez had been reported missing by his family after he left home early Tuesday morning, May 20, reportedly to carry out a mechanical job. According to relatives, he received a call from an unknown individual around 6:00 a.m. and told his family he would be back shortly for breakfast before continuing with his day. He left without disclosing the identity of the caller or the location of the job.
Witnesses saw Mendez get into a green Ford Ranger pickup with a clear-skinned, chubby male driver. He hasn’t been seen or heard from by anyone since he entered the vehicle.
After three days of uncertainty and growing concern from loved ones, Mendez’s lifeless body was discovered around 11:00 a.m. on May 23, inside a well on a farm approximately two miles from Nuevo San Juan Village. He was found in an inclined position, face down, and in an advanced state of decomposition. He had a visible wound to his chest.
His son was able to confirm his identity at the location where the body was found.
When he left home that morning, Mendez was dressed in a grey shirt, black cotton shorts, and a pair of black slippers, according to family members.
Authorities continue to look into the circumstances surrounding his death, while the family and community mourn the tragic loss.