In a tragic development that has shaken a small community in southern Belize, what began as a missing person inquiry has officially transitioned into a full homicide investigation, after the remains of 24-year-old delivery driver Steve Lewis were recovered last Friday.
Lewis, a resident of Dangriga Town, was last seen alive on the morning of April 13, when he left his home to complete an unusual delivery request. When he failed to return to his residence that evening, his common-law wife filed an official missing person report with the Dangriga Police Station on April 14. For three days, local authorities searched for the young driver, until a grim discovery led investigators to a remote feeder road running off the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway, close to the community of Silk Grass Village. Just after 8:30 a.m. on April 17, responding officers located Lewis’ decomposed body at the site.
In an official statement, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, staff officer for the department, confirmed that law enforcement is actively searching for a male suspect connected to the killing. While a formal autopsy has yet to be finalized, Smith told reporters that investigators believe Lewis died from a gunshot wound, pointing to an expended bullet casing recovered from the scene of the discovery. “It usually is [conducted] when the body is in an advanced state of decomposition,” Smith explained, noting the standard procedural timeline for cases with remains in this condition.
For Lewis’ family, the loss has left overwhelming grief and unanswered questions. In an interview with local outlet News Five, his mother Suceli Lewis shared details about her son’s final work request that has raised red flags for the family. She explained that the customer who booked the delivery specifically asked Lewis to bring a full-face helmet for the trip, an unusual request that stood out from his regular delivery runs. Taking the charter job to Silk Grass Village, Lewis set out on his delivery bike and never returned.
Described by his mother as a quiet, hardworking young man who avoided conflict and focused on providing for his partner, Lewis rarely socialized outside of work and immediate family gatherings. Even when his mother invited him to attend community events at the local park, he preferred to stay home, she said. “He was a sweet and humble young man. Sweet, he does not like problem. He does not even have friend,” Suceli Lewis told reporters in an emotional phone interview. “Sir, honestly no retaliation. I will leave it up to God. All I wanted was a closure for my baby and I done get my closure. No retaliation. I will leave it to God. I believe in my God. I have faith in him.”
Local law enforcement continues to piece together the timeline of Lewis’ final hours to identify a motive and locate the person responsible for his death. News Five, the original outlet that broke the story, has confirmed it will continue publishing updates as the investigation progresses. This report is a transcript of a televised evening news broadcast, with Kriol language statements transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accessibility.