A lesbian and a gay man were murdered in the same region of Guatemala

Elito Rodel Puc and Soraida Tesucún TuDos were murdered in separate incidents in the department of Petén.

December 9, 2019

By Pilar Salazar

Two murders of LGBT+ people, a gay man and a lesbian, were committed a few days ago in the department of Petén (497 kilometers from Guatemala City). Elito Rodel Puc was a 42-year-old retired teacher, gay and of Belizean origin. He had traveled to Guatemala for a day trip and was decapitated. On the same day his body was found, Heidi Soraida Tesucún Tut, a 40-year-old lesbian woman, was murdered with multiple gunshot wounds in San Benito, also in Petén, where hate messages were circulating.

Elito Rodel Puc left his residence in El Arenal, Benque Viejo del Carmen (Belize) on November 28, according to a source close to him. His disappearance was reported on the 29th. On December 4, residents of the Suchitán neighborhood in Melchor de Mencos, Petén, found Elito's head. It was in a state of decomposition, in the area known as La Pileta, as confirmed by police authorities.

On December 5, residents along the border adjacency line between Melchor de Mencos Petén (Guatemala) and Benque Viejo del Carmen (Belize) found his murdered body. He had been tied with a rope and showed signs of having been tortured.

Elito was the president of San José Succotz Village, a town in Belize with a predominantly Maya and Garifuna population. He was also a retired teacher at Mopan Technical High School. His last job was as a security guard for Silva's bus service. The Guatemalan immigration report indicates that he entered Melchor de Mencos from Belize on Thursday, November 28, at 6:42 p.m.

Although Elito's body has already been buried, according to a family member, Belizean authorities and relatives have begun the process to confirm his identity. Once the DNA results are available, his remains will be repatriated to his country of origin.

Heidi had already reported threats.

Heidi Soraida Tesucún Tut was a former agent of the National Civil Police and a native of Colonia Itza. She had previously filed a report regarding death threats, according to Deputy Commissioner Luis Pérez.

Heidi was riding a scooter from the Tikal neighborhood to the 20 de Mayo and Vista Hermosa neighborhoods in the municipality of San Benito when she was shot. She lived with her partner and son and sold party supplies and piñatas.

“She was a hard-working woman, a good daughter, a good mother, a good sister, and a great friend who, even though she didn't live with her mom and dad, was always looking out for us,” says Emy, a close friend..

Hate messages in Petén

Before these crimes against the LGBTIQ+ community were perpetrated, groups were already on alert and concerned about the spread of a hate message in Melchor de Mencos, Petén. The message, which circulated on Facebook, threatened LGBTQ+ organizations, demanding they not hold the "Miss Gay" event. It originated from a Facebook page called "ElNo nos tientes petenero" (Don't Tempt Us Petén), which disseminates spurious and unfiltered information. Although it has a considerable number of followers, this page was blocked in recent days.

According to Carlos Romero, coordinator of the National Network and part of the Observatory for Violent Deaths , the "Miss Gay" event was to be held for the first time in Melchor de Mencos. Coordination had been made with the Office of the Ombudsman for Diversity and the National Civil Police to provide security for the event, but it was postponed for reasons that are still unclear.

Romero told this publication that he fears Elito's murder may have been a warning against holding the event. To date, 18 hate crimes have been recorded in Guatemala.

The Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman, headed by Jordan Rodas, issued a statement.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Sexual Diversity, through its representative Henry España, told this media outlet that on Wednesday, November 4, they were alerted by the local LGBTQ+ community to Elito's disappearance. On Friday, they were informed of Heidi's death. The Ombudsman's Office was also alerted to the threat. Consequently, according to España, they coordinated with the Petén branch of the Ombudsman's Office and the National Civil Police to implement security measures for the event. From now on, the source said, they will strengthen oversight of the Public Prosecutor's Office to ensure progress in the investigations into the double hate crime.

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