Police said they were baffled when they were called to investigate the murder of family man Larry Garcia who was described by relatives and neighbours as "a good man."
Garcia, 31, was dragged off his bed around 3 am yesterday before his killers used a sledgehammer to smash his skull and slit his throat. According to reports, Garcia, who operated his home business selling industrial hoses, was asleep with his wife and five-year-old son at their humble Ecclesville, Rio Claro home. Three masked men forced their way through the front door and attacked Garcia.
As he fought with the men, his wife grabbed her son and locked herself in another room and contacted Garcia's brother.
The victim's mother, who asked not to be named, told the T&T Guardian her other son rescued Garcia's wife and son through another door in the pouring rain.
"When I did learn what happened, everything was done. The rain was falling so heavy, so my son went across. She had called him so he went across to get her. When they got back, he came and said 'robbery, they robbing Larry," the weeping mother said.
One of the killers had taken up Garcia's sledgehammer from his workshop and smashed it on his head and torso several times.
They then dragged him into the workshop and cut his throat. Before leaving, they stole a sum of money from the house and drove off in Garcia's white Nissan AD Wagon. The vehicle was found abandoned a few streets away.
Although relatives believed the attack was motivated by robbery, judging from the brutality of the murder, they believe it was something personal.
Garcia's mother said her son was well known as a hard worker, who split his time between church, family, work and gardening. Police also said robbery did not appear to be the motive.