A teenager allegedly killed his best friend so he could steal his car and sell it for scrap.
The body of Darwin Antonio Bueso Hernández was found floating in a river hours after his family reported him missing.
That same day, three suspects were arrested while allegedly attempting to move a Honda CR-V with the help of a truck.
READ MORE: Man, 27, found dead in front of computer wearing gas mask
The SUV, which had no number plates, had been reported abandoned just minutes earlier.
One suspect reportedly confessed to participating in both the theft and Darwin’s murder, as reported by Need To Know.
Investigators believe the prime suspect, Jeancarlos Alí Villanueva Reyes, allegedly planned the crime weeks in advance.
According to police, Jeancarlos, 18, called Darwin, 21, on Sunday (24 Aug) morning, inviting him to a swimming spot in Cofradía, near San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
The two met and later picked up a third person, whose identity remains undisclosed, it is claimed.
During the drive, Jeancarlos and the other individual allegedly tried to overpower Darwin to steal his vehicle.
When he resisted, Jeancarlos strangled him to death, it is alleged.
The pair then are suspected of taking his body to the Chamelecón River, tying it to rocks in a failed attempt to stop it from floating, and throwing it in, just 300 metres from where they were later arrested.
Darwin, originally from Río Blanquito, had moved to San Pedro Sula two years ago to study logistics engineering while working part-time.
The SUV was reportedly worth over 300,000 HNL (£8,531), and investigators say Jeancarlos planned to sell it to scrap dealers for 60,000 HNL (£1,706).
Jeancarlos, from Villanueva, was Darwin’s university classmate and also worked as a barber.
Local reports describe the two as “best friends”.
He is facing charges of homicide, vehicle theft, and unlawful deprivation of liberty, and is being held in El Progreso, with a hearing scheduled for tomorrow (29 Aug).
The two others arrested with him were released after Jeancarlos said they were only helping move the vehicle.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
READ MORE: Fossil of ‘hypercarnivore’ killer croc discovered by scientists – and it might have EATEN dinos
