Brutal Attack Ends The Life Of Former Seattlite/GSBA President Bentley Main

Riberas del Pilar on the shores of Lake Chapala in the Jalisco state of Mexico is a popular retirement destination for US citizens.

The GSBA released an announcement today that Bentley Main, a former member of the Greater Seattle Business Association and Board President in 1994, died yesterday in Mexico from wounds received in a vicious attack and burglary in his home in Riberas del Pilar. From today’s release from current Board President, Louise Chernin:

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I want to let you know that our colleague, friend and past Board President, Bentley Main died yesterday in Mexico, where he lived, after succumbing to a brutal attack. Bentley was a wonderful and highly respected member of GSBA who always had a kind word to say about everyone and will be remembered for his warmth and wisdom in leading this organization in the mid-90’s.

File photo of Bentley Main, Board President 1994, courtesy of GSBA.

Following up with the GSBA, we received links to two news articles about the tragedy, one from an English language media outlet, that originally reported Mr. Main and his companion Martin Orozco Gutierrez were apparently attacked the weekend of February 23/24th. Mr. Main was rushed to an area hospital, but the companion was already dead:

Responding to a call from concerned neighbors, Chapala police arrived at the scene at Avenida de la Ribera 204 shortly before noon Sunday, February 24 and found Ronald Bentley Main, 76, lying on the kitchen floor. He was breathing and semi-conscious, with signs of multiple stab wounds apparently inflicted with an ice pick. While awaiting arrival of Red Cross paramedics, officers inspected the premises, finding the lifeless body of Martin Orozco Gutierrez, 48, sprawled face down in a pool of blood in the hallway of the home’s bedroom wing.

According to information provided by police chief Ramon del Arco and staff at the local Ministerio Publico (MP) district attorney’s office, it appears that Orozco had been severely beaten with a blunt object, possibly a large giraffe statue that was found broken into pieces near the corpse. An autopsy report revealing the exact cause of death is still pending.

Investigators discovered two separate sets of footprints discovered at the scene did not match the footwear worn by the victims, indicating that at least two assailants were involved in the crime. Since there were no signs of forced entry into the property, authorities theorize that the victims may have been acquainted with their attackers and admitted them inside the house. The place had not been ransacked, but there were signs that a wall safe and two televisions had been removed. The victims’ wallets as well as car and house keys were also missing.

Word reached Seattle today, that Mr. Main died from his injuries on Wednesday which was reported in a local Mexican media outlet.

No further information is apparently available on the police investigation of the double murder/robbery.