Friends mourn Sergio ‘Tito’ Reyes, who was murdered after his shift at Mexican restaurant in Hanalei

On a July 3, 2017, Facebook post, Sergio “Tito” Reyes shared a photo of himself driving a new car and wearing sunglasses, along with a short message: “Life is too short.”

The native of Guatemala moved to Kauaʻi when he was just 22.

“Over the years, he became a deeply loved part of the North Shore community,” wrote Maria Hernandez, the owner of Federico’s Mexican Restaurant, in a GoFundMe to honor Reyes — and for his funeral expenses and family support.

Reyes life was cut short, at age 37. He died violently after his Friday night shift as the head chef at Federico’s in Hanalei.

He called his live-in girlfriend, Leslie Gomez Nunez, to tell her he was closing up the place and heading home shortly. But when he didn’t show up, she drove to the restaurant and noticed all the lights were still on and the door was open. When she walked in, she found Reyes dead with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

Nunez’s and Reyes’ friend, Alondra, who asked that her last name not be published, provided the account in Spanish to Kauaʻi Now. Nunez was crying and distraught when she explained to Alondra what had happened.

On Monday, after a two-day manhunt, the Kauaʻi Police Department took William “Billy” Sinclair into custody for the attempted murder of another victim and the murder of Reyes.

Hernandez wrote that Reyes was much more than an employee, coworker or friend. She said he became family.

“He was the kind of person who became part of your life without trying,” she wrote. “He showed up with kindness, a helping hand, warmth, laughter, and a heart that people could truly feel.”

Reyes had a deep passion for music, DJing, cars, art, the beach and the island of Kaua’i. “He loved spending time by the ocean, especially looking out at the water from the Kalihiwai lookout. He loved going for cruises in his car around the island,” Hernandez said.

He also loved his job, bringing passion and “real skill to the culinary arts. He was extremely hardworking, dependable, and took pride in everything he did,” Hernadez said.

She also said Reyes loved his family, many who depended on him in Guatemala. “Tito regularly sent money home and helped provide for his family there,” she said. “His passing has left them grieving an unimaginable loss while also facing sudden financial hardship.”

In a press conference on Monday, Kauaʻi Assistant Chief Darren Rose said the murder was due to an “ongoing financial dispute” that was not about drugs or “anything criminal.”

Reyes and Nunez were living in a home on Kīlauea Road for about seven years before Sinclair moved in with his partner, Haley Belmonte.

Sinclair was invited to move into the residence by Belmonte after the death of her father, the homeowner, according to the friend of Nunez. Tax records show the home is 1,200-square-feet with 3 bedrooms and 1-1/2 bathrooms, and co-owned by Belmonte.

“He moved into the home after the landlord died nearly three years ago,” the friend said.

Over time, Sinclair “made their lives a living hell,” asking for money for random home repairs and often shutting off the electricity, saying he “would call ICE” on the couple if they refused to pay, the friend said. “She has photos of how the home looked when they lived there compared to how it looks now that they’ve moved out.”

On Tuesday, June 9, Nunez filed a temporary restraining order on Sinclair and Belmonte, saying: “I am very fearful that they will come after me next.” The judge denied it the same day, according to Fifth Circuit Court records.

In the petition for the TRO, Nunez said that “living with them was difficult. There was a lot of domestic violence, fighting, and drugs in the house. It was not safe in the house.”

Nunez also said in the petition that when Reyes told Sinclair they were moving out, Sinclair told them they were not allowed to leave. But when they did move out, they left some important documents behind, and Sinclair refused to allow them to return.

In the interview with Kauaʻi Now, the friend said Sinclair changed the locks and refused to return the couple’s personal belongings, passports, vehicle paperwork and other important documents. After several weeks, they decided to replace any important paperwork Sinclair had confiscated. That is when the harassment escalated from both Sinclair and Belmonte.

“They sent him threatening phone calls, it was terrible,” the friend said. “Now Reyes is dead.”

Kauaʻi Now could not immediately locate a contact number or email for Belmonte, and Sinclair remains in custody.

The friend also said that Nunez was upset because when she found Reyes, she also saw the on-duty security guard of the property taking pictures of his body. Nunez argued with the security guard to have the pictures deleted. Nunez was also upset that the security guard had not called the police, so she called 911 to report the homicide.

The police arrived quickly. Nunez told them that days earlier, on Wednesday, June 3, Reyes discovered after he finished his shift that all four tires on his car had been slashed with a knife.

It is not known who the security guard is. Federico’s restaurant closed after the murder.

Hernandez, who set a goal of $35,000 for the GoFundMe, wrote the funds are urgent “to bring him home so his loved ones can lay him to rest. The costs of transporting him back to Guatemala, funeral arrangements, memorial expenses, required paperwork, and transportation are significant and unexpected.”

She said the funds raised will help cover those expenses, along with direct financial support for Tito’s family. “Any remaining funds after funeral and transportation costs will go directly to his family as they grieve and adjust to life without his love, presence, and support.”

She ended the fundraiser with Tito’s own words:

“Cada día con vida es un gran motivo para ser feliz. La vida es una sola y hay que disfrutarla día a día como si fuese el último que nos toque vivir.”

“Every day alive is a great reason to be happy. Life is only one, and you have to enjoy it day by day as if it were the last day we get to live.”