February 28, 2025

BELIZE: 3 American Women Spent Entire Day Touring The Island. Then Returned To Their Hotel Room Thursday Night. Housekeeping Found Them Dead Saturday. Sounds Like They Were Poisoned.

CBS Boston published February 26, 2025: Cause of death determined for 3 Revere women found dead in Belize. Three women from Revere, Massachusetts were found dead in their hotel room in Belize. WBZ-TV's Courtney Cole spoke with an investigator in Belize about the cause of death.
NBC News published February 26, 2025: Three American women found dead inside Belize hotel. An investigation is underway after three Massachusetts women visiting Belize were found dead inside their hotel room. NBC News' Marissa Parra reports that a cause of death has not been determined.
Channel 5 Belize published February 24, 2025: Three Women Found Dead in SP Hotel Room. Three Women Found Dead in SP Hotel Room.

The results of postmortem examinations and a police investigation are expected to reveal how three tourists tragically died in their San Pedro hotel room late last week.

The women had checked into the resort for an unspecified stay on the island. They were last seen alive on Thursday night after returning from a private tour. On Saturday, resort staff found their bodies in their first-floor room
They had froth aka foam around their mouth. Sounds like they were poisoned. Carbon monoxide can cause acute pulmonary edema, especially in severe poisoning. (emphasis mine)
News Five’s Marion Ali went to San Pedro on Sunday to bring us this report.
Channel 5 Belize published February 25, 2025: Families Mourn Three Revere Women Found Dead in Belize Resort.

Families Mourn Three Revere Women Found Dead in Belize Resort The families of three female tourists found dead at a San Pedro resort on Saturday are grieving their tragic loss. Twenty-three-year-old Kaoutar Naqqad, twenty-four-year-old Imane Mallah, and twenty-six-year-old Wafae El-Arar were found dead in their suite at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort.

Their families are in contact with the U.S. Embassy, which is assisting with the investigation.

Police Commissioner Chester Williams stated that a pathologist estimated they had been dead for up to 20 hours before being found.

The women, of Moroccan descent with U.S. citizenship, were discovered by hotel staff after failing to respond to housekeeping. While no signs of injury were reported, authorities suspect a possible drug overdose due to vomit and froth found around their mouths. However, Mallah's family told our colleagues at WCVB Boston that they don't believe that they overdosed.

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Boston25 News
written by Ray Villeda, Boston 25 News and Boston25News.com Staff
Thursday February 27, 2025

REVERE, Mass. — Three young women from Revere who were found dead in a beachfront hotel in Belize had a buildup of fluid in their lungs, according to a new report.

Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Wafae El-Arar, 26, and Imane Mallah, 26, died from “acute pulmonary edema” while vacationing at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro, officials in Belize told The Boston Globe.

The Belize National Forensic Science Service told the newspaper that their bodies will be returned on a flight to the United States on Thursday.

The lifelong friends were found dead in their room by hotel staff on Saturday. They were visiting the small Central American country to celebrate a birthday.

Belize authorities said there was no sign of foul play and there has also been speculation they may have suffered overdoses, with a news outlet in Belize reporting that gummies and alcohol were found in the room.

Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe on Wednesday warned against a rush to judgment as he pushes for more transparency in the investigation.

“To jump to that conclusion is extremely disrespectful to the family,” Keefe said. I know it’s impacting them immensely and I know it’s something they are upset about.”

The families of the three victims intend to arrange for private autopsies once the bodies are returned to the United States.

Keefe said he’s also working with Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey’s office to ensure the investigation in Belize is thorough.

Revere city leaders, as well as the victims’ families, want more answers as to how they died.

“We’re getting stonewalled. Belize people are just saying their side of the story, but I’m sure there’s more to it,” Revere City Councilor Ira Novoselsky said Tuesday after a vigil was held for the women.

The women were young professionals in the medical field and part of a tight-knit community, officials said.

The Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Belize in December 2024 due to an increased risk for crime.

GoFundMe pages have been set up on behalf of each of the three families linked to the tragedy.

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