Authorities in Belize have reported the tragic deaths of three young women from Revere, Massachusetts at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro. The cause of death has been identified as acute pulmonary edema, a condition characterized by excess fluid in the lungs.
The deceased, identified as Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Wafae El-Arar, 26, and Imane Mallah, 24, were found in their beachfront hotel room. Resort staff discovered the bodies after using a master key to gain entry when the women failed to respond to several attempts at contact.
The Belize police report states that security footage recorded the women returning to their room on Thursday night, Feb. 20, 2025, and never leaving. After unsuccessful attempts to reach the women on Friday, resort staff entered the room on Saturday morning to find them unresponsive.
According to a report from Belize authorities, “Local police found no signs of forced entry or visible injuries at the scene. Alcohol and gummies were discovered in the room, and surveillance footage is under review.”
First responders observed froth in the women’s mouths, a symptom often linked to drug overdoses. However, this theory has been contested by the victims’ friends and family.
As reported by a source close to the investigation, “The community in Revere, Massachusetts, where the women were from, has raised questions about the transparency of the Belize authorities’ investigation and believes the truth will only be revealed once autopsies are performed in the US.”
Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe has expressed a desire for greater clarity from Belizean authorities regarding the case, citing concerns about the limited information available to the victims’ families and the local community.
According to reports, the victims’ families have noted inconsistencies in official accounts, arguing that the women’s behaviors did not align with those typically associated with drug overdoses. The families plan to have private autopsies performed once the bodies arrive back in the US.
The Belize Forensic Science Service has officially ruled that acute pulmonary edema was the cause of death, though the underlying cause of this condition is still under investigation. Carbon monoxide poisoning has been excluded as a potential factor.
In their investigation, police found snacks, beverages, vapes, and other electronic devices in addition to the alcohol and gummies. All items are being tested to determine if they played a role in the women’s deaths.
The U.S. Department of State is closely following the investigation. Belize currently has a level 2 travel advisory from the U.S. Department of State due to high rates of violent crimes, including sexual assault, home invasions, armed robberies, and murder, even in tourist areas and during daylight hours, as stated in the advisory.
The advisory also states that “local law enforcement lacks the necessary resources and training to respond effectively to serious crimes, and most cases remain unsolved and unprosecuted.” Despite these concerns, Belizean officials have assured us that such incidents are rare and there is no need to avoid traveling to the country.
The three victims, reportedly of Moroccan heritage, were well-regarded in their community in Revere, Massachusetts. The city has offered its condolences to the women’s families and friends as they wait for more detailed information regarding the circumstances of their deaths.
The investigation continues as authorities in Belize and the U.S. seek to identify the exact cause of the pulmonary edema that resulted in the women’s deaths. The final results of various tests are still pending.
