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Families of Revere women found dead in Belize hotel room speak out after learning cause of their deaths
The families said U.S. Embassy officials told them the women “passed away as a result of acute carbon monoxide poisoning, likely caused by a faulty instant water heater.”
The three Revere women found dead in a Belize hotel room last month died of carbon monoxide poisoning, possibly caused by a malfunctioning water heater, Belizean authorities confirmed Wednesday.
Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El Arar, 26, were discovered Feb. 22 by staff at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro. The following week, Belizean authorities announced the women died of “acute pulmonary edema,” or a buildup of fluid in the lungs, but did not specify what caused that buildup.
Speaking in a press conference Wednesday, Belize National Forensic Science Service Executive Director Gian Cho identified carbon monoxide poisoning as the underlying cause, per video from 7 News Belize.
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He said test results did not indicate the women had any illicit drugs in their systems, despite earlier reports they had been found with “gummies” in their hotel room.
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“The results revealed that the three victims all had fatal exposure to carbon monoxide,” Cho said, noting all three had carboxyhemoglobin levels higher than 60% and one showed levels as high as 80%.
During the same press conference, Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams suggested the carbon monoxide could have leaked into the air from a malfunctioning gas-powered water heater.
In a statement Wednesday, the women’s families said officials with the U.S. Embassy in Belize similarly informed them the trio “passed away as a result of acute carbon monoxide poisoning, likely caused by a faulty instant water heater.”
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“While we remain shattered by the loss of these three bright lights in our world, we are incredibly heartened by the results of this investigation and grateful to those who completed it in a thorough and independent manner,” the statement read.
Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar’s families had spoken out earlier this week to say they were “deeply alarmed” by the lack of answers and information they had received about the three women’s deaths.
The families said they are now awaiting results from a separate independent review conducted by Massachusetts authorities. They also reiterated their concerns about early news reports speculating about the women’s cause of death.
“While today’s official finding puts to rest those initial reports, we hope this will give authorities in law enforcement pause before they make similar suggestions during future investigations,” the families said in the statement. “Survivors such as our families deserve their best, honest work. We received it today but needed it throughout this investigative process.”
The families asked that Belizean authorities provide them and anyone else who may have been harmed at the hotel with a full account of how officials and hotel management handled the investigation.
Belizean resort responds
The Daily Mail previously reported Belizean authorities conducted a second round of carbon monoxide testing after initially ruling out poisoning, citing other guests who believed they had also suffered carbon monoxide poisoning during recent stays. The resort temporarily closed its doors earlier this month.
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In a statement Wednesday, Royal Kahal Beach Resort said its management and staff are “profoundly saddened” by the women’s deaths.
“From the time this isolated tragedy was discovered, we have been taking all possible steps to ensure that the Resort is safe, and it has been reopened for guests since March 19,” the resort said. “We have worked with the Belizean government, and authorities have conducted multiple careful assessments of every unit on the property. These assessments have found no further indication of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in any of the units.”
The statement continued: “This tragedy has deeply affected all of us at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of the young women during this incredibly difficult time.”
Revere mayor says families ‘deserved the truth’
The women’s families expressed gratitude to family, friends, community leaders, and the media, who they said “continued to put pressure on Belizean authorities to complete this investigation in a timely and honest manner.”
“Our families ask for continued prayers, patience, and privacy as we navigate this unimaginable loss,” they said in their statement. “May their beautiful souls rest in eternal peace. We will forever love and miss you, Kaoutar, Imane and Wafae.”
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Revere Mayor Patrick M. Keefe Jr. also addressed the families’ “unimaginable loss” Wednesday, saying in a statement they “deserved the truth.”
“These young women were valued members of our community, and while the gravity of this tragedy weighs heavily on us all, I am grateful for the diligence of our state and federal partners in ensuring that a proper investigation was conducted and brought the truth to light,” Keefe said.
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