Commissioner: No Speculation Yet on San Pedro Hotel Deaths

Belize’s top law enforcement is awaiting the results of a toxicology report before confirming the cause of death for the three U.S. women found dead in a San Pedro hotel room in February.

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, speaking with the media on Wednesday, explained that while various theories have emerged, police will not speculate until concrete evidence is available. “I still don’t want to speculate at this time and await the result of the toxicology report,” Williams said.

The victims—26-year-old Wafae El Arar, 24-year-old Imane Mallah, and 23-year-old Kaoutar Naqqad—were discovered unresponsive in their room on February 22, after housekeeping staff received no response for two consecutive days. They were last seen entering their room on the night of February 20, and security footage showed no signs of forced entry or unauthorized access.

Authorities initially considered the presence of alcohol and cannabis-infused gummies found in the room, but carbon monoxide poisoning has become a key focus after preliminary tests detected traces of the gas. Williams confirmed that a multi-agency team, including representatives from the fire department, the Department of Environment, and the Ministry of Health, met to discuss the findings.

“We had a meeting whereby we had representatives from the police, we had from the fire department, the environment, and even from the Ministry of Health. And it was agreed that a second round of testing be done at the hotel,” Williams stated. The decision followed reports from previous guests who had detected carbon monoxide using their own handheld testers.

The second round of testing has been completed, but officials are still waiting for the fire department and environmental authorities to release the results. In the meantime, the hotel has temporarily closed to allow investigators full access to the premises. However, more than three weeks after the deaths, authorities have yet to confirm whether carbon monoxide played a role.

While no definitive cause of death has been established, Williams confirmed that if carbon monoxide is determined to be a factor, the case would fall under civil liability rather than criminal prosecution. “No, that would be far within the civil domain,” he stated.

The deaths have drawn international attention, with the U.S. State Department confirming that it is in contact with Belizean authorities. In Massachusetts, Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe Jr. identified the victims and emphasized the community’s demand for a transparent investigation, citing concerns over the handling of the case.

Authorities anticipate receiving toxicology results within the next one to two weeks, which could provide clarity on whether carbon monoxide exposure, substance consumption, or other factors contributed to the deaths. Until then, Williams says the department remains committed to a thorough investigation while urging the public and media to refrain from drawing conclusions prematurely.