2.1 Where & When It Happened

Location: Royal Kahal Beach Resort, Ambergris Caye, San Pedro Town, Belize

Date of Discovery: Saturday, February 22, 2025 (approximately 11:30 a.m.) as reported by Hotel Manager

Date of Check-In: February 19, 2025

Last Seen Alive: Thursday evening, February 20, 2025 (as captured by resort CCTV)

2.2 Suite Number Confusion

Early reports from various media outlets, including Love FM, Channel 5 Belize, and Breaking Belize News, stated that the victims were found in “Suite 101,” with some outlets referring to it as the “Bird of Paradise suite.”

“The victims have been confirmed as 24-year-old Imane Mallah, 26-year-old Wafae El-Arar, and 23-year-old Koutar Naqqad. Authorities responded to the scene around 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2025, after receiving reports of three unresponsive individuals in Room 1011.”
As we can see, “hotoff the press” here is playing with the numbers.

However, conflicting details have since emerged:

• Discrepancies in Reported Suite Numbers: Initial coverage mentioned Suite 101, but some sources suggest the women may have actually been staying in Suite 102. According to the hotel’s very own website, Suite 101 was sold shortly after the resort was built, casting doubt on its availability as a rental unit.



• In one instance, a media house even mentioned the number “1001.” These inconsistencies have led to confusion and speculation that the room number was deliberately altered in public statements.

Furthermore, it is peculiar that all the media outlets appear to report the same details, which raises questions about the uniformity of the information being disseminated.

Updated Evidence from Social Media

A crucial now-deleted TikTok video provided explicit evidence pointing to Room 102 as the actual location of the incident. In this footage, the door identified clearly aligns with the official floor plans for Suite 102, contradicting initial media reports focusing exclusively on Suite 101. Additionally, a witness within the video explicitly states police officers were positioned outside Room 102, further undermining the accuracy of earlier official accounts.

A separate Facebook video further supports this contradiction, depicting police crime scene tape surrounding both Suites 101 and 102. Notably, the footage clearly shows the door to Room 102 open, with visible police activity taking place there. However, officers are subsequently observed standing near Room 101, appearing to shift attention away from Room 102.

In the footage, San Pedro Police appear to intentionally divert public attention by positioning themselves prominently near Room 101, despite clear evidence indicating significant activity and airing out of Suite 102, presumably due to toxic carbon monoxide gas contamination.

Visual Confirmation: Image and layout evidence match precisely with Suite 102, reinforcing witness accounts and suggesting intentional discrepancies in initial official reports.

Speculated Rationale: Concerns have emerged regarding possible intentional misreporting of suite numbers by hotel management or local authorities. This discrepancy in publicly announced suite numbers could have strategically diverted attention away from Suite 102, allowing crucial time for evidence tampering or cleanup—specifically adjustments to the potentially malfunctioning gas water heater and ventilation system. By initially focusing media and investigative efforts on an incorrect suite, those responsible might have hoped to avoid accountability and detailed forensic examination.

Additionally, potential ties between the hotel's management and influential local figures raise significant questions about the integrity and transparency of early police statements, suggesting a deliberate effort to obscure or manipulate public perception of the incident.

3.1 Ambergris Caye & San Pedro

San Pedro, located on Ambergris Caye, is one of Belize’s top tourist destinations, known for its vibrant nightlife and marine attractions. As a popular vacation spot, the town sees thousands of visitors each year. However, tourism also brings challenges. Local authorities have a history of attributing tourist deaths to drug or alcohol overdoses, which can sometimes serve to deflect attention from potential issues of hotel liability or infrastructure defects.

3.2 The Royal Kahal Beach Resort

The resort is owned and managed by Royal Kahal Resort Limited, operated by Fairhaven Properties Inc. (a Canadian company led by Mike and Wendy Fairbairn). Notably, the resort has an “Approved Enterprise” status under Belize’s Fiscal Incentives Act. This designation—granted with paperwork personally signed by Prime Minister Johnny Briceño—provides the establishment with tax exemptions and other tourism-related benefits.

Key Building Features Include:

• Gas-Fired “Instant-On” Water Heaters: Each suite is equipped with tankless water heaters. If these heaters are poorly vented or experience incomplete combustion, they can produce carbon monoxide (CO).



• VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) Air Conditioning: The VRF system is energy efficient but typically recirculates air within the suite rather than drawing in fresh air. This design flaw could contribute to the dangerous accumulation of CO if there is a leak.
• CO Detectors Advertised were actually Smoke Detectors: The resort claims that every suite has an advanced CO detection system installed. However, after extensive review through virtual tours on their website and social media content, it has been revealed that no actual carbon monoxide detectors are present in the suites. Instead, every unit appears to be equipped with Notifier FSP-951 Series Intelligent Plug-In Photoelectric Smoke Detectors, which are not designed to detect carbon monoxide.

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This discrepancy raises serious concerns, as the resort has been falsely advertising the presence of CO detectors while only having smoke detectors installed. This is not only negligence but also a potential case of false advertisement on the part of the hotel. Furthermore, despite the resort's claims, no CO alarm was reported during the incident, reinforcing concerns about the effectiveness and accuracy of their safety measures.

5.1 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning

5.1.1 Mechanism of CO Poisoning

• Gas Water Heater Malfunction: The resort’s tankless water heaters can produce CO if they are not properly vented. Inadequate venting, incomplete combustion, or blockages in the exhaust system can result in CO being drawn back into the living space.
• VRF Air Conditioning Limitations: Since VRF systems recirculate indoor air and do not introduce sufficient fresh air, any leaked CO can become trapped within the suite, increasing the risk of poisoning.
• Potential CO Detector Failure: Although each suite was reportedly equipped with CO detectors, no alarm was triggered. This points to potential detector malfunction, poor maintenance, or improper installation.

5.1.2 Supporting Evidence

• Symptomatology: Early reports noted frothing at the mouth—often associated with severe poisoning or seizures. Later, this was described as vomiting, raising suspicions of downplaying the severity.
• Autopsy Findings: Preliminary autopsy results showed pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), which can be consistent with CO poisoning. No external injuries were found, also aligning with an invisible gas scenario.
• Environmental Considerations: A ground-floor suite with gas water heaters and VRF air conditioning could create a closed environment where CO accumulates undetected.

5.2 Drug/Alcohol Overdose Theory

Another theory presented by local police attributes the deaths to a combination of alcohol consumption and edible “gummies.” Early police reports mentioned “alcohol and gummies” and later shifted terminology from “snacks” to “alcohol.” However, family members and friends have strongly disputed this theory, pointing out the victims’ devout religious practices and responsible lifestyles.

5.3 Foul Play and Evidence Tampering

A third possibility is foul play or deliberate tampering with evidence. While no clear signs of forced entry or theft have been reported, suspicions arose due to:

• Suspicious Clean-Up Procedures: Rumors suggest staff or authorities may have attempted to “clean up” the scene quickly. The rapid shift in official narratives fuels these suspicions.
• Inconsistent Official Statements: Early police statements quickly shifted from a possible toxic exposure to a substance misuse angle. Changes in symptom descriptions further raised concerns about possible evidence alteration.
• Potential Police Involvement: Allegations of local police obscuring or suppressing evidence have circulated, given the close ties between the resort management and influential local figures.

Saturday, February 22, 2025 (Around Noon)

Discovery of the Victims: After failing to contact the women for approximately 36 hours, resort staff unlocked the suite. Early media reports named it “Suite 101,” though evidence suggests it was Suite 102. Staff discovered all three women unresponsive, and death was confirmed shortly thereafter.

Immediate Aftermath and Official Reports

• Initial Police Reports: Local law enforcement quickly attributed the deaths to a possible overdose involving “alcohol and gummies.”
• Symptom Reporting: Frothing at the mouth was later changed to vomiting in official descriptions, prompting concerns about transparency.
• Family and Community Reaction: The victims’ families strongly challenged the overdose explanation, pointing to their devout lifestyles and the possibility of CO poisoning or infrastructural negligence.
• Fire Department Intervention: The Belize Fire Department conducted CO tests on February 24, 2025, but lacked adequate equipment to confirm CO levels conclusively. Whether a comprehensive CO evaluation was ever completed remains unclear.

7.1 Victim Profiles and Background

The victims—Kaoutar Naqqad, Imane Mallah, and Wafae El-Arar—were devout Muslims and conscientious individuals from Revere, Massachusetts. Their trip to Belize was meant as a birthday vacation. Their backgrounds do not suggest heavy partying or reckless behavior, raising doubts about an overdose narrative.

7.2 Direct Evidence

• Gas Water Heater: A critical potential source of CO. Police statements made no reference to it.
• VRF Air Conditioning System: Recirculates air and could trap CO if a leak occurred.
• CO Detectors: The resort claims detectors were installed, but no alarm sounded.
• Hotel Management & Local Authorities: Swiftly labeled the deaths as an overdose, while ignoring infrastructure-based explanations.

7.3 Official Oversight

Belize Fire Department: Lacked specialized CO testing equipment, leaving key questions unanswered.

Governmental Influence: High-ranking officials’ involvement (e.g., Prime Minister’s signature on the resort’s “Approved Enterprise” status) complicates matters. Critics argue the government may be reluctant to investigate fully, given the potential economic impact on Belize’s tourism sector.

8.1 Tourism-Driven Motives

Belize’s economy relies heavily on tourism, and a major incident at a flagship resort could have severe economic repercussions. Local authorities may prefer attributing the deaths to a drug or alcohol overdose rather than confronting a possible systemic safety failure, thus protecting the resort’s image and investor confidence.

8.2 Shifting Details & Evidence Tampering

• Changing Symptom Descriptions: Frothing at the mouth changed to vomiting; references to “snacks/gummies” became simply “alcohol.”
• Suite Number Inconsistencies: Conflicting accounts of whether it was Suite 101 or Suite 102, and subsequent removal of online floor plans, fuel speculation about deliberate obfuscation.

8.3 Systemic Weaknesses

Resource Limitations: Local police and fire services lack the specialized resources needed for in-depth CO investigations.

Political and Economic Pressures: With tourism as an economic backbone, political interests may supersede a thorough, transparent investigation. Connections between resort management and local power brokers only heighten suspicions.