Toxicology reports for three American tourists found dead at a luxury hotel in Belize last month confirm their deaths were caused by ‘fatal exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning’, DailyMail.com can reveal.
Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El Arar, 26, were found dead inside their room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on February 22.
Each of the women died from acute pulmonary edema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs.
A toxicology examination has now confirmed the fatal condition was triggered by exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning, Belize’s National Forensic Service confirmed on Wednesday evening.
Local police believe a malfunctioning water heater in the women’s room may have been to blame.
Each of the women registered carbon monoxide saturation levels of around 60 percent. Saturation levels of 40 percent are enough to cause death.
Belizean authorities suggested within hours of the women being found dead that they had likely died of a drug overdose, claiming initial tests for carbon monoxide exposure at the hotel had found nothing untoward.
The release of the toxicology report came within 48 hours of the women’s families releasing a statement, casting doubt on the integrity of Belizian authorities and urging them to conduct a fair and transparent investigation.
The victims: Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El Arar, 26. Their cause of death has been exclusively revealed to have been from an exposure to lethal levels of carbon monoxide
Three women were found dead in the above hotel room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. DailyMail.com’s source ‘Jane’ arrived just over a week later
Belizian Police Commissioner Chester Williams has not returned a request for comment.
The families of Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar said in a statement to DailyMail.com: ‘Today, our families were notified by officials with the United States Embassy in Belize that our beloved Kaoutar, Imane and Wafae passed away as a result of acute carbon monoxide poisoning, likely caused by a faulty instant water heater.
‘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.’
‘We continue to await results of a separate independent review being done by authorities in Massachusetts.’
‘We have said since the beginning of this investigation that their deaths were suspicious and raised concerns about initial reports in the news media. 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. Survivors such as our families deserve their best, honest work. We received it today but needed it throughout this investigative process,’ the statement continued.
‘We ask authorities in Belize to not stop their investigative work. Our families and others who may have been harmed at this hotel deserve a full accounting of what happened, how this investigation was handled by officials and hotel management.
‘We are grateful to all of the friends, family, leaders here in Massachusetts, in the United States and in Belize along with the local and international media, who continued to put pressure on Belizean authorities to complete this investigation in a timely and honest manner.
‘Our families remain incredibly grateful to the outpouring of support we have received from family, friends, leaders and loved ones since their passing. We appreciate the privacy that has been extended to our families as we grieve and are also grateful to the media who have helped ensure that Wafae, Imane, Kaoutar and the impact of their loss are a central part of your news coverage.
‘Our families ask for continued prayers, patience, and privacy as we navigate this unimaginable loss. May their beautiful souls rest in eternal peace. We will forever love and miss you, Kaoutar, Imane, Wafae.’
Each of the women died from acute pulmonary edema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs. Each of the women registered carbon monoxide saturation levels of around 60 percent. Saturation levels of 40 percent are enough to cause death
Royal Kahal has also released a statement, saying they remain ‘profoundly saddened’ by the women’s deaths.
‘While the cause of this tragedy has not been officially released by authorities, we are hearing indications that the results of the toxicology report will point to carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of death,’ a spokesperson for the hotel wrote.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.’
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the women’s home state of Massachusetts is conducting a second autopsy on the three women, which remains ongoing.
DailyMail.com was the first to reveal that preliminary autopsy results showed signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Other guests at Royal Kahal also came forward claiming to have suffered CO exposure while staying at the luxury resort.
In the wake of those reports, Commissioner Williams announced last week that authorities had decided to conduct a second round of carbon monoxide tests at the hotel.
Belizean authorities suggested within hours of the women being found dead that they had likely died of a drug overdose, claiming initial tests for carbon monoxide exposure at the hotel had found nothing untoward
On Monday, the women’s families questioned the honesty and meticulousness of the Belizean cops’ investigation and urged them to treat their deceased daughters with the respect they deserve.
‘We speak today because we want the public and authorities, particularly those in Belize, to hear this: Kaoutar, Imane and Wafae deserve your best,’ read the statement in part.
‘They deserve an honest and full investigation, and we ask all of those in power in both Belize and the United States to join us in demanding answers to the true cause of this tragedy.
‘We continue to believe the deaths of Wafae, Imane and Kaoutar are suspicious. We are hopeful the authorities will fulfill their responsibility to complete their reviews in a timely but thorough manner to ensure we know the full truth about what caused this tragedy.’
The families added they were ‘concerned’ that the results of the Belize toxicology report had still not been released to them, despite being assured the results would be returned within two weeks of their deaths.
‘As the lead investigative authority, Belizean officials have a critical responsibility to thoroughly and transparently determine what caused this tragedy,’ continued the statement.
‘We are deeply alarmed by news reports which suggest that carbon monoxide levels in the hotel could have been at dangerously high levels and that the resort has now suddenly closed without public explanation.
‘We believe the families of all guests – past and future – deserve a clear explanation for this action.
The women’s families paid tribute to each of them in a heartfelt statement on Monday
‘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,’ a hotel spokesperson said
‘We respectfully urge the resort’s management and Belizean authorities to share any information they have immediately so that no other family has to endure the unimaginable pain we must now bear. Our loved ones deserve transparency and all who visit Belize, especially the resort, deserve to know they are safe.’
Belize Fire Chief Colin Gillett previously told Belizean media that carbon monoxide poisoning had been ruled out following an investigation.
However, last week, Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai told 7NewsBelize that abnormal levels of carbon monoxide were found inside the hotel.
Sources close to that investigation reportedly told the network the levels registered about 500 PPM – which is dangerously high and poses a serious health risk.
A guest at the Royal Kahal, who DailyMail.com is identifying under the pseudonym ‘Jane’, believes she suffered carbon monoxide poisoning at the hotel a week after the women were found dead, having been assured by Royal Kahal staff that the resort was safe.
Jane and a group of her friends checked into the Royal Kahal on March 1.
Concerned by the news of their deaths, she reached out to the hotel on February 25 to ask, ‘Is it safe to come?’ messages shared with DailyMail.com show.
A hotel representative identified as ‘Daniel’ assured her there ‘are no safety issues’ at the Royal Kahal and the ‘sad incident’ involving Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar was out of their control.
A hotel representative identified as ‘Daniel’ assured her there ‘are no safety issues’ at the Royal Kahal and the ‘sad incident’ involving Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar was out of their control
‘As unfortunate as these circumstances are, there is nothing the hotel could’ve done to prevent these deaths,’ a representative of the hotel said
‘While we are still waiting on the authorities to formally release their findings, all signs indicate that this was a drug overdose,’ wrote Daniel.
‘As unfortunate as these circumstances are, there is nothing the hotel could’ve done to prevent these deaths.’
Jane’s concerns were quickly assuaged by the hotel’s explanation, so she and her friends decided to proceed with their booking.
But Jane said that five days into the trip, she awoke in the morning and her left leg was completely numb. She said she was also experiencing dizziness, blurred vision, and a headache.
When she attempted to get up to go to the restroom, Jane said she collapsed to the ground.
‘I laid on the ground for, I’d say, at least 30 to 40 minutes because I could not pull myself up, I just had no strength in my body, it was the weirdest thing,’ shared Jane.
‘I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.’
Excerpts from a text exchange between Jane and a representative of Royal Kahal show the hotel assuring Jane’s safety, insisting the women’s deaths were caused by a drug overdose
After finally gathering the strength to get up, she spent the next three hours seated in a chair by an open window before she was finally able to walk again.
She said she was still struggling with headaches, a cough, brain fog, and blurred vision five days after returning home to California.
One of Jane’s friends on the trip had also been suffering from recurring migraines, she said.
All of the symptoms described by Jane are textbook side effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Jane has sought medical treatment and contacted Royal Kahal and the U.S. Embassy to report her story.
One of Jane’s friends on the trip was told by embassy officials that initial tests found some rooms at the hotel contained ‘high levels of carbon monoxide.’
The U.S. Embassy declined to comment on those claims, sharing only that their office ‘continues to work with the Belizean law enforcement in the investigation into this case. We also have close contact with the families of the victims.
‘We don’t have further information to release about the investigation or other incidents at the Royal Kahal resort.’
A guest at the Royal Kahal, who DailyMail.com is identifying under the pseudonym ‘Jane’, believes she suffered carbon monoxide poisoning at the hotel a week after the women were found dead, having been assured by Royal Kahal staff that the resort was safe
‘While the hotel is beautiful, the lack of CO detectors is concerning. I urge management to address this for the safety of future guests,’ Jane said
However, a recent review on Royal Kahal’s Trip Advisor page, dated March 1, complains of ‘critical safety concerns’ during a visit to the resort in February.
‘I had a wonderful stay at Royal Kahal Beach Resort from February 17th-21st. The staff was exceptional – [the] front desk, maintenance, housekeeping, bartenders, and beach staff went above and beyond. The beauty of San Pedro, Belize, and the warmth of its people made this trip unforgettable,’ wrote user Naquana H.
‘However, I cannot, in good faith, rate the hotel highly due to serious safety concerns. On February 18th, our carbon monoxide detector went off with levels above 400.
‘Despite informing the front desk, the staff seemed unfamiliar with the issue. Maintenance suggested turning off the gas, but the CO levels remained dangerously high. We were left feeling uneasy. The next morning, a friend reported dizziness, which we now suspect was from CO exposure.
‘While the hotel is beautiful, the lack of CO detectors is concerning. I urge management to address this for the safety of future guests.’
Jane said she was furious the hotel lured her into a potentially dangerous situation with false promises of guaranteed safety.
She said her heart breaks for the women’s families and feels remarkably lucky to have avoided any serious harm.
‘They told us everything was safe, and we believed them. We had no reason not to,’ said Jane.
‘And I can’t get the girls and their families off my mind. It’s heartbreaking. But it’s also frightening knowing the same thing could’ve happened to us.
‘Who knows what would’ve happened if I was left to sleep in my room for another few hours, or if when I fell on the ground I couldn’t get up and nobody came to check on me.
‘It’s just so sad those girls weren’t afforded the same luck.’
The Royal Kahal remains closed as the investigation continues.
