On the Phone: Friend of Deceased

On the Phone: Friend of Deceased

“On Wednesday, they found him on island  and the kayak on Wednesday when they found him, the kayak was around the tropic air around the airport.”

Britney Gordon

“Okay. And did Jason know how to swim?”

On the Phone: Friend of Deceased

“Yes, indeed. But how everybody knows that he knows how to swim. The only thing might must happen, that when he dropped, he knock his head. Family and friends are very disappointed in Placencia Hotel because they didn’t gave no notice to no one until there was one of my closest friend too that called me and told me about the incident whereby so two of us went to Dangriga morgue and we said that it was him.”

Britney Gordon

“So there was a lack of communication between when he disappeared, when the family was informal, when he was found.”

On the Phone: Friend of Deceased

“Yes. A lot of lack inform information. No information was given to police and no reports were made. Police coast Guard just went to retrieve the body and that’s it. There were like, no, there’s no briefing, no incident, not no statement, nothing. He was  like a brother. He was my family. And that’s why I’m trying to get justice if anything is not made. We, as a group of friends we’re trying to manage to gather her some cash and get an attorney and make sure he gets justice. Because it’s not fair, because of a cushion, he will lose his life.”

Friends and family say too many questions remain about how Jason Stamp’s disappearance was handled, and they’re now pushing for answers, and justice, in what they believe should have never happened.

The post Resort Employee Drowns on the Job, Family Calls for Justice first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                          Stacy Smith

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Thursday, 25th, December at approximately 12:30 PM acting upon a report of an apparent drowning in Caledonia Village, police proceeded to a river bank in that village where they observed the motionless body of a male person whose identity was learned to be Eliadoro Moh, a 45-year-old Belizean laborer of Caledonia Village. What the investigators have ascertained so far is that Moh left his home sometime around 10:30 a.m. and at that time he was observed to be under influence of alcohol. At around 12:30 p.m. the brother of Moh was advised that his body was observed in the river. It was later removed and attempts were made to resuscitate him. However, those attempts were unsuccessful.”

The post Christmas Day Drowning Claims Life of Caledonia Villager first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

ASP Stacy Smith said officers responded to a report shortly after midday. “On Thursday, 25th December, at approximately 12:30 PM, acting upon a report of an apparent drowning in Caledonia Village, police proceeded to a riverbank in that village where they observed the motionless body of a male person.”

The man was identified as Eliodoro Moh, a 52-year-old Belizean labourer of Caledonia Village.

“What the investigators have ascertained so far is that Moh left his home sometime around 10:30 AM, and at that time he was observed to be under the influence of alcohol,” Smith said.

The body was removed, and efforts were made to revive him, but those attempts were unsuccessful. 

The Caledonia Village Council extended condolences to the family in a statement, saying, “We express our deepest condolences for the sensitive passing of Don Eliodoro Moh, best known in the community as Chiks, or Rambo. We recognise and value his person, very hardworking, and the mark he leaves among those of us who had the honour of knowing him.”

The body now awaits a post-mortem examination, with a funeral procession scheduled for December 30.

The post Man Drowns on Christmas Day in Caledonia Village first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The post Four-Year-Old Dies After Falling Into Well first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                 Hilberto Romero

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“On Saturday, police responded to a report of a drowning at the Swasey River. On arrival, they learned that two persons had attempted to rescue a male person who was in the river. This person was successfully rescued; however, the other two persons were dragged by the current, and they did not resurface. They were identified as Thomas Cal and Elroy Cal. With help from the villagers, searches were done where the bodies were recovered. The bodies are presently awaiting a post-mortem examination.”

Reporter

“Were there any safety warnings or concerns about swimming in that section of the river?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“I do not know if there were safety warnings; however, the river is deep and there are strong currents in that area.”

The post Tragic Drowning at Swasey River Leaves Family Grieving first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“On Thursday, police responded to a report of a drowning at the Valley of Peace area. Upon arrival, they saw the motionless body of a minor. Information is that the minor was left with his grandfather at the area. At some point, he left from his grandfather where they were doing some work, and thereafter his body was found in a lagoon at the Valley of Peace area.”

Reporter

“Had he been caught in a net?”

Hilberto Romero

“That is what the person that took him out of the water reported, he was trapped in a net.”

The post 13-Year-Old Drowns on Farm in Valley of Peace first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

On Thursday afternoon authorities responded to reports of a drowning at a pond on a farm located on the outskirts of Valley of Peace Village. Upon arrival, officers discovered the lifeless body of Jaden Emmanuel Marroquin, a Belizean student from the village.

According to police, Marroquin had gone to the pond, where he allegedly drowned. His body was later retrieved and transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The investigation continues.

The post 13-Year-Old Student Drowns in Valley of Peace first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The community of Lord’s Bank Village is still reeling following the death of seventeen-year-old Caleb Bradley. Reports are that Bradly and a group of friends had visited the Belize River for an afternoon swim, but things took a turn for the worst when the group realized that Bradley had not resurfaced from the water. What ensued was an all-night search mission for Bradley and a heartbreaking discovery that would leave family, friends, and neighbors devastated. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Tonight, the village of Lord’s Bank is in mourning after a tragic accident claimed the life of seventeen-year-old Caleb Bradley. What was meant to be a carefree afternoon with friends turned into a nightmare on Wednesday when Caleb jumped into the Belize River and never came back up. According to police, it took about ten minutes before anyone realized something was wrong. His friends immediately began searching the water, but their efforts came up short. Police arrived on the scene around 4:25 p.m., but by then, Caleb was still missing. The Belize Coast Guard was also contacted, but due to the timing, they didn’t respond. As night fell, the search didn’t stop. Family, friends, and neighbors joined forces, combing the riverbank through the early morning hours. Just before 7:30 a.m. today, a volunteer made the heartbreaking discovery, Caleb’s body had been found. Now, the community is not only grieving but also demanding answers. Why wasn’t more help sent when it was needed most? Police have launched an investigation, and we’ll continue to follow this story as it develops. Britney Gordon for News Five.

The post 17-Year-old Drowns After Jumping into Belize River first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                    Hilberto Romero

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head, Crimes Investigation Branch

“On Saturday, Aaron Reymundo reported that he was diving in the area of English Caye, along with one Josimar Toledano, when he saw Toledano motionless in the water. He took him out and performed CPR but was unsuccessful. Police responded and the body of Josimar Toledano was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. We are awaiting a post mortem examination to determine his cause of death.”

Reporter

“Is any foul play suspected at this time?”

Hilberto Romero

“No, not at this time.”

Reporter

“Okay, is he someone who made his living on the sea or…”

Hilberto Romero

“Yes, he was employed as a cook on the island.”

Reporter

“Were the six persons on the boat, were they detained?”

Hilberto Romero

“No, they were interviewed, they provided statements and we are carrying out an investigation.”

The post Man Drowns Near English Caye first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

A life taken too soon, that is the devastating story of six-year-old King Shakel Wade, whose body was found in the canal on South Creek Street nearly three hours after he went missing. His tragic death occurred in October, 2024 and now, ten months later, King’s babysitter Jennifer Fitzgibbon has been charged.

Hilberto Romero

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch 

“Reference the drowning incident that occurred the [fifteenth] of October 2024, we have arrested and charged Jennifer Fitzgibbon for abandonment of a child and a manslaughter by negligence.”

On the afternoon of King’s death, Fitzgibbon had left him sitting on a refrigerator at the back of her yard, away from the canal and had told the six-year-old to stay put while she tended to the younger children. Her attorney, Norman Rodriguez, details the charges.

Norman Rodriguez

Norman Rodriguez, Attorney-at-Law

“She was actually charged yesterday, the day of August 2025. She was detained and charged yesterday for, like you said, manslaughter out by negligence and for abandonment of child. And today she was brought before the court for her to be arraigned for those charges over those offenses and ultimately, she got bail upon an application and no objection by the prosecution fairly so on the consideration that she cooperated with the police.”

King Shakel Wade

Magistrate Ludlow Black was leaning toward denying bail to Fitzgibbon, but in the end, he gave her the benefit of the doubt, with one strict condition: she’s not allowed to babysit while her case is still before the court. Her attorney, Rodriguez, argued that she’s not a flight risk and has been cooperative with police from the very beginning of the investigation.

Norman Rodriguez

“She was granted bail in the sum of five thousand dollars plus two shortage of two thousand five hundred each. And they learned magistrate imposed one condition, which is that she must not provide any babysitting or caregiving services while this matter progresses to the court. She’s to return to court on the ninth of October, 2025 for her disclosure. Then we will go through the process of preliminary inquiry and if the magistrate commits it at that point, then she will be tried at the High court.”

Attorney Rodriguez says his client, Fitzgibbon, never meant for things to go the way they did, and she’s deeply remorseful. Magistrate Ludlow Black took that into account but made it clear, if she accepts any babysitting jobs while her case is ongoing, she’ll be violating her bail conditions. Meanwhile, questions are being raised about the timing of the charges. We asked Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero why it took so long for them to be brought forward.

ACP Hilberto Romero

“A thorough investigation was carried out and file was sent to the DPP, who has sent the directives that she be charged.”

Fitzgibbons met bail this afternoon just after three p.m. Britney Gordon for News Five.

The post Babysitter Charged with Manslaughter After Child Drowns in Her Care first appeared on Greater Belize Media.