- Loved ones are speaking out after three American women were found dead at a hotel in Belize over the weekend, with authorities suggesting their deaths could have been caused by possible overdoses
- Police in Belize identified the victims, who were staying in San Pedro Town, as Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El-Arar, 26, according to the Associated Press
- “It’s very frustrating because when you hear possible OD, automatically you attribute characteristics to that person, but that could be the farthest thing from the truth,” friend Hajar El Khalfaoui said, per WCVB
The friends and family of three American women who were found dead at a hotel in Belize are speaking out after authorities said they were investigating the deaths as possible drug overdoses.
On Monday, Feb. 24, police in Belize identified the victims, who were staying at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort, located in San Pedro Town, as Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El-Arar, 26, according to the Associated Press.
The trio had checked into the resort’s Bird of Paradise Suite on Wednesday, Feb. 19, according to local media outlet 7 News Belize, before their bodies were discovered by staff on Saturday, Feb. 22.
The cause of their deaths is yet to be confirmed, AP reported, adding that officials are investigating the deaths as possible drug overdoses.
While speaking at a vigil in Revere, Massachusetts on Tuesday, Feb. 25, multiple loved ones cast doubt on authorities’ suggestion that the deaths were possible overdoses, per ABC-affiliated Boston station WCVB.
A photo of the Royal Kahal Beach Resort.
CBS Boston/Youtube
“It’s very frustrating because when you hear possible OD, automatically you attribute characteristics to that person, but that could be the farthest thing from the truth,” Hajar El Khalfaoui, who was friends with all three women, told the station’s NewsCenter 5.
“When I graduated, Imane didn’t want me to go to a party, she said she didn’t want to go because there would be drinking there. That was the kind of person she was. So when they said that it was OD, I will never believe that was true,” she told the station.
“I love her so much and I’ll never stop loving her, and nobody will be able to replace her,” El Khalfaoui added. “Wafae, Imane and Kaoutar were some of the best people I’ve known. They were so loved and cherished in this community. It’s a tragedy; everybody has grown up with these girls. If you hear their names and you hear their story, please make a prayer for them.”
Kaoutar Naqqad.
GoFundMe
Destiny Borges-Kelley, who also attended the vigil, told the outlet, “They’re respectful, they wouldn’t do the stuff that people are saying they would … They all were growing in life, they had plans.”
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police, previously said in a news conference, per Channel 5 Belize, “The bodies exhibited no signs of injuries, police also saw inside the room what appeared to be vomiting beside each female.”
Imane Mallah.
GoFundMe
“The police did a thorough search of the scene, along with the pathologists and scenes of crime,” he continued. “There was nothing of substance that could have been found other than alcohol and some gummies.”
“We’re not saying at this time that the gummies caused death, but we’re looking at every possibility,” the officer added.
Wafae El-Arar.
GoFundMe
Revere City Councilor Ira Novoselsky, who was Naqqad’s landlord and neighbor, claimed, “We’re getting stonewalled, you know Belize people are just saying their side of the story, but I’m sure [there’s] more to it,” per WCVB.
“They were going into the medical field, why would they even think of doing something like this?” Novoselsky questioned, according to CBS News Boston.
Mallah’s mother, Zineb Elghilani, said at the vigil that her daughter was “a strong person” who was “always happy, with a smiley face, friendly with people and humble,” WCVB reported.
According to AP, police found no signs of forced entry into the hotel room which contained snacks, liquids, vapes and other electronic devices.
Williams said at the news conference that police were awaiting the results of a postmortem to assist their investigation. As well as testing levels of carbon monoxide, 7 News Belize reported that investigators were “reviewing surveillance footage and collecting statements.”
GoFundMe pages for Kaoutar Naqqad, Imane Mallah and Wafae El-Arar had all separately raised upwards of $25,000 as of Wednesday, Feb. 26.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that they are “closely monitoring this case,” and said that they’re “in touch with and collaborating closely with the local authorities’ investigation into the deaths.”
“Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones, we have no further comment at this time,” the spokesperson added.
Ira Novoselsky and the Belize Police Department didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
