The three American women who were found dead at a beach resort in Belize suffered “fatal exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning,” a new toxicology report obtained by WCVB determined.
Kaoutar Naqqad, 23; Imane Mallah, 24; and Wafae El-Arar, 26, all from Revere, Massachusetts, were found dead inside a room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on February 22 after housing staff made several attempts to contact them. A toxicology report conducted by Belize's National Forensic Service confirmed that the three Americans all had build-up of fluid in their lungs known as acute pulmonary edema, which was caused by carbon monoxide exposure prior to their deaths.
All three women registered carbon monoxide saturation levels estimated to be around 60%, which is 20% more than fatal levels, the report stated. The tourists were suspected to have been exposed to carbon monoxide caused by a faulty water heater located in the hotel room.
Surveillance footage showed the women entering the hotel room the previous night but never exiting. Hotel staff entered the room and found the women unresponsive. Police haven't yet determined the cause of their deaths, however, first responders said the women were found with froth in their mouths, which would suggest a possible drug overdose.
A pathologist told police that the women's deaths likely occurred about 20 hours before they were found. Police found alcohol and gummies in the hotel room, however, toxicology tests confirmed that none of the three women had drugs in their system at the time of their deaths.