Police are investigating reports of three female bodies found at the Royal Kahal Resort on Coconut Drive. According to the initial investigation, the resort’s general manager called 911, alerting authorities that resort staff had found three motionless women in a hotel room.
The women are reportedly in their 30s. Police are currently processing the scene. Details surrounding the incident are still unclear.
This is a developing story.
Police are investigating the murder of 56-year-old Boris Alexander Mannsfeld, an American real estate developer. Mannsfeld’s body was found on Friday night at his luxury project, Cocoplum Villas in Maya Beach, with a gunshot wound to the neck. Authorities found a spent shell casing at the scene.
According to police reports, Mannsfeld was found with his personal belongings intact, including his wallet containing cash and his loaded firearm still holstered.
Mannsfeld was originally from Colorado but moved to Belize in 2006, where he built the Villas at Cocoplum, which was considered one of Placencia’s top real estate developments. In a January 2025 email, Mannsfeld described a high-profile fraud case as involving stolen assets, money laundering, and the deaths of two associates, Ricardo Borja and Darren Taylor.
In the email, Mannsfeld stated that he had securely stored important evidence and shared it with trusted individuals, instructing them to release all files—such as names, bank details, receipts, messages, and passwords—to major news outlets and US lawmakers if anything were to happen to him.
Police are now looking into connections between Mannsfeld’s murder and his legal disputes. No suspects have been identified as yet.
This is a developing story.
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told reporters today that gang violence in Belize City has increased in the wake of Brandon Baptist’s death on January 31. Baptist, a known gang affiliate, was fatally shot during a football match at the Marion Jones Stadium.
Since then, several incidents of gun violence have been reported. On February 18th, Akeem Smith narrowly escaped injury when gunmen targeted him while returning from a fishing trip. Smith reportedly jumped into nearby water to evade the attackers. The following day, Leon Gray and Emmeth Baptist were shot at near Newtown Barracks. Gray was injured but has since been treated and released from the hospital.
Williams said the police department has “deployed additional police officers on the grounds, and we’re conducting daily operations.” He added that police are focusing on specific areas to prevent further gang-related incidents.
Williams added that the investigation into Baptist’s death points to self-defence. He said, “I wish it was not a matter of self-defence, indeed, but the DPP, in her wisdom, and I cannot; I don’t argue with what the DPP is saying. Because, as a lawyer, I see myself too that there is a very strong element of self-defence.”
Williams explained that the person who fired the gun is not actually a member of a gang. While he was at the scene, he wasn’t involved in gang activities. “The person who actually is a gunman is not a gang member… he happened to have been there, yes, but he’s not a gang member,” he added.
A police officer is set to be charged with dangerous harm after firing two shots at 24-year-old Emil Rivers on January 24. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams confirmed that Officer Sheldon Arzu was suspended while the investigation proceeded.
Williams said, “We have gotten the directive from the DPP… Today he’ll be charged with dangerous harm and should be appearing before the court this afternoon.”
Rivers, who was armed with a knife during the confrontation, was hospitalised following the shooting Independence Village. Williams also confirmed that Rivers will face charges in connection with a separate ongoing case.
On Thursday, 27-year-old Dane Gillett was acquitted of the murder of 15-year-old Dwayne Gabourel. Gillett had spent over three years on remand at the Belize Central Prison.
Gabourel, a student at SJC, was fatally shot in September 2021 while on North Front Street. While surveillance footage captured the shooter, the shooter had his face covered. A police officer later identified Gillett by his tattoo and body type.
The High Court judge upheld a no-case submission, which led to Gillett’s release. Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal has confirmed that the ruling will be appealed.
Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters today, “I’m not the judge, so I can’t speak on the judge’s decision, but I’m glad to hear that the DPP plans to appeal.” Williams was asked about the FBI’s involvement in enhancing video evidence, a plan discussed in 2021. He responded, saying that since the DPP is moving forward with an appeal, it shows confidence that the case can still lead to a conviction. He added, “We’ll wait for the appeal and see what happens.”
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing announced today that a new bridge will soon replace the existing San Ignacio/Santa Elena low-lying bridge. In a public notice, the ministry confirmed it has signed a contract with M&M Engineering Consultants Ltd. to design and construct the new structure.
Preliminary designs show the new bridge will be made of reinforced concrete and will span 95.5 meters across nine sections. The bridge will include a single traffic lane and a dedicated pedestrian space, measuring 6 meters in width. Construction is expected to take four months starting on March 17, 2025.
The notice advised the public that during construction, the current bridge will be closed to all traffic. Drivers are advised to use the New Macal Bridge and the Hawkesworth Bridge for detours. The Hawkesworth Bridge will be open in one direction only, from San Ignacio to Santa Elena.
The 48th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting started in Barbados on Wednesday and will run through until Friday, February 21. This meeting’s key topics focus on food & nutrition security, climate change & climate finance, the Haiti crisis & security issues, and digital resilience & external relations.
According to Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca, he stated that Belize is participating virtually. He added that despite the lack of in-person attendance, Belize is fully engaged in the summit’s discussions.
Fonseca explained that Belize’s decision to attend the summit remotely is due to the upcoming national elections, with both Prime Minister John Briceño and Fonseca on the ballot.
When asked if the upcoming election was taking priority over national interests, Fonseca rejected the idea, stating, “Absolutely not… We are fully participating in the meeting. We’re not missing out on anything, so there is no question of us putting any interest ahead of any other interests.”
He added, “Ambassador Lawrence, CEO Mai, participated in everything. The only thing we won’t be able to participate in is the ‘closed meeting of the summit,’ which is really a few hours where the leaders are alone, completely alone.”
Today, the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) unveiled an exciting new project to support Belize’s local artisans. Minister of Culture Francis Fonseca called it “an exciting project” with three key objectives: creating a database of artisans, helping them market their products, and providing opportunities for international export.
Fonseca said, “We want to work with them on marketability; how can we help them to promote that, to market that… We really want to make sure our creative people can make a living.”
He pointed out the importance of supporting Belize’s creative community and added that many artists struggle with marketing their work. “Culture is my business, and this is a key initiative we have focused on at NICH because we understand that so many of our artists are creative people, but they need support in terms of marketing their products,” he added.
The project also highlights the successes of individual artisans, such as Baron Neal, who started his art career in 2004. Neal specialises in Iry’s Butterfly Art and said he enjoys teaching others and creating jobs. “I feel very great because I am inspiring my youth,” he said. His journey went from teaching math to becoming a full-time artist. “I believe my artwork can help people in this world and people in Belize,” he added.
Another artist, Keith Fransisco, said he has been doing his art since 2013. Francisco said this “fantastic initiative” has brought “so many different communities coming together to make this a reality.”
A few days ago, the government of Belize officially announced that the bidding process for the infrastructure remodelling of Stella Maris School and the Belize Academy for the Deaf opened. Today, News 5 asked Education Minister Francis Fonseca when the school is expected to start construction. He said that the bidding process is expected to last about two months, followed by a few additional months for preparations.
“Probably the latter quarter of this year is when you’re likely to see work start,” Fonseca said.
During a house meeting on February 7, Fonseca had announced that an $800,000 investment would be made to rehabilitate and refurbish the school grounds, with a focus on increasing security measures. “We are absolutely committed to ensuring that something like this does not happen again,” Fonseca said, referring to Little Gabriel Orellano’s tragic death after walking out of the school’s compound unnoticed.
In his announcement on February 7, Fonseca detailed that upgrades would include reinforcing the school’s fencing, improving accessibility, and enhancing security measures, such as the installation of gates and hiring more wardens.
The investigation into the tragic death of little Gabriel Orellano’s case is “almost complete,” Education Minister Francis Fonseca told reporters today. Fonseca stated that “the ministry either today or tomorrow is having a meeting with the Belize Police Department so that we can then finalise our own report.”
He added that once the report is complete, the government plans to first meet with the Orellano family to share the details and address any questions or concerns they may have. “After we’ve done that and we’ve responded to their questions, we’ll be very happy to share that report with the public,” Fonseca said.
When asked about the Principal of Stella Maris, Francelia Cantun, and her comments that raised questions about the school’s security protocols, Fonseca responded, “She came highly recommended,” but that the ministry is “reviewing everything.”
Fonseca added that Cantun’s upcoming retirement is at the end of April. “In a sense, it’s a moot question, because we will be looking for new leadership for Stella Maris,” he said. “The team at the Ministry of Education and the CEO are preparing for that. We’ll deal with it; perhaps late in March, we’ll be in a position to name a successor.”
