Inside the Final Hours of Inmate Phillip Bowen

We’re following up tonight on a story that has sparked serious questions about medical care behind bars. On Wednesday, we reported on the death of Belize Central Prison inmate Phillip Bowen, an asthma patient who died after suffering an attack in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Bowen was awaiting trial in connection with a 2020 double murder in Hopkins Village. His death has since drawn public concern and calls for answers. Tonight, we bring you those answers. We spoke with Kolbe Foundation CEO Virgilio Murillo, who walked us through the prison administration’s account of what care Bowen received in the moments leading up to his passing.

 

On the Phone: Virgilio Murillo, Chief Executive Officer, Kolbe Foundation

“Around seven twenty a.m. I was told he began feeling bad. He made it known to some people among him that he is not feeling well and he requested medical attention. He was rushed to the medical center, because he was a known asthma patient. He had his asthma pump available, but it was apparent that his asthma attack was too severe that even with the pump it was not adequate to help him. And while he was taken to medical center he collapsed. So, he had to be ferried the rest of the way to the medical center where it was determined that it was so severe he must be referred to the KHMH. That happened. I was told that within seven minutes he was placed in the ambulance at the prison which is always on standby and transported to the KHMH. He passed away enroute to the KHMH. The reports are still being put together but based on what I have been told so far, it was very timely and there was no delay. The guy walked from the RRC building, almost reaching the medical center.”

 

Murillo maintains the response was swift, though Bowen died on the way to KHMH.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system

 

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