There was shock and heartbreak in Revere after three women with ties to the Massachusetts city were found dead in Belize. The Revere mayor says he’s searching for answers for the families — one of the mothers said her “heart is broken” over her daughter’s death.
Three women with ties to Revere, Massachusetts, died unexpectedly in the country of Belize, according to the city, whose mayor said Tuesday that he's trying to get answers on what happened for their families.
Mayor Patrick Keefe Jr. identified the women as Wafae El Arar, Imane Mallah and Kaoutar Naqqad, whom he described in a statement as "valued members of the Revere community" and "daughters, friends, and contributors to our City," while extending condolences to their friends and family.
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Mallah's mother told NBC10 Boston Tuesday she's not doing well: "My heart is broken," she said. Friends and members of the community, who were holding a vigil Tuesday, also said they were devastated.
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Keefe noted that the information on their deaths provided so far from authorities in Belize has so far left "our grieving community with too many questions," and that there's "widespread concern" about a lack of transparence into what happened.
"The Department of State issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory for Belize in December due to an increased risk for crime, and we will exhaust all avenues, both domestic and abroad, to ensure a proper and fair analysis of this case," he said, adding that he's been in touch with Massachusetts' Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Katherine Clark about getting answers.
It wasn't immediately clear what led to the women's deaths — Belize police haven't responded to NBC10 Boston's requests for comment, and Keefe's statement didn't share that information.
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told local news outlet Channel 5 Belize that the three women were found at a suite at a San Pedro resort, and that a search found only "alcohol and some gummies."
"We're not saying at this time that the gummies cause death, but we're looking at every possibility," Williams said, according to Channel 5 Belize.
The three women, who were U.S. citizens in their mid-20s from Morocco, were set to leave the country on Sunday, the outlet reported.
Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra spoke with Isabella Calderón, who says is best friends with Mallah.
"She became the sister I never had here, and it truly breaks my heart not to have her," said an emotional Calderón in Spanish.
She said that her friend had planned the trip for a long time and the last time she spoke with her in Belize, she was very happy: "We were on a video call and she looked so happy, she showed us the hotel, which was in front of the beach, it had the pool right next to the room, and she was happy, her friends were swimming,"
Mallah assured Calderón that she would call her back that Thursday night. However, Calderón said, that call never came.
"I think that, before talking and believing all this speculation, we need to know the truth about what happened, and I hope that Belize gives us the answers that need to be given, and that they are not hiding anything, because … three women don't just appear dead," she said.
