Family Breaks Their Silence About 3 Women Found Dead in Belize Hotel

• The bodies of Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El-Arar, 26, who were staying at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort, located in San Pedro Town, were found by hotel staff on Feb. 22
• The women, whose deaths are being investigated as possible drug overdoses, per the Associated Press, had checked into the resort’s Bird of Paradise Suite on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 News Belize reported
• Police confirmed their identities on Feb. 24

The families of the three women who were found dead in a hotel in Belize in late February are mourning their deaths.

The bodies of Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El-Arar, 26, who were staying at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort, located in San Pedro Town, were found by hotel staff on Saturday, Feb. 22, after checking into the resort’s Bird of Paradise Suite on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 News Belize reported.

Police confirmed their identities on Monday, Feb. 24, per the Associated Press. While the cause of their deaths has yet to be confirmed, police are investigating the deaths as possible drug overdoses, AP reported.

In a joint statement shared with PEOPLE, their families urged authorities in Belize and the U.S. to conduct a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the circumstances surrounding their death that remain “unclear and suspicious.”

“We ask for continued prayers, patience, and privacy as we navigate this profound sorrow,” the statement further adds.

Naqqad was the youngest daughter of four siblings who held a “special” place in her family’s heart due to her “joy, laughter and love.”

“She was compassionate, caring, and deeply devoted to those she loved. Her heart was full of generosity, always putting others before herself and offering a listening ear, a comforting word, and unwavering support,” her family said.

Naqqad was a college student who worked as part of the residential support staff at a group home for troubled youth and aspired to join the police force. She had plans to visit Morocco with her parents in the summer.

Like Naqqad, Mallah is remembered for being a “radiant spirit” and “beacon of kindness” who “embraced life wholeheartedly, cherishing every soul that shared the journey with her.”

“With her infectious smile, sparkling wit, and an unwaveringly optimistic heart, Imane illuminated every space she graced. Her friends often remarked that her presence was like a warm, comforting light, guiding them through even the darkest of times,” the statement adds.

She is remembered as someone who had a “unique ability to listen deeply, making everyone feel heard and valued,” and who “poured her heart into everything she did.”

“Her laughter was contagious, and her stories were filled with humor and wisdom, leaving those around her both entertained and inspired. Imane’s excitement for life was matched only by her compassion for others, making her a cherished friend and an irreplaceable part of the community,” the statement adds.

El-Arar, who had just turned 26 at the time of her death, is remembered for being “full of life, dreams and unwavering faith.”

She was passionate about women’s health and, as a research technician at Massachusetts General Hospital, “dedicated herself to reproductive rights and was committed to making a difference in an area often overlooked in healthcare.”

Before her death, she had co-authored a journal article she had been working on for months, “hoping that her contributions would help women around the world,” the statement adds.

She had a close connection to her niece and nephew, who remember her as “their fun-loving aunt,” and with her younger sister, whom she connected with through her “personal journey of faith.”

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“To all who knew her, she was caring, funny, humble, and incredibly giving. She was a light in our lives, taken too soon. She will be deeply missed,” the statement adds.