Gary Paul Swank, 53, a cardiologist at Carilion Clinic, who was recently ? Drug-related crimes are also on the uptick. Criminals often operate in groups and target persons traveling alone. This story has been shared 130,601 times. "We don't really have any areas around here that are off limits to, we don't say don't go somewhere," said Tom Thomas, a resort operator. "At 8:15 a.m. (Friday) the police search found her. But I heard all these stories on Ambergris Caye and my protective nature kicked my alertness up two notches while I was there. And all Americans are encouraged to register with the state department's Smart Traveler program whenever in a foreign country - a free service that allows for emergency contact. The police spokesperson told ABC News that the investigation is ongoing and nothing has been ruled out. They then performed CPR on her but unfortunately, she passed away. To date, there has been little released about this double murder or any hope of solving it. Authorities say its complicated because of the proximity to the Guatemala border. ', Death toll keeps rising in Greece's deadliest train crash, Brunt of storm moving out of SoCal, light showers on tap Wednesday, AccuWeather: AM showers before a mild afternoon. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Wheres the best hospital nearRead More Wheres the Best Hospital Near Me in Central America? Jacqueline Abad, 53, and Sara Web(Statistics from the Belize Police Department) CRIMES COMPARATIVE JANUARY 2022 2023. 2020, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Join BBN mailing list for the latest news on Belize. WebThe United States Embassy in the Central American nation of Belize on Sunday confirmed the death of an American tourist there and said it was closely monitoring the local investigation, She was staying at an equine lodge last month when someone attacked her and dragged her body into the Mopan River. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. WebTwo Americans were killed and five others were injured in a bus accident as they traveled in Belize on Wednesday as part of a Carnival Cruise Line trip. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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There's no need to be concerned about safety on commercial flights. As already mentioned, the overwhelming majority of violent crime victims in Belize are Belizeans. San Pedro has long enjoyed peace and security as a result of strong, disciplined Police presence and solid community support, he said. I never heard any of that stuff before arriving. For further information, contact our Tourism Data Unit at the Belize Tourism Board via email The gunmen began shooting at a group of people who were partying at Jaguars nightclub. All Rights Reserved. ANNUAL MAJOR CRIMES STATISTICS 1 file(s) WebBelize Police Commissioner Chester Williams told local outlet 7 News Belize on Saturday that two men had been arrested and charged with murder in the killing that occurred Friday Shortly thereafter, the assistant manager and the bartender went to look for her. Gary Paul Swank, 53, a cardiologist at Carilion Clinic, was shot dead Sunday as officials say the tourist destination has become paralyzed by crime, Belize Live News reported. Contact us at mrkt[emailprotected]kngblznw.m or call us at 501-601-0315. This article contains a link (or links) to Amazon, from which, as an Amazon Associate, this website will earn a small commission if you make any purchases. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Denver boy, 8, suffers horrific injuries in fall from horse during Belize vacation, Tropical Storm Lisa expected to become season's next hurricane as it approaches Central America, 'Godfather' director Francis Ford Coppola's island lists for $2.2M, Shark surprise: Mysterious Arctic species found lurking in Caribbean. Our thoughts, prayers and attention are now focused on helping his family navigate this difficult time.. Officials said a San Pedro resident was killed three days later by two unknown masked men. After a number of recent high-profile tourist/expat homicides, we look at crime in Belize and try to determine how safe it actually is right now. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Download. As of Tuesday night, a person-of-interest had not been identified and no However, New Orleans media outlet nola.com identified her as JBria Bowens, a nursing student a Louisiana State University. The entire Carilion family extends 1 file(s) 142.81 KB. Both men went into the water to rescue her. Breaking Belize News is able to offer a marketing package that uses internet, social media and email to reach over 500,000 Belizean-centric potential customers each month. Police investigation led to the custody of several suspects, but all were released. As far as if its safe to come to Belize, I say yes as long as you keep your eyes open and your wits about you. WebThe overwhelming majority of violent crime victims in Belize are Belizeans themselves, but recent years have seen an increase in these types of crimes against tourists and expats. The United States Embassy in the Central American nation of Belize on Sunday confirmed the death of an American tourist there and said it was closely monitoring the local investigation, Associated Press reported. Download. The tourist was not the intended target, it just so happened she was in the line of fire between these two factions, Williams told 7 News Belize. Results of an autopsy are pending at the Belize City Morgue, local police said. Also, Belize is no longer requiring testing for entry, regardless of vaccination status. Following the murder of tourist Dr. GarySwank, 53, in San Pedro last week, the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) has reported that as of yesterday, seven properties across the country have seen tourists cancel trips scheduled for November, December and even January 2020. It holds a diverse number of species. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Prospect police investigating crash involving school bus, bike, Chicago mayoral race down to Vallas, Johnson in runoff election, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. Im not sure if the recent decline in tourists is because of sargassum or increasing crime or both. She had lived in the area for years and was selling her home. In January 2016, a vacationing news anchor from Chicago died in Cayo District. A member of the tour group reported that when they woke up the next morning around 6:00 a.m., MacKenzie was nowhere to be found, according to a spokesperson for the Belize Police Department. The US State Department confirmed the incident, but provided no further comment. If you read the US State Departments OSAC (Overseas Security Advisory Council) Crime & Safety Report for Belize in 2018, youll see the words exercise increased caution. Alison MacKenzie, 43, was reported missing in Rendezvous Caye on Saturday. An autopsy shows that an American news producer found dead while staying in a vacation resort in Belize was strangled. Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams told local outlet 7 News Belize on Saturday that two men had been arrested and charged with murder in the killing that occurred Friday night in San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye, a popular tourist destination. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD, Chuck Goudie, Ann Pistone, Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel and Ross Weidner. She was staying at the Nabitunich Farm near a tiny town called San Jose Succotz. The police came with their canine unit, and the scent led them along the river but due to the darkness the search was called off for the night before finding her," Arzu told ABC7 Chicago. WebBelow find the latest compiled statistical information on the Tourism Industry in Belize. An 18-year old suspect was charged. I would argue you should exercise caution no matter where in the world you travel. pic.twitter.com/94qBPRi2F4, Belize.com (@Belizean) December 31, 2022. But the I-Team has found dangers in paradise that you won't see in the travel brochures - including Belize, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams told local news outlets that Belize officers arrested two men, charging them with murder in the killing that occurred Friday night in San Pedro town. WebThe Belize murder rate is third highest in the world - more than twice the homicide rate of Chicago and higher than any U.S. city. When you include them with the total number of murders (142 in 2017) in a country with the population of Tampa, Florida, you have one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Nevis then reportedly walked toward the seaside. Im very serious about me and my wifes personal safety. However, the Prime Minister emphasized that San Pedro remains a safe place for people to visit. Tourists in Belize are often victims of theft, but few experience real violence. Please email us your news at [emailprotected]. https://t.co/DOPUhxwZrt, Ambergris Today (@ambergrisnews) September 5, 2018. Graniels body was discovered inside the boat with multiple apparent gunshot wounds, and Swanks body was found floating face-down in the lagoon, about 30 feet away from the boat also with what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Authorities said Swaney was taken to San Ignacio Hospital in Belize, where she was pronounced dead. Crime Stoppers Belize says WE can be more active in the fight against CRIME! One was Canadian and the other from the US. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. But we are now witnessing more serious crimes creep into the south and out to the islands where the tourists go. Statistics matter and how statisticsRead More A Few Words About the Costa Rica Murder Rate. A Canadian filmmaker was killed in January 2015 to the south of the district. However, the citys party scene isnt a wild one like some other parts of the Caribbean. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. San Pedro Town is the one and only town on the popular Caribbean island of Ambergris Caye, Belize. Read more of Garys work on his blog. But, he admits, Belize police - especially in rural sections such as his - really don't handle many murder investigations. If he had not been the type of doctor that he was, I probably would not have seen him. My first trip to Belize took me to Ambergris Caye and my research told me the usual stuff. Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). WebSwank is not the first tourist to be killed in Belize, however his death occurred while on a fly fishing trip at a popular tourist attraction in Belize. News. Police told the outlet they believe Graniel was the target because just a day earlier, a gunman reportedly fired shots outside his apartment complex, and one of the rounds penetrated his front door. ANNUAL 2019, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Police teams resumed searching Friday morning. U.S. State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security: 2015 report on Belize crime, U.S. State Department: Belize country report, Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, operated by U.S. State Department, Mt. He said the attackers used an assault rifle and the intended target had been a local gang leader. I should have closed and locked the door/windows.. Bowens was apparently struck by gunfire outside a nightclub. ", "Whenever a U.S. citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts, and we share information with their family however we can," the official said. She was reported missing in Rendezvous Caye, Belize, on Jan. 18, 2020. An official with the U.S. Department of State told ABC News in a statement, "We are aware of reports of a U.S. citizen missing in Rendezvous Caye, Belize. WebTwo Carnival Cruise Line passengers were killed in a van accident during an independent tour in Belize. The Belize Consulate in Washington, DC, called the shooting tragic, but told WSLS that it needed to find out more before it could comment. Please email us your news at [emailprotected]. "What we say to all tourists is that you should be situationally aware, be cautious and just be aware of your surroundings," Pike said. Respected Voice of Tourism. Belize Prime Minister John Briceo confirmed that police have arrested a number of persons in connection with the murder of the American tourist. They told the owner who called the police. US national killed in nightclub shooting #Belize 23 year old #LSU nursing student J'Bria Michelle Bowens an Indianapolis IN native lost her life Friday night 30 January 2022 when a gunman opened fire against a person outside Jaguar's nightclub on Ambergris Caye Belize. 1 file(s) 146.10 KB. "It doesn't tell me that we believe this is going to happen again or something we can really do to prevent it," Thomas said. No suspect has been released in the fishermens murders, but investigators believe pirates executed the five men and threw their bodies into the sea, the outlet reported. U.S. Embassy officials urge visitors to Belize to travel only in groups, only during the day; avoid wearing jewelry or carrying valuables. Again, little news about this case or any arrests or convictions so far. However, New Orleans media outlet nola.com identified her as JBria Bowens, a nursing student a Louisiana State University. Ultimately, Mexico's murder rate may have risen to about 27 per 100,000, but its homicide rate is still only about half that of Honduras or El Salvador. "She was a trailblazer in the digital news space and was one of our first website employees," said John H. Idler, president and general manager of ABC7 Chicago. WebUS tourist killed by gunfire in Belize The United States Embassy in the tiny Central American nation of Belize on Sunday confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen there and said it was closely monitoring the local investigation By The Associated Press January 1, 2023, 3:15 PM By BBN Staff: Belizes tourism sector is beginning to feel the effects of the escalating crime situation as tourists have begun canceling their trips to Belize. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? This couple from Naperville took a bus inland from their cruise ship and say they might not have gotten off had they known the crime stats. One of the primary industries in the town is tourism, most notably scuba diving. She was talking to another man around 8:30 p.m. in a yard when the mans wife showed up and stabbed her out of jealousy, according to Amandala. See the State Departments travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories. I sold a house there last year because I was tired A Few Words About the Costa Rica Murder Rate. Drugs? He said the attackers used an assault rifle and the intended target had been a local gang leader. Dr. Swank was a well-respected and well-loved colleague who, each and every day, embodied the values that we hold dear. 1 file(s) 142.47 KB. Dont look wealthy, dont flash cash, dont get too drunk, and so on. We often hear I woke up and my computer/phone/purse was missing. Thomas and his wife operate a resort miles up a rough road in western Belize where the I-Team headquartered while reporting the story. Or were they just in the wrong place at the wrong time? But since 2016 several foreigners have been murdered in Belize. Published by Teresa Romero , Feb 17, 2022. Our meeting first meeting was in the ER, Saunders said. Advertising Opportunity Looking for Internet marketing, social media presence and direct email exposure to a Belizean oriented market of over 500,000 individuals every month? WebGary Paul Swank, 53, a cardiologist at Carilion Clinic, was shot dead Sunday as officials say the tourist destination has become paralyzed by crime, Belize Live News reported. Anne Swaney from Chicago was that person - her life taken as she did yoga by herself on this riverside platform 1,700 miles from home; something no one could have predicted, and only her killer could have prevented. This stretch of winter into Spring Break is a popular time for Chicagoans to head south. Last year, a record quarter-million flew off to their rich beaches, offshore diving spots and inland jungles, teeming with wildlife along great hiking trails and meandering rivers. The transit of drugs, particularly cocaine and precursor chemicals for methamphetamine, has risen. According to the document, the country urges increased caution due to high levels of violent crime, such as sexual assault, home invasions, armed robberies, and murder are common even during daylight hours and in tourist areas.. Corozal District saw an incident last year with the discovery of a local expat couple found strangled in a cane field. In this part of the world, the most popular places for Americans and Chicagoans are also the most remote and the most difficult to get to, especially after a night of rain. Martinez was not known to the two men and the motive behind the shooting is unclear, authorities said. Teresa Hodges, a patient of Swanks for 13 years, told the outlet she was devastated to hear what had happened. We are fed up of the press conferences and constant claims that show crime is decreasing, said John Briceno, leader of the Peoples United Party. On Feb. 19, rival drug dealers opened fire at Art Beach Tulum, a restaurant on the outskirts of Tulum where an order of sea bass with asparagus risotto and seaweed cream goes for $35. The Belize murder rate is third highest in the world - more than twice the homicide rate of Chicago and higher than any U.S. city. Alison MacKenzie is pictured in this undated handout photo. Police say that Swank was killed because he was a witness to the murder of tour guide Mario Graniel. Hotel owner Santiago Juan tells ABC7 Chicago she was killed on "public land" near the hotel. Email us at [emailprotected] for more information. This murder remains unsolved. Join BBN mailing list for the latest news on Belize. Swank and popular local tour guide Mario Nestle Graniel Jr., also 53, went fly fishing in the San Pedro Town lagoon around 10 a.m. when a dark skiff passed by and someone opened fire on their small boat, local authorities told the San Pedro Sun. He has called on residents of San Pedro to stand with police as they hunt for criminals in the community. Robbery? Juan reported her missing Thursday afternoon. There has been a noted increase in violent crime targeting tourists since the end of 2013. According to reports, around 9 pm, American national Stephanie Nevis,34, was drinking at the resort when she was informed that the bar was closing. The staff here asks guests where they are going and with whom and Thomas says what happened to ABC7's Anne Swaney makes no sense. According to the National Safety Council's study of census data, the chances of being killed in the air are around 1 out of 205,552, and one in 102 for the car. Download. Thanks for contacting us. Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams told local outlet 7 News Belize on Saturday that two men had been arrested and charged with murder in the killing that occurred Friday night in San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye, a popular tourist destination. Brico stated he understands the outrage that exists in the community given the impact it can have on the vital tourism sector. The incident could have far-reaching implications on the tourism sector, which when taken in the larger context of the services sector, helps account for over 50 percent of the countrys Gross Domestic Product. Bowens was struck by a stray bullet. According to Nola.com, the victims name is JBria Bowens, a nursing student a Louisiana State University. And then just this month, a US retiree living in Hopkins was found, although arrests have been made in this case. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law. Remember, were only talking about foreigners murdered here. WebCHICAGO -- An American tourist was killed in Belize, and the victim was identified as Anne Swaney, executive producer of digital operations at our sister station, ABC7 Chicago. The The tourist was not the intended target, it just so happened she was in the line of fire between these two factions, Williams told 7 News Belize. Violence in Cancun, for example, is quite common an attack on a bar there on Feb. 16 killed five people but most of the violence occurs far from the tourist zones along the beach. Contact us at mrkt[emailprotected]kngblznw.m or call us at 501-601-0315. In the very same district where Anne was murdered, northern Indiana native Paul Signorino and an American friend were killed in a machete and gun attack last May. Robberies and assaults have been reported in resort areas. The country also lifted the mask mandate, but travelers may still need a mask for their inbound flight and inside the airport. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Email us at [emailprotected] for more information. Hes part of my life.. Business dealings? Bowens was apparently struck by gunfire outside a nightclub. Her body was taken to the Belize city morgue, where an autopsy was underway. Central America stories, info, news, and opinion coming to you from local and expat writers in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The U.S. Embassy, in keeping with State Department policy, did not identify the victim. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Download. Its no secret that Belize City is a cesspool of crime, with gang conflicts and shootings almost daily. The club is located in San Pedros Central Park. Local police lack the resources and training to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. Pretty much every visitor toRead More Is Guatemala City Safe? Advertise with the mt vtd nw t n Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team reports on In a statement, Briceo described Bowens death as a random act of terrorism. Swanks colleagues and patients grieved the sudden loss of a seasoned, caring doctor. As of Tuesday night, a person-of-interest had not been identified and no one had been detained for questioning. Nothing says Keep Out like a sign that says I can make it to this gate in 2.3 seconds, can you?. Its been a few years now since I moved to Belize and I think Ive assimilated well into my local community. A Virginia doctor and his tour guide were murdered during a fly-fishing expedition in Belize, authorities said. His absence leaves a void in our team and in our community. I treat everyone the same, ask for help, and return the favor. Many of their vehicles, weapons and other equipment are provided by the U.S. Government. This story has been shared 130,601 times.