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Three weeks ago, blood and tissue samples were sent to the US for testing and today the Police Department and the National Forensic Service held a zoom press conference to announce the much anticipated findings. Jomarie Lanza reports.

More than a month after 23 year old Kaoutar Naqqad, 24 year old Imane Mallah, 24; and 26 year old Wafae El-Arar, were found dead at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro, a comprehensive toxicology report has confirmed that they died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in all three women.

The Director of the National Forensic Service confirmed this in a Zoom meeting today:

Gian Cho, Executive Director NFS
"And the result indicates that the blood samples that we sent as well as the tissue samples did not reveal any illicit drug in the bodies of the three women, so no illegal drugs no illicit drugs and the results revealed that the there victims all had fatal exposure to carbon monoxide. So carbon monoxide is being revealed or has been revealed as the contributing or the underlying exposure that led to the acute pulmonary edema which was the final cause of death."

The toxicology report revealed that the blood of all 3 victims was saturated with carbon monoxide at a level of 60% or more when 40% would be considered fatal. Investigations further revealed that the CO2 found in the room came from a malfunctioning water heater.

Gian Cho, Executive Director NFS
"40% is typically the threshold where it becomes fatal. The victims had, one of them was about, I don't recall the exact numbers, but 60%, all of them had higher than 60% carbon monoxide hemoglobin saturation levels."

"One of them had as high as 80% per saturation levels for Carbon hemoglobin again is what we called it."

Chester Williams, Commissioner of police
"After the bodies were found a test was done inside the room for carbon monoxide and the test results were negative, nonetheless following information we have gone through the US embassy supported by what you all from the media had reported that there were some reports coming from persons who had stayed at the room before indicating that they had used their own carbon monoxide tester and hd detected carbon monoxide in one of the rooms, that prompted us to do another round of testing for carbon monoxide and again that was done by the department of environment and fire and we are still awaiting the result of that test they did the second time around so we have not received that in writing from them."

"From what I was made to understand is that the heater in the room is operated with the use of gas and if the heater is left on the gas escapes into the room so I would want to think that when they gone to do the test following the discovery the heater was off."

"The heater is not like what you see in the US due to the cold weather. Our heaters that we use in Belize are due to cold water, and so the heater is to warm the water while you shower. That's the heater."

And while the hotel had temporarily closed down, the Compol says that they must meet all health and safety requirements before it can reopen for business

Chester Williams, Commissioner of police
"I am sure that BTB and the ministry of health is going to look at this very closely now in light of the results that we have received and you would know that under the hoteliers act the hoteliers have an obligation to ensure that the hotel is kept in a safe and secure manner for those persons who are suppose to stay there. As a matter of fact there is an annual inspection that must be done by the health inspector and that report is sent to the ministry of health as well as BTB and if they do not pass that inspection then that can lead to their license being suspended or revoked so in light of this there certainly does exist some health hazard. And BTB and the ministry of health will definitely do what needs to be done in ensuring that the hotel is not reopened until they are satisfied that the hazard that existed no longer exists so it is something that they are going to take on."

The hotel today announced in a statement that it re-opened on March 26th.

As you heard - and apparently this is news both to this newsroom and the Compol - the Royal Kahal issued a release today stating that they re-opened a week ago, and, quote, "We have worked with the Belizean government, and authorities have conducted multiple careful assessments of every unit on the property. These assessments have found no further indication of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in any of the units."