7 News Belize

US Citizen Found Dead, Strangled With A Phone Charger Cable
posted (December 27, 2017)

Turning now to Placencia, an American woman who lived between Belize and Washington State was found dead on Saturday.  She had been manually strangled with a wire - but, tonight, police can’t say if it’s a murder or a suicide. 

55 year old Kimberley Stephens arrived in Belize on the 15th - and within a week she was dead.  Today, Courtney Weatherburne went to Placencia to find out more about this well liked member of the Placencia expatriate community - whose friends are bewildered by the strange circumstances of her death:

When she wasn't in Washington, Kimberly Stephens was in Belize enjoying the sea and sand at her Maya Beach home in Placencia. The scenic peninsula certainly kept bringing her back, but also her friends. They adored her.

Leana Simpson - Friend

“She is just a lovable person and you know you always want to see her again and over the years she comes and goes and I just look forward to her coming back every single time and I loved her to death.â€￾ 

But they will never get to enjoy her company again. On Saturday afternoon, Stephens was found dead off the Placencia road in these bushes. It’s an empty lot between Placencia and Seine Byte villages.  She was found outside her rented vehicle with a cable around her neck. 

ACP Joseph Myvette - Head National Crimes Investigation

“On-site post mortem conducted revealed that she died from strangulation by ligature which also require further investigation into the findings. There was no ransacking of the vehicle. All what was in the vehicle including her personal belongings was intact inside the vehicle.â€￾ 

It's a gruesome discovery that the community is still grappling with. 

Leana Simpson

“Yah I would say completely shocked.â€￾

Information is that Stephens arrived in Belize on Saturday December 16th. She rented the grey Mitsubishi from her usual spot the same morning. The Manager told us that Stephens was visibly disturbed and unhappy when she came in but he didn't think anything of it. Now there are many questions as to what happened after that or in the days leading to her death- initial information was that Stephens may have taken her own life but police haven't ruled anything out as yet. 

Jules Vasquez

“Have you all determined suicide/homicide?â€￾ Â Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ 

ACP Joseph Myvette

“No, not as yet.  That investigation is still continuing.â€￾

Jules Vasquez

“So this being treated as a death investigation?â€￾

ACP Joseph Myvette

“Yes.â€￾

One resident doesn't really buy the suicide story. 

Voice of Resident

“It is disturbing and of course frightening that anybody  if the rumours have any validity, it is pretty disturbing to think that someone could take someone’s life in that angry type of manner.â€￾ 

Courtney Weatherburne

“It would be highly unlikely that it would be a suicide? What are your thoughts on that?â€￾ 

Voice of Resident

“I don't have any facts just what I have seen from the media but obviously that wouldn't be  ... I think it's not very likely but that's just my personal opinion.â€￾ 

But as the investigation continues, Stephens’s friends have found a way to celebrate her life as a loving, caring and vibrant soul. 

Leana Simpson 

“She was really concerned about the environment of Belize so she would go out to pick up garbage all the time and I think that a Kimberly memorial day of just picking up trash would honour her so deeply you know so that's what we are going to do.â€￾ 

We should note that while police said her possessions were not tampered with, 7News has confirmed that her laptop hasn't been found.  We should note also that Stephens was in the middle of executing a land transaction.  7News has confirmed that she had contracted a realtor to sell her property in Belize - but was trying to cancel the sale at the last minute.  That sale cannot now be completed since it was awaiting her signature for the final transfer of property.  

She was the mother of one child - who is an adult.  

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