Nearly a week after 32-year-old fisherman Samuel Chi was found dead off the coast of Belize following a failed voyage from Caye Caulker to the mainland, official autopsy results have finally confirmed the cause of his death: drowning. However, critical questions surrounding the circumstances of the incident remain unanswered, leaving Chi’s grieving family still searching for clarity. Chi and his traveling companion Albert Vaccaro were both reported missing during their cross-water trip, and while Chi’s body was recovered, Vaccaro survived the incident but has so far failed to provide a full, coherent account of what unfolded. On August 10, 2026, law enforcement offered an update on the ongoing probe, confirming that while forensic pathologists have ruled asphyxia by drowning as the official cause of death, toxicology test results are still pending to rule out any contributing factors. In a press briefing with local reporters, Staff Officer ASP Stacy Smith of the Belize Police Department addressed lingering public and family questions about the case. When asked whether Vaccaro has since given a formal, detailed statement to investigators, Smith acknowledged that immediately after the incident, Vaccaro was severely disoriented and unable to share any usable information. She added that she had not yet confirmed with lead investigators whether they have since been able to interview him to obtain a full statement, but committed to following up on that request. Reporters also pressed Smith for updates on two key pieces of evidence: the status of search operations for the missing vessel, which would serve as the core crime scene if foul play is later confirmed, and whether Chi’s body showed any signs of trauma or violence that could point to foul play. In response, Smith pushed back on framing the incident as a confirmed crime, noting that such a label is premature at this stage of the investigation. She confirmed that she did not have any current updates on whether the vessel has been located, and added that the official autopsy report did not note any signs of external trauma on Chi’s body, aligning with the conclusion that drowning was the cause of death. The investigation remains open as law enforcement continues to piece together the events that led to Chi’s death, with relatives still demanding answers about how the seasoned fisherman died while traveling with a companion who survived. This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television newscast covering the incident.