In a landmark decision on November 13, 2025, a Belizean jury unanimously declared Natalie Palacio unfit to stand trial due to severe mental illness. The verdict, delivered at a fitness hearing presided over by Justice Candace Nanton, concluded a prolonged legal saga surrounding Palacio, who was accused of maiming her seven-year-old son in 2022. The jury, composed of nine members—three men and six women—based their decision on expert testimony from former psychiatric doctor Alejandro Matus-Torres, who conducted three evaluations over the past year. Matus-Torres concluded that Palacio suffers from active psychosis and is incapable of understanding court proceedings or instructing legal counsel. Justice Nanton accepted the verdict, dismissing the maim charge and ensuring Palacio will not face further legal action in this matter. Palacio, who had been out on bail since her arraignment in 2022, allegedly struck her son in the eye during an incident in Easter 2022, resulting in permanent vision loss. She claimed she ‘only stung him’ after he dropped a baby and had not seen her children since. This case underscores the pivotal role of mental health evaluations in Belize’s justice system, bringing closure to a deeply troubling chapter.