A tragic and unsettling discovery in Belize City has launched a formal police investigation into the death of a young pregnant woman, whose remains were found inside a downtown residential building early this month. On Sunday, August 2, 2026, authorities responded to a 9:30 a.m. emergency call from a friend of 22-year-old Kimane Garbutt, who had gained entry to Garbutt’s second-floor Vernon Street apartment after repeated attempts to contact her went unanswered. When the friend entered the space, they found Garbutt’s decomposed body and immediately alerted local law enforcement.
According to Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, Staff Officer for the Belize Police Department, Garbutt was last confirmed alive at approximately 7 a.m. on August 1, 2026. At that final interaction, the 22-year-old, who was carrying an unborn child, told a close friend she was feeling unwell. Concerned for her wellbeing the next morning, the friend checked in on her just two hours after police were ultimately called to the scene.
As the investigation moves into its early stages, law enforcement has not yet labeled the death as suspicious. Smith confirmed that no foul play is suspected at this point in the inquiry, but emphasized that a full postmortem examination is required to pinpoint the exact medical cause of Garbutt’s death. Garbutt’s body is currently being held pending that forensic examination, which investigators say will clarify the sequence of events leading up to her passing and resolve any remaining unanswered questions about the case.
This report is adapted from a televised evening newscast originally published online, with all statements from officials transcribed accurately for public distribution.