PLACENCIA, Stann Creek District, Thurs. Dec. 28, 2017– The body of an American woman, who entered the country on December 15, was found in a decomposed state inside a parked vehicle between Placencia and Seine Bight village. According to police reports, the discovery was made shortly after midday on December 23, 2017.

Police say that they observed a vehicle in the area and upon taking a closer look, the body of Kimberly Stephens, 55, was found on the floor in front of the back seat. A postmortem examination conducted on her body has left more questions than answers.

“On-site post mortem conducted revealed that she died from strangulation by ligature, which also requires further investigation into the findings,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Joseph   Myvette.

Myvette revealed that the cord of a cell phone charger which was found inside the vehicle is believed to have been used in her strangulation. He also revealed that the vehicle was a rental that Stephens had gotten on December 16th, the date when she was last seen alive.

ACP Myvette said there were no indications that Stephens was robbed. He explained, “There was no ransacking of the vehicle. All that was in the vehicle, including her personal belongings, was intact inside the vehicle.”

Information to Amandala suggests that Stephens, who frequented Belize, had contacted a real estate agent to sell her Placencia home. The agent had already gotten a purchaser but, according to sources, Stephens wanted to opt out of the sale. The deal was never sealed because she never affixed her signature.