BELIZE - Alison MacKenzie, 43, tourist, from AZ, Rendezvous Caye, 18 Jan 2020

[Beth11311]

Are there sharks or barracudas?

Yes, there are sharks of various types.

 

[Beth11311]

The problem I’m having with her just floating out to sea is that I feel like her body would have been found after the aerial searches. But it’s certainly possible she’s just lost at sea- and I’d say it’s even likely what happened (despite my shock that her body wouldn’t have already turned up).

As for if she’s buried in the sand- I do think it’s possible she could have been killed silently. COD could be quickly and forcefully strangled, or hit in the head with a hard object. Those are the 2 main ones that come to my mind.



MOO

The one thing to consider is that if someone drowns, their body sinks, and they don't float/resurface until there are enough gasses from decomp in the body to make them float again. Now, if someone goes into the water already deceased, they do float, from my understanding.

 

[lonetraveler]

I'd love to hear more about why you say this? How was it dangerous?

I've read about the crimes committed against tourists in Mexico as well as Central America. A lot isn't really communicated due to impact on tourism but it is truly a very dangerous place. Check out travel alerts for Mexico and Central America for International travel and Homeland Security.
As soon as my daughter and I walked down the gangway to check out Belize there are armed guards with assault rifles. You are immediately warned on the ship not to go off on different streets and don't go on any excursions that are not part of the cruise. Kidnapping is common in Central America. Several times the male vendors would try to get us to go to the back of their store to see "special stuff" for sale.
I've lived in Jamaica for a while and had horrible experiences traveling from the hotel to the power plant I was working. Eventually an armed guard had to escort us to the plant because of the "mountain men" who would stop our vehicles while traveling through the rain forest in the Blue Mountains. They were always heavily armed and would go through everything in the car and take whatever they wanted. I got very tired of having a gun barrel shoved under my chin.

 

[holsen]

I've read about the crimes committed against tourists in Mexico as well as Central America. A lot isn't really communicated due to impact on tourism but it is truly a very dangerous place. Check out travel alerts for Mexico and Central America for International travel and Homeland Security.
As soon as my daughter and I walked down the gangway to check out Belize there are armed guards with assault rifles. You are immediately warned on the ship not to go off on different streets and don't go on any excursions that are not part of the cruise. Kidnapping is common in Central America. Several times the male vendors would try to get us to go to the back of their store to see "special stuff" for sale.
I've lived in Jamaica for a while and had horrible experiences traveling from the hotel to the power plant I was working. Eventually an armed guard had to escort us to the plant because of the "mountain men" who would stop our vehicles while traveling through the rain forest in the Blue Mountains. They were always heavily armed and would go through everything in the car and take whatever they wanted. I got very tired of having a gun barrel shoved under my chin.

Wow, this is terrifying! Thanks for sharing.

 

[annemc2]

I visited Belize on a shore excursion while on a cruise and vowed never to return. Way too dangerous.

We did the same thing years ago and, while we didn't feel super unsafe, everywhere we went was somewhat sketchy. And we were advised not to leave the excursion tour groups. We both felt like we should leave a donation or something - everything was so run down and there was so much poverty. I can go galavanting around Mexico and feel relatively safe compared to Belize.

 

[Portabella]

I don't believe if she was suicidal she would take her life in a way she feared, the water. Also I am a night swimmer, in the ocean or lake now as I am inland. In the lake the water is colder at night and dark, if you dive you have to know which way is up as you don't have daylight to guide you to the surface. In the ocean its black water at night seriously, very cold the deeper you free dive down and you cannot see, I know I am not normal, but was brought up on an island. Rule of thumb when we would camp on the beach/lakeside, or anchored was if we were going for a midnight dip (it gets hot down below in the boat) you always wake someone and let them know, most times they jump in with you, or sit topside and wait for you to cool off which would not take long. I cannot imagine ANYONE afraid of the water by day going into the water at night. It had to be an accident, and my heart goes out to her as this was her fear...just horrible. I also noticed in looking at the pictures it looks like their potty was on like a boardwalk/pier. Perhaps its at the end of the pier that leads out to where the boat is docked. The captain may sleep on the boat hence how he saw her, if hot he may be in a hammock on deck. Just my opinion. Also the crew does not leave at night while your there. You leave the next day to move to the next Caye on your trip. The final day is when you then go in a small bumpy boat for a two hour trip. The crew stays behind to return to pick up the next charter. (at least that is how I understood it). I just cannot imagine her drowning by accident in two feet of water. Perhaps she walked that dock looking for the restroom and took a plunge into deeper water, panicked as she would go under a few feet from the fall/dive in and could not find the surface. I do think this was a terrible accident. My heart goes out to her family. IMHO

 

[katsrfun]

My husband had the same thought....buried in the sand. My only thought to that not being is would be on HOW was she killed. Silent OD, maybe they would bury her. Someone killing her, too small of an island IMO that someone could do that and nothing would be heard. I would think the island would be checked with a fine tooth comb, but IMO it would be way easier to hide a sand burial than a dirt one. This is still a possibility to me though. Bury her and wait for everyone to leave then go back to put her out to sea????

I'm not positive, but from my experience, when land is at sea level and you dig into it, the hole immediately fills up with water. It is very difficult to make any headway, because of the constant filling with water and with the water is additional sand. It is a very difficult, if not impossible, process. I live in Florida, and this has been my experience anywhere near the beach - never ending sand and water. Thanks. MOO. Katt

 

[hotsytotsy]

I visited Belize on a shore excursion while on a cruise and vowed never to return. Way too dangerous.

Super curious about the year you traveled. Can you please share that info?

 

[Beth11311]

I've read about the crimes committed against tourists in Mexico as well as Central America. A lot isn't really communicated due to impact on tourism but it is truly a very dangerous place. Check out travel alerts for Mexico and Central America for International travel and Homeland Security.
As soon as my daughter and I walked down the gangway to check out Belize there are armed guards with assault rifles. You are immediately warned on the ship not to go off on different streets and don't go on any excursions that are not part of the cruise. Kidnapping is common in Central America. Several times the male vendors would try to get us to go to the back of their store to see "special stuff" for sale.
I've lived in Jamaica for a while and had horrible experiences traveling from the hotel to the power plant I was working. Eventually an armed guard had to escort us to the plant because of the "mountain men" who would stop our vehicles while traveling through the rain forest in the Blue Mountains. They were always heavily armed and would go through everything in the car and take whatever they wanted. I got very tired of having a gun barrel shoved under my chin.

I lived in Mexico during the summer of my junior year of high school (going into my senior year). I was chased while walking to the language school I attended more than a few times. When we traveled to Acapulco, the bus driver would stop randomly and allow people on who would pay him directly but there were horror stories of buses being robbed etc. by ‘banditos’ our there. In Acapulco we were told not to take specific colors of taxis due to kidnapping risks. This was 13 years ago and I know it’s only gotten worse. I think that any time you’re in a country where there is unrest, poverty, and major drug running, you definitely run a risk.

When we went to the Dominican Republic a few years ago we stayed on the resort and didn’t venture into the surrounding towns, due to safety risks (I’m a small woman, and therefore technically an easy target). That being said, before having kids I probably would have gone exploring. All this being said, I’m not sure how dangerous a random tiny caye would be, but Belize as a whole I’m sure can be dangerous.

 

[Beth11311]

I don't believe if she was suicidal she would take her life in a way she feared, the water. Also I am a night swimmer, in the ocean or lake now as I am inland. In the lake the water is colder at night and dark, if you dive you have to know which way is up as you don't have daylight to guide you to the surface. In the ocean its black water at night seriously, very cold the deeper you free dive down and you cannot see, I know I am not normal, but was brought up on an island. Rule of thumb when we would camp on the beach/lakeside, or anchored was if we were going for a midnight dip (it gets hot down below in the boat) you always wake someone and let them know, most times they jump in with you, or sit topside and wait for you to cool off which would not take long. I cannot imagine ANYONE afraid of the water by day going into the water at night. It had to be an accident, and my heart goes out to her as this was her fear...just horrible. I also noticed in looking at the pictures it looks like their potty was on like a boardwalk/pier. Perhaps its at the end of the pier that leads out to where the boat is docked. The captain may sleep on the boat hence how he saw her, if hot he may be in a hammock on deck. Just my opinion. Also the crew does not leave at night while your there. You leave the next day to move to the next Caye on your trip. The final day is when you then go in a small bumpy boat for a two hour trip. The crew stays behind to return to pick up the next charter. (at least that is how I understood it). I just cannot imagine her drowning by accident in two feet of water. Perhaps she walked that dock looking for the restroom and took a plunge into deeper water, panicked as she would go under a few feet from the fall/dive in and could not find the surface. I do think this was a terrible accident. My heart goes out to her family. IMHO

I second that no one afraid of the water is going to willingly go into it at night. I used to go in the ocean at night to surf, and it was incredibly eerie. Where we would go there are giant kelp beds (Santa Barbara area) so there would be things touching you and you would have no way to know what they were. Even in a wetsuit and armed with my surfboard I found it scary.

I too believe this was a terrible accident...and am more saddened that she must have been terrified if she realized what was going on - her fears brought to life.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Sounds like a lot of sadness had been in her life recently, two deaths - dad and stepdad?
Leaving her mom and daughters behind for six month trip to Belize. I haven’t seen anything mentioned about her previous employment. JMO she looks sad in her pictures, very slim, noticeably in her face and arms. Prayers for her family

 

[moonriverfarm]

Google Mac and Muff Graham. Same thing is possible.

 

[Stunned]

The generator keeping people up so someone could watch a movie bothers me. Tourists come first. Could it have been used to cover something up?

 

[savagewoman]

IMO
If I was afraid of water, I would never be on a catamaran.

 

[MJPeony]

IMO
If I was afraid of water, I would never be on a catamaran.

I have a hard time believing she was afraid of the water. So many pictures and videos of her in/on the water in her social media. A lot of trips to places on the water, etc.




MOO

 

[Miss415]

Google Mac and Muff Graham. Same thing is possible.

That was a very different incident. That couple was killed by an American fugitive for their yacht/ sailboat. I just happened to watch the Real Crime episode of that last night! One thing I learned was that the FBI has jurisdiction over crimes on the high seas so maybe that's why they took over this case.

 

[lonetraveler]

Super curious about the year you traveled. Can you please share that info?

My cruise was early 2016. I lived in Jamaica for four months during the 90's. I've been in Honduras and Mexico several times.

 

[Seajay]

It just seems traveling to any Central, South American country, or some of the islands are so dangerous because of unrest with their governments and corruption among the police and governments.

Of course, in Mexico it’s drugs and cartels. Americans are kidnapped for ransom and/or killed.

Mexico has a kidnapping problem. And it’s getting worse.


Hundreds of people in Mexico are kidnapped every year. And the problem’s getting worse

 

[feelinghip]

I can’t keep wondering if she had brought with her a very large amount of money for her six month stay. Has been mentioned numerous times that they were going to buy property while there.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

How do we find out if this is still an active investigation?

Do the fbi have a list of active investigations anywhere? I’ve looked and I can’t seem to find it.

Would it change anyone’s mind what happened to her if they found out she was on the island with a convicted rapist, a drug runner, or corrupt official? I’m not saying that’s what the truth was, just pointing out the unknowns. I don’t understand the ability to make assumptions without a lot of information.
This case may very well be a tragic accident but it bugs me on many, many levels and not just because of what I’ve read on the news.

There is not one interview in person with anyone that was on that island, or for that matter in all of Belize that she was in contact with.

As far as being afraid of being in the water or on the water. I see those as two different things. But I will say, anyone, that has spent any time around the water knows you do not get in the water at night. Or sunrise or sunset. Shark feeding time. Although, I’m not sure if they have sharks close to shore there.

Anyway- my main question- how do we find out if it is dropped or still being investigated?