Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe
Topics: Crime, World News, Police
Ella Scott
The body of a 20-year-old woman has been found on board a docked yacht in the Bahamas with ‘visible signs of injuries’, police officers have confirmed.
Paige Bell, who was just days from celebrating her 21st birthday, was reportedly discovered partially undressed in an engine room ‘with a male suspect present’, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) said via Facebook.
It’s understood police were initially alerted to an incident on board the Far From It on July 3 at 1.00pm local time.
Once on board the marina-based vessel, officers discovered Bell, a South African stewardess, ‘unresponsive with visible signs of injuries’.
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The RBPF stated that the victim was ‘missing for a short period’ before she was found in the 43-metre ship’s engine room with a 39-year-old Mexican male whom the Daily Mail has named Brigido Munoz.
It’s understood a doctor who was called to the scene pronounced Bell dead shortly after their arrival.
On Wednesday (July 9), the RBPF reported that Munoz had appeared before magistrates in the Bahamian capital of Nassau.
He was not required to enter a plea and has been denied bail. Munoz has been remanded in custody by Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley ahead of his November 20 hearing.
Prosecutors say the young woman, who would’ve been celebrating her 21st birthday on July 14, was allegedly found with ‘gashes to her neck’ and ‘defensive injuries to her arms’, as per the outlet.
Harbour Island - where the vessel was docked - is known more commonly as 'billionaires playground' due to the A-list clientele the area has previously attracted.
The vessel was built in 2008 and ran charters for nearly $140,000 a week.
The ship can hold up to 10 guests at a time, and is staffed by nine permanent crew members, its website states.
Before joining Far From It, Bell worked on board the Motor Yacht Sweet Emocean as a crew member until December 2024.
A former colleague of Bell has described her as ‘family’, writing: “Her radiant spirit, infectious laughter, and boundless compassion made an unforgettable impact on everyone lucky enough to know her.”
On July 4, a tribute was posted online by Bell’s family which read: “It is with broken hearts that we share the devastating news that our beautiful Paigey’s life was brutally taken from us last night.
“As a family, we are doing our best to process this unimaginable loss … We will leave no stone unturned until the guilty is brought to justice.“
A GoFundMe has since been set up in the wake of Bell’s tragic death which has raised more than $45,000 at the time of writing. You can donate here.