Latest news with #BrigidoMunoz


Fox News
4 days ago
- Fox News
Young crewmember murdered aboard luxury superyacht in paradise destination
A 20-year-old South African woman was found dead aboard a luxury superyacht in the Bahamas, and a fellow crewmember has reportedly been charged in connection with her murder. The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) said the woman was discovered dead with visible injuries in the engine room of the vessel on July 3, while it was docked at a marina off Harbour Island. Paige Bell, a stewardess from Johannesburg, was identified as the victim by her family on social media. Authorities said Bell was reported missing shortly before 1:00 p.m. When officers arrived at the scene, they found her unresponsive, along with a 39-year-old man who was "suffering from severe injuries to his arms," which police believe were the result of a suicide attempt. A local doctor pronounced Bell dead on board, according to the RBPF statement posted publicly on July WHO MISSED NORWEGIAN CRUISE SHIP DISCOVERED DEAD ON MOUNTAIN TRAIL IN ALASKA The man was later identified in court as Brigido Muñoz, a Mexican national and engineer aboard the vessel, according to Our News Bahamas. Police said Muñoz was taken into custody, treated at a medical clinic, and charged with murder on Wednesday, July 9, in Magistrate Court in Nassau. He was denied bail and is scheduled to return to court on November 20, the outlet reported. "This evening, Mom and Dad... are flying to the Bahamas to begin the painful process of not only bringing their baby girl home, but also seeking justice for the monster that took her life," her sister Chelsey wrote in a public post shared on Facebook on Sunday. In a separate family statement, Bell's relatives confirmed her identity and described her death as "brutal."COLLEGE SENIOR KILLED AFTER 'ACCIDENTALLY' FALLING FROM TROPICAL ISLAND HOTEL BALCONY DAYS BEFORE GRADUATION "It is with broken hearts that we share the devastating news that our beautiful Paigey's life was brutally taken from us," the family said on July 4. "We will leave no stone unturned until the guilty is brought to justice." Harbour Island, where the yacht was docked at the time of the incident, is a small but exclusive destination about 60 miles east of Nassau, known for attracting celebrity visitors and superyachts. Bell had previously worked on the motor yacht Sweet Emocean, where former crewmates described her as "more than a teammate — she was family." A GoFundMe page created by colleagues and friends has raised more than $42,000 to assist the Bell family with travel and legal costs as well as to retrieve her body. According to the fundraiser, Bell would have turned 21 on July 14. In her honor, her mother has asked supporters to eat red velvet cake, Paige's favorite, and share a photo in remembrance. The RBPF said the murder investigation remains active, and authorities have not released a potential HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Royal Bahamas Police Force did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.


New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Grieving family of murdered South African superyacht ‘golden girl' travel to Bahamas to face alleged killer
The grieving family of the South African 'golden girl' crew member found dead in the Bahamas have traveled to the Caribbean nation to face the superyacht engineer accused of sexually assaulting and murdering their daughter. Paige Bell was found partially undressed in the ship's engine room on July 3 — just days before her 21st birthday — with Mexican national Brigido Munoz, 40, charged with her murder before a Nassau court on Wednesday. 4 Paige Bell, 20, was considered a 'golden girl' crew member. Chelsey Jacobs/Facebook 4 The Far From It super4 yacht sailing in the Bahamas. motoryacht_farfromit/Instagram As the grizzly details of her death were recounted before the court, the victim's parents, Michelle and John Bell, were on the island to 'begin the painful process of bringing their baby girl home,' the Daily Mail reported. 4 Superyacht engineer Brigido Munoz, 39, is accused of murdering Paige Bell. 4 Paige Bell's family is grieving her death. Gofundme 'Our family is facing an unimaginable journey,' Bell's sister, Chelsey Jacobs, said in a statement, adding that her family is 'seeking justice for the monster that took her life.'

IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Murder investigation launched after KZN woman Paige Bell found dead on luxury yacht in the Bahamas
Paige Bell was found murdered aboard a super yacht in the Bahamas. She had been employed as a stewardess on the luxury vessel. Investigations are under way after a 20-year-old KwaZulu-Natal woman was found dead on a luxury yacht in the Bahamas. At this stage, reports indicate that Paige Bell's lifeless body was found aboard the super yacht Far From It on July 3. In a police report, from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, police on the Island of Eleuthera are investigating a homicide and suspected suicide attempt that occurred on July 3 on a vessel docked in Harbour Island that left a female of South African nationality dead. According to the preliminary report, shortly after 1pm, police were alerted to the incident and proceeded to the marina area. "Once on board the vessel, officers discovered a female unresponsive with visible signs of injuries and a male suffering from severe injuries to his arms. The local doctor visited the scene, examined the victim and pronounced her deceased. "As police investigated further, it was discovered that the victim was missing for a short period before being found unresponsive in the engine room with the male suspect present. The suspect, a 40-year-old male of Mexican nationality, was apprehended, cautioned, and taken to a nearby clinic for medical treatment. The investigation continues," police said. Brigido Munoz has since appeared in court. The case was remanded to 20.


The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
First pic of ‘superyacht slasher' accused of murdering stewardess in £9.5m vessel engine room days before 21st birthday
THE man accused of murdering young stewardess Paige Bell aboard a £9.5million superyacht in the Bahamas has been pictured for the first time. Crew member Brigido Munoz allegedly sexually assaulted and killed the South African in the 142ft vessel's engine room - just days before her 21st birthday. 8 8 8 Munoz appeared in court in capital Nassau, where Chief Magistrare Roberto Reckley denied him bail and remanded him in custody until a November 20 hearing. The Mexican national, who worked as an engineer on board the Far From It yacht, was not required to enter a plea. The magistrates court heard Paige was found partially clothed and bloodied, with slash wounds to her neck and defensive injuries on her arms – suggesting she fought for her life. Munoz was reportedly discovered lying close by with injuries on his arms, in what authorities suspect may have been a failed suicide attempt, the New York Post reports. He was rushed to hospital before being charged. Bahamas police say they were alerted to the scene shortly after 1pm on July 3 and found Bell unresponsive in the engine room of the yacht. The boat was anchored just off the celebrity-studded Harbour Island – dubbed the 'Billionaires' Backyard' due to its ultra-wealthy clientele. According to reports, the crew had been preparing a lavish birthday celebration for Paige on July 14. Her boyfriend had reportedly been planning a huge party both at the marina and onboard Far From It, which charters for a staggering £120,000 a week. When Paige, from Johannesburg, didn't answer her phone or show up for duties, fellow crew members searched the luxury vessel before making the horror discovery in the engine room. Police confirmed they are investigating both a murder and a suspected suicide attempt. During her yachting career, Paige was described as a 'golden girl' by friends as she worked as a guest relations officer on Far From It. A former colleague from her former boat Sweet Emocean described her as more than just a crew member. They wrote: 'Paige was more than a teammate, she was family. 'Her radiant spirit, infectious laughter, and boundless compassion made an unforgettable impact on everyone lucky enough to know her.' The tragedy has shaken not just the yachting world but also the tight-knit community back home in South Africa. 8 8 8 A heartbreaking statement from Paige's family said that the ordeal has left them grappling with overwhelming grief and mounting legal costs as they navigate a foreign justice system. Her parents flew out to Bahamas earlier this week to begin the painful process of bringing their girl back home as they want to seek justice for "the monster that took her life". A heartbreaking statement from the family read: "Our family is facing an unimaginable journey. "This evening [earlier this week] mom and dad are flying to the Bahamas to begin the painful process of not only bringing their baby girl home but also seeking justice for the monster that took her life. "We are devastated beyond words and now we must also navigate complex and costly legal proceedings in a foreign country – something far beyond our financial means. "This heart-breaking loss has been deeply felt by everyone who knew and loved 'Paigey' – her former captain, the boat owner, all the crew on board and our entire community. "We are humbly asking for your support whether by sharing this message or contributing financially, every bit helps. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. "We are grateful for your love, support, and solidarity during this incredibly difficult time." Despite the horror, her loved ones are determined to honour Paige's memory – with her mum reportedly still planning to mark her daughter's birthday with red velvet cake, her favourite. Munoz remains behind bars as the investigation continues, with autopsy results and forensic analysis expected to further clarify the events that unfolded aboard Far From It. 8 8


Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
'Devastated' family of crew member killed on £100,000-a-week superyacht fly to Bahamas to face 'the monster who took her life' as court hears 'killer' may have sexually assaulted her before her 'murder'
The 'devastated' family of a stewardess who was brutally killed on board a superyacht has flown out to the Bahamas to fight for justice as a crew member has been charged with her murder. Paige Bell, 20, from South Africa, was found dead in the engine room of the luxury motor boat Far From It last Thursday, when the boat was moored in the Harbour Island resort. Brigido Munoz, 39, a Mexican national who worked with Paige as an engineer on the yacht, appeared before magistrates in Nassau on Wednesday charged with her murder. The court heard that his alleged victim was found with slash wounds to her neck and partially undressed, suggesting she may have been sexually assaulted. She also had defensive injuries to her arms, the court heard, suggesting she tried to fend off her alleged attacker. Paige's distraught parents Michelle and John Bell flew out to the Bahamas earlier this week to 'begin the painful process of bringing their baby girl home', and potentially face the man suspected of taking their daughter's life. The family asked that people 'please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we fight for Paigey.' The yacht worker's heartbroken older sister Chelsey Jacobs said earlier this week that she was 'torn apart' by the loss of 'Paigey' and put out an emotional statement on behalf of the family. 'Our family is facing an unimaginable journey,' she said, adding that her family is 'seeking justice for the monster that took her life.' 'This heart-breaking loss has been deeply felt by everyone who knew and loved 'Paigey' – her former captain, the boat owner, all the crew on board and our entire community. She said the family is 'devastated beyond words and now we must also navigate complex and costly legal proceedings in a foreign country – something far beyond our financial means.' A GoFundMe appeal was launched on behalf of the family by former colleagues and friends of Paige to help with the financial burden on the family. Chelsey said the family are 'grateful for your love, support, and solidarity during this incredibly difficult time.' Paige was set to celebrate her 21st birthday on July 14, with friends having planned a big celebration to mark the day. In her honor, her mother is said to have asked that 'we all eat red velvet cake (her favorite) on that day and share a photo in remembrance of the beautiful soul she was'. Just after 1pm on July 3, police were alerted to an incident at the marina on Harbour Island, an exclusive resort 60 miles east of the capital Nassau. Cops boarded the 43-metre yacht Far From It, where they were told that Paige had not been seen for a short period of time. They found her unresponsive in the yacht's engine room with visible injuries, before a doctor attended the scene and confirmed she had died. She was found near Munoz who had severe injuries to his arm in what police described as a suspected suicide attempt. The man was apprehended, cautioned and taken to a nearby clinic for treatment, police said in a statement, before he was later charged with murder. The circumstances surrounding Paige's death are still under investigation, police said. Built in 2008, Far From It is a charter yacht comprising of five suites, charging wealthy clients between £100,000 and £120,000 per week for vacations. It can host up to 10 guests and is staffed by nine permanent crew, according to its website. Paige had previously worked on board the Motor Yacht Sweet Emocean as a crew member until December 2024. In their tribute to her, the crew said 'Paige was more than a teammate, she was family. 'Her radiant spirit, infectious laughter, and boundless compassion made an unforgettable impact on everyone lucky enough to know her. 'Whether it was long days at sea or quiet moments under the stars, she brought light and warmth wherever she went.' The fundraiser for Paige, which can be found here, has so far raised more than $44,000 of its initial $16,000 target.