Another woman has died as the result of a domestic dispute. 61 year old Dawn Bernard was allegedly set on fire by her 35 year old common law, Frederick Wagner on November 10th.
After receiving severe burns and being placed in an induced coma, she died last night at the KHMH.
Up to last week, Wagner was charged for attempted murder - but that might now be upgraded to murder:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"Formally arrested and charged Frederick Wagner, a 35 year old Belizean of Lake View Street, Belize City, for the crimes of attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm. These arrests follow an investigation which commenced on 10th November, sometime after 8:00 pm, when officers who were patrolling on Lake View Street observed a female who was later identified to be 61 year old Dawn Bernard, the common law wife of Wagner exiting a property on Lake View Street with significant burns to her body. Bernard was ferried to the KHMH for treatment, and Wagner was detained and subsequently charged in light of utterance made by Ms. Bernard. Bernard, who was in an induced coma since 10th. November passed away sometime after 9:00 am last night, 17th November 2025."
"A postmortem examination is slated to be conducted on Mr. Bernard and should the findings reveal that she passed as a consequence of this incident, the charge will be upgraded to murder."
"A review of our database showed that sometime in 2018, Ms. Bernard made a report against Mr. Wagner. There has been no report subsequent to that in relation to this couple."
Today we visited the Lakeview/Mayflower area where Bernard lived and we spoke to her cousin off camera:
Voice of: Cousin of Deceased
"My cousin was a sweet person, regardless of what people like to say, you know? But she was a sweet person and it really puzzled me with this whole case because, man, I know my cousin had already left this young man and all of a sudden he appeared back. Then he said my cousin burnt herself. My cousin did not burn herself. My cousin is not that crazy to burn herself because she was without the young man a while and all of a sudden he just appeared back then."
"It's crazy. I cry. I still can't believe, like, my cousin actually gone just simple like that. That crazy. It really crazy. My gut is telling me my cousin did not burn herself. I don't think so. I don't think so."
We'll let you know if and when that charge is upgraded to murder.
