Gales Point Murder Marks Fourth for 2025

Known for its peaceful and quiet charm, Gales Point Manatee is nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Northern Lagoon, in the Belize District. However, on George Price Day, this serene village was shaken by tragedy as it recorded the country’s fourth murder of 2025. Thirty-nine-year-old Randy Bowen was fatally stabbed at home, shortly after returning from work. The details of what led to the fatal altercation with his stepdaughter’s boyfriend are still under investigation. News Five’s Marion Ali has more on this heartbreaking story.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Thirty-nine-year-old Randy Bowen had just returned home from his job as watchman at a nearby company in Gales Point Village. However, a heated argument with his stepdaughter’s boyfriend turned deadly, leaving Randy with two stab wounds, including a knife wound to his chest that proved fatal. His mother, Barbara Bowen, received the devastating call shortly after six p.m.

 

Barbara Bowen, Mother of Deceased

“My granddaughter, the second one, she call me and say “granny please come, bring somebody and come help mi pa cause dehn hurt mi pa.” Soh I ask ah “who hurt yoh pa?” Right deh ih say “granny. George hurt mi pa, George stab mi pa and mi pa need help.”

 

The accused isn’t from the village; he reportedly lived in Dangriga and was visiting his girlfriend, who is Bowen’s stepdaughter. Police have taken him into custody and are interviewing both his girlfriend and Bowen’s common-law wife, who were at home when the dispute broke out. Barbara Bowen, Randy’s mother, said that when she arrived at the scene shortly after getting the call, it was clear someone had tried to help her son, but he was already gone.

 

Barbara Bowen

“I reach da back deh and I see my son pahn the ground done dead, lifeless, but from the way how I see it, pahn the bandage pahn the ground weh deh mi di try do the dressing and soh. By the stab nuh have no blood or nothing. Dehn mi done clean it off mussi fi see if the thing mi wa stick, noh. When I gone deh everything deh pahn the ground right beside he.”

 

Chairman of Gales Point Village, Jason Altschaft remembers Bowen as a hardworking man who cared for his family.

 

On the Phone: Jason Altschaft, Chairman, Gales Point Village

“Randy was a wonderful man. He never had a day when he wasn’t taking care of his family. He got up every day and did something for his family. He raised two beautiful kids plus three step kids.”

 

Randy’s mom told News Five that she saw him a couple hours before he was killed.

 

Barbara Bowen

“I see him yesterday evening about three-thirty. He just come upstairs and ask me fi lend ah wa charger fi charge ih phone, soh I tell ah fi goh eena the room and get the charger, but I mi think he still deh downstairs with my next son. I neva know that he gone. That da the last time I see him. Ih neva tell mi if ih mi have any problem with anybody. Ih just pain my heart fi see how dehn just chance my son outta ih life because da young man he neva eva come ya before.”

 

Chairman Altschaft expressed regret that the incident happened just when the village was trying to stay clear of the stigma that it is a violent community.

 

On the Phone: Jason Altschaft

“We really aren’t a violent village. This is another person from outside the village causing trouble inside the village. This isn’t a village-on-village situation. So it’s depressing because this wasn’t our people, this was an outside thing.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.