Jennifer Fitzgibbons charged in the death of 6-year-old King Shakil Wade

Jennifer Fitzgibbons of Dolphin Street, Belize City, appeared in court this morning in connection with the tragic drowning of 6-year-old King Shakel Wade. The 50-year-old woman was charged with manslaughter by negligence and abandonment of a child. She was formally arrested over the weekend and was initially denied bail when she appeared before the court. However, her attorney, Norman Rodriguez, filed an appeal that was ultimately successful. Love News was at the courthouse and spoke with Rodriguez as he exited the courthouse.

Norman Rodriguez, Attorney at Law: “Well Ms. Jennifer who was detained and charged yesterday 3rd of August 2025 was brought before the court where she was arraigned for two offenses, abandonment of a child or infant and manslaughter by negligence. The magistrate was in a position where he did not offer he bail, he was remanding her and we made an application for bail and the learned magistrate exercised his discretion after hearing submissions from me the attorney for Ms. Fitzgibbon and the prosecutor and granted her bail. She was granted bail in the sum of $5,000 with two sureties, two people will have to sign bringing their job letter before the clerk of the court and there is one condition that she’s not to offer caregiving or babysitting services while this matter progresses through the court. She’s to return to court on the 9th of October 2025 where it is expected that she will be given her disclosure. Let me explain that even though that is the case the prosecution still has a longer time for this matter or for it to reach the point she’s given disclosure because it’s an indictable matter so no plea was taken from her. As a result of that the prosecution has a little over six months before they give the disclosure or serve the disclosure.”

The charges against Fitzgibbons stem from an incident on October 15, 2024, when young King Shakel Wade drowned in a canal near Fairweather Street Bridge. Reports indicate that the toddler was under the care of Fitzgibbons when he reportedly slipped and fell into the water. The fall was not immediately witnessed, and the first alert came from a younger sibling, whose concern was not taken seriously at first. It wasn’t until later that a full-scale search was launched, involving residents, police, and the Belize Coast Guard. Several hours later, the child’s body was retrieved. CPR was administered but proved unsuccessful and was pronounced dead at the hospital. King Shakel Wade was the son of Shakeem Humes, a murder victim in 2020. Tragically, the child died on what would have been his father’s birthday.