Missing 21-Year-Old Jamir Arana Found Dead in Suspected Hit-and-Run

The search for twenty-one-year-old Jamir Arana has ended in tragedy. The Belize City resident, who had autism, was found dead along the Hummingbird Highway between Armenia and Belmopan early this morning. Police suspect he was killed in a hit-and-run. A pickup truck has been impounded, and its owner is detained as investigators work to establish what happened.  Arana was reported missing yesterday after becoming separated from his mother in Belize City. He was last seen on Baymen Avenue at around one-forty that afternoon, wearing a white T-shirt and long white pants. ASP Stacy Smith says police received a report of an unresponsive man along the highway at around five-thirty this morning. At the area, officers found a vehicle’s rear bumper at the scene with a further search leading to a pickup truck several miles away.

ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department: “Police have detained a male person and impounded a pickup truck owned by the detained individual as a part of an ongoing investigation into a hit and run incident which resulted in the death of 21 year old Jamir Arana of Belize City. The investigation commenced at approximately 5:30am today 22nd October, 2026 when police were advised of the presence of the body of a male person which was unresponsive. The body was observed in the vicinity of the Hummingbird Highway. Also observed on the scene of the incident was the rear bumper of the vehicle and a further search just a few miles away led to the discovery of the impounded vehicle and the subsequent apprehension of the male person of interest. We have not been able to conclusively confirm anything however a review of the postings on social media suggest that he was seen on a passenger bus on the way to Belmopan and he was also observed within the city limits of Belmopan as well.”

Police are still trying to determine how Arana travelled from Belize City to the area where his body was found. Smith says social media reports indicated that he had boarded a bus heading to Belmopan and was later seen within the city. Those accounts are still being investigated.  Smith also expressed concern that people reportedly saw Arana but only came forward after his death. She urged the public to promptly report sightings of missing or vulnerable people, saying a telephone call could help save a life.