A medical emergency inside the Belize Central Prison has ended in tragedy. Thirty‑two‑year‑old inmate Phillip Bowen died early Tuesday morning after suffering a severe asthma attack, raising fresh questions about inmate health care and medical response behind bars. Prison officials say Bowen began experiencing breathing difficulties in the early morning hours. He was first assessed by the prison’s medical staff and then rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for emergency treatment. He never made it there, passing away en route to the hospital. According to Virgilio Murillo, CEO of the Kolbe Foundation, Bowen had a long history of asthma attacks during his incarceration, a condition that required ongoing monitoring. Bowen had been in custody since 2020, charged in connection with a double murder in Hopkins Village involving fifty‑five‑year‑old Quentin Espinosa and seventy‑year‑old American Roman Burkley. The incident has struck a chord not only within the prison system but among those who knew Bowen personally. We spoke with Bowen’s longtime friend, Jose Salinas, about the events leading up to his death and the concerns it raises about managing chronic illnesses in custodial settings.
On the Phone: Jose Salinas, Friend of Deceased
“I know the man mih deh in the patio before he suffered the asthma attack. One of my friend that is his family is aware the man suffered from asthma. But he was doing his thing to avoid the asthma attack. In my opinion I think the facility itself was not too dependent on when it comes to that attack. I know some people who catch asthma attacks and make it to the hospital after thirty minutes or whatever the case may be. In this case I feel like the man never get the attention he needed in the adequate moment and that is what cost him his life.”
News Five attempted to reach out to CEO Murillo for comments.
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