The family of a young South African woman, Paige Bell, has travelled to the Bahamas seeking justice for her murder.

20-year-old Bell, from KwaZulu-Natal, was killed on a luxury motorboat in the Caribbean island country on 3 July 2025. She was a crew member of the ‘Far From It’ on the Island of Eleuthera.

A fellow crew member, a 40-year-old Mexican man, has been arrested for the murder and was reportedly denied bail earlier this week. Bell’s family travelled to the Bahamas to arrange to repatriate her body and navigate the legal process.

In a Facebook post, Bell’s sister Chelsey Jacobs said their parents, Michelle and John Bell, will now “begin the painful process of not only bringing their baby girl home, but also seeking justice for the monster that took her life.”

The Royal Bahamas Police Force says they are investigating a homicide and a suspected suicide attempt.

According to the preliminary report, shortly after 1 PM local time, 3 July, police were alerted to the incident and proceeded to the marina area.

“Once on board the vessel, officers discovered a female unresponsive with visible signs of injuries and a male suffering from severe injuries to his arms. The local doctor visited the scene, examined the victim and pronounced her dead.

As police investigated further, it was discovered that the victim was missing for a short period before being found unresponsive in the engine room with the male suspect present.

The suspect, a 40-year-old male of Mexican nationality, was apprehended, cautioned, and taken to a nearby clinic for medical treatment.”

Her former members of Motor Yacht Sweet Emocean started a crowdfunding campaign to help Bell’s family with finances to get Paige back home.

In a moving tribute, they expressed their heartbreak at her death.

“Myself, Captain Frank Prest, Captain Stephan Coetzer, previous Captain Arnold Heins, Owner’s Rep Andrew Dyet, Bruce, Kathy, and all previous and current crew members on board Motor Yacht Sweet Emocean are heartbroken to share the news of the passing of our dear friend and former crew member, Paige Bell. Paige worked on Motor Yacht Sweet Emocean until December of 2024 but will always be a part of the Family.”

“Paige was more than a teammate, she was family. Her radiant spirit, infectious laughter, and boundless compassion made an unforgettable impact on everyone lucky enough to know her. Whether it was long days at sea or quiet moments under the stars, she brought light and warmth wherever she went.”

In a social media post, Bell’s high school, Hillcrest High in KZN, offered their condolences to her family and friends.

“Paige matriculated in 2022 and is remembered by our HHS community as an incredibly special young lady who was the happiest, most bubbly person. We know that her untimely and tragic death is a great loss to all who knew Paige, and beyond devastating to her parents and family. As a school we will be holding them in our thoughts and prayers and would like to ask for the support of the greater HHS community in bringing Paige home to her family.”

At the time this article was published, the GoFundMe account, set up in her honour, had already raised over $46,000.

Paige would have celebrated her 21st birthday on 14 July.