By Breaking Belize News Staff: Thirty-five-year-old Federick Wagner was formally arraigned on Wednesday afternoon for the murder of his girlfriend, 61-year-old Dawn Bernard, who died six days after sustaining severe burn injuries in an incident police say was intentionally inflicted.
Wagner, who appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Mannon Dennison in Court #6 around 12:42 p.m., was read a single charge of murder for the November 10, 2025 incident at Bernard’s home on Lakeview Street. Bernard slipped into a coma shortly after being hospitalized and later died on November 16, 2025.
At the arraignment, Wagner appeared confused when asked if he understood the charge, telling the court: “I don’t understand what I am charged for. I don’t understand the charge.”
Magistrate Dennison explained the allegations in simple terms, clarifying that the lower court was not asking for a plea, as murder charges can only be tried in the High Court. After the explanation, Wagner indicated that he understood.
Due to the nature of the offense and restrictions under Section 16 of the Indictable Procedure Act, bail was denied, and Wagner was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until January 26, 2026.
A post-mortem conducted on November 24, 2025 certified Bernard’s cause of death as acute pulmonary edema with pulmonary thromboembolism due to coma and thermal injuries.
Police say that at 8:00 p.m., officers from the Gender-Based Violence Response & Investigative Unit responded to a report at #8 Lakeview Street. Upon arrival, they were informed by neighbors that someone in the home had been burned and transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH).
At the hospital, officers observed Bernard suffering burns to her face, shoulders, chest, back, and both hands. While still conscious and in extreme pain, she reportedly told police: “Da meh man do meh this.”
She further stated that Wagner sprayed her face with rubbing alcohol and set her on fire using a lighter. Bernard identified Wagner as her boyfriend, a Belize Waste Control employee who lived with her. She stopped speaking shortly afterward due to the severity of her pain.
Police recorded her statement and issued medical legal forms before visiting the home, where residents described what they heard and saw but refused to give formal statements. Wagner was later detained and found with burn injuries to his right hand.
Wagner was first arraigned on November 14, 2025 on charges of attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm. Those charges were upgraded after Bernard’s death, and he was re-interviewed by CIB on November 26 before today’s murder arraignment.
The investigation continues as the case heads toward Supreme Court proceedings.
The post Man accused of dousing 61-year-old common-law with rubbing alcohol and setting her ablaze arraigned for murder in her death appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Thirty-five-year-old Federick Wagner was formally arraigned on Wednesday afternoon for the murder of his girlfriend, 61-year-old Dawn Bernard, who died six days after sustaining severe burn injuries in an incident police say was intentionally inflicted. Wagner, who appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Mannon Dennison in Court #6 around 12:42 p.m., was
The post Man accused of dousing 61-year-old common-law with rubbing alcohol and setting her ablaze arraigned for murder in her death appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
