Kyle Smith's death on September 21, 2021, in Loxahatchee, FL, was a result of a tragic and violent incident. His body was discovered along the side of State Road 80, west of Loxahatchee, near Twenty Mile Bend. The investigation revealed that Smith was involved in brokering a drug deal between Wareno Belizaire and other individuals. On the night before his body was found, Smith and his cousin were kidnapped after meeting with Belizaire and a group of unnamed people at a warehouse in suburban West Palm Beach. During the encounter, Belizaire pulled a gun, struck both Smith and his cousin, and stole their mobile devices. He then threatened their lives, stating they were "gonna die today."
Smith's cousin was forced outside at gunpoint and driven to a residence in the West Palm Beach area. There, someone ordered that he be moved to another location and killed. However, upon arriving in the area of Lake Arjaro, off 45th Street west of Military Trail, the cousin managed to escape as multiple shots were fired at him. He later identified Belizaire from a photo lineup as the person who had kidnapped him and Smith. The last time he saw Smith, he was being held at gunpoint by Belizaire.
The investigation led to the arrests of Wareno Belizaire and Richardson Francois. Belizaire, 27, faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and armed robbery. He was held without bail at the Palm Beach County Jail. Francois, 31, was accused of being an accessory after the fact and was held on a $150,000 bail. Evidence collected during the investigation included a glove recovered from a residence associated with Belizaire and Francois, which had both Belizaire's and Smith's DNA. Additionally, a storage unit at the warehouse was rented to Francois, with Belizaire listed as the emergency contact. Deputies also found multiple firearms in Francois' bedroom, including a Glock that matched a firearm box recovered from the storage unit.
The case against Belizaire and Francois highlighted the dangers and violence associated with drug deals. The tragic death of Kyle Smith serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in such illegal activities. The legal proceedings against the suspects aimed to bring justice for Smith and his family, shedding light on the circumstances that led to his untimely death.
