West Palm Beach, Fla. – In a courtroom development just before his trial, a father of five entered a guilty plea to manslaughter charges linked to a 2021 crime, avoiding a potential life sentence had he been convicted of first-degree murder. The sentencing occurred Monday, marking a significant moment in a harrowing case of kidnapping and homicide that shocked local residents.
The plea was accepted by Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss, who then sentenced 39-year-old Wareno Belizaire to 15 years in prison. This decision followed a plea agreement coordinated between Assistant Public Defender Courtney Wilson and Assistant State Attorney Courtney Behar. Belizaire is one of four individuals implicated in the death of Kyle Smith, whose body was discovered beside State Road 80 near Twenty-Mile Bend showing signs of a fatal gunshot wound.
The sequence leading up to Smith’s death began under grim circumstances involving a drug deal gone awry. According to county sheriff’s deputies, Belizaire and others had arranged to meet Smith and his cousin, Severiano Pedican, at a warehouse in suburban West Palm Beach with purported intentions to conduct a transaction. However, the situation escalated rapidly when Belizaire brandished a weapon, subduing Smith and Pedican.
Pedican recounted to authorities how Belizaire menacingly declared, “You guys are going to die today,” before physically assaulting them and seizing their phones. Surveillance footage recovered by deputies corroborated this account, showing some of the accused later escorting Pedican at gunpoint to a vehicle while Belizaire stayed behind with Smith.
Further investigation revealed chilling details as Pedican later observed being transported to a residence and then on to a secondary location with orders for his execution. He managed to escape his captors and ultimately assisted law enforcement in identifying Belizaire through a police lineup.
Searches at Belizaire’s residence yielded critical evidence including ammunition, Smith’s belongings marked with his blood, establishing stronger connections to the crime.
Amid these developments, other accomplices identified include 27-year-old Netanya Succes, who earlier pleaded guilty without a plea agreement, awaiting sentencing from Weiss. Two additional suspects, Amirah Pettus, 23, and Richardson Francois, 34, face charges as accessories to first-degree murder, having not entered pleas.
While Belizaire denied any involvement, claiming amnesia on the day of the killing, his decision to plead guilty to manslaughter arguably averted a more severe penalty. This case, exhibiting elements of betrayal and brutal criminal tactics, underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in dealing with organized crime and violence.
The courtroom was heavy with the presence of Smith’s grieving family, who, burdened by their loss, chose silence when offered the opportunity to address the court.
This case not only highlights the personal tragedies engendered by such violent crimes but also reflects on the broader implications for community safety and the justice system’s role in mediating complex, emotionally charged proceedings.