Canadian and her boyfriend missing in Belize

[bill barilko]

I wonder what it must be like for "locals" in Latin America. It has often been said that these countries have no middle class, if you're not rich then you're scratching a living from the dirt so to speak. Watching an endless parade of affluent tourists must lead to a lot of frustration for people simply trying to survive, and that would logically lead to the less-than-scrupulous seeking to grab a slice for themselves.

I've lived in both Mexico and Central America and Yes that's what it's like for average people-Mexico has the closest to what Canadians would call a Middle Class.

 

[B00Mer]

All over the internet Victim blaming..

NationalPost, Facebook.. they were rich in a Central American country.. it's their fault.

They had lots of cash on them and it's a robbery gone wrong, that is what the police are saying...

‘They had a lot of money’: Canadian and her U.S. boyfriend ambushed in robbery turned double-murder

and here is another murder robbery in Belize..

Vancouver woman murdered in Belize robbery | Globalnews.ca

There is a long list of them.. Belize has become a shit hole.

Dangers in Paradise: What Belize tourists aren't being told

 

[petros]

Never ever try to buy dope when on holiday.

 

[B00Mer]

Never ever try to buy dope when on holiday.

Speaking from experience Petros? LOL :lol:

 

[petros]

Speaking from experience Petros? LOL :lol:

Observation of others who were stupid enough to try.

 

[B00Mer]

I'm betting corrupt cops on the take... who else would you let your guard down to in a 3rd world shit hole.

 

[petros]

Call me racist but I've travelled enough to know to only go and do what and where other white people do and go. Venture beyond and you are bound to get screwed over or hurt.

 

[B00Mer]

Call me racist but I've travelled enough to know to only go and do what and where other white people do and go. Venture beyond and you are bound to get screwed over or hurt.

No, you're not a racist and yes you're right to a point... however in Mexico, Belize and other Central American countries because the governments are cracking down more on the drug trade, kidnap, ransom and robbery are replacing the economic void drugs supplied.

The military and law enforcement are as crooked as the drug dealers.. and if you snitch, or go against the Cartels and kidnappers.. you're killed.

Mexico drug war: 9 bodies hanged from bridge and 14 decapitated heads found | Daily Mail Online

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Call me racist but I've travelled enough to know to only go and do what and where other white people do and go. Venture beyond and you are bound to get screwed over or hurt.

I'd recommend that, and not call you a racist.

Little different for me, of course.

 

[MHz]

i hear Detroit is wonderful this time of year

Anyplace where you don't lose your head is a wonderful place.

 

[Ludlow]

Defaming ones character after the person is dead is kinda crappy.

I'll wait for the police and news to shed light on the truth.

Devoursney Did 2 Tours of Service in Iraq

Rumours he was DEA.

Devoursney first served in Fallujah with the 1st Marines in 2004 and went back for a second tour with the 11th Marines in 2007. Following that, Devoursney spent time as a contractor in Afghanistan.

So you know the US Gov't will get involved.

https://www.gofundme.com/find-drew

Last time I saw Norris his face was all swollen

 

[B00Mer]

Last time I saw Norris his face was all swollen

Last time I saw Chuck Noris he was waiving back at me on I30 in Arlington, TX.

The last time I saw Barry Corbin, he was my customer at the Chevron Gas Station in Ft. Worth @ I30 & Eastchase Parkway.

The last time I saw Kobe Bryant I was carrying his parents luggage to their Hotel Room at the Marriott in Manhattan Beach, incidentally they are both taller than Kobe.

The last time I saw Shaquille O'Neal he was having his regular drinks in the lounge downstairs in the Marriott in Manhattan Beach. I was Front Desk, Bus Driver, Bell Hop & PBX all at once.

The last time is saw John Walsh was at the LAX Airport, he was getting into his limousine. I was the Shuttle Bus in his way.

....and the list goes on, and on, and on..

Had a few in my taxi when I work Hollywood to Long Beach, CA (Ass, Grass or Cash)

That is one city I miss.. I used to live at Normandie Ave and Hollywood Blvd.

My kitchen window looked out towards Griffith observatory, Griffith Park and Hollywood sign...

 

[spaminator]

Canadian woman, American boyfriend strangled to death: Report | Canada | News |

 

[Twin_Moose]

‘They had a lot of money’: Canadian and her U.S. boyfriend ambushed in robbery turned double-murder

Police in Belize confirm a Canadian woman and her American boyfriend were murdered shortly before she was scheduled to leave the Central American country where they were wintering.
The police theory is that it was a robbery gone wrong.
The bodies of Francesca Matus, 52, of Keswick, Ont., and Drew DeVoursney, 36, from Georgia, were found Monday afternoon in a sugar cane field in the Corozal district, near Belize’s northern border with Mexico.
“For sure it shows murder, this is a homicide investigation,” said a police official in Belize who did not wish to have his name published.
“Both bodies were found together in some bushes and were starting to decompose by the time they were found.” He said the bodies were on top of each other, with DeVoursney’s body over top of Matus’ body.
“We believe they had a lot of money in their possession and someone tried to rob them.”
Decomposition made it difficult to determine the cause of death without an autopsy, the police official said; there were obvious signs of trauma. After an on-site autopsy, police announced the cause of death as strangulation Tuesday.
DeVoursney’s mother said the American embassy told her that the pair were found with duct tape wrapped around their wrists. Bound wrists suggest an abduction or an attempt to get them to do something or go somewhere against their will.
DeVoursney was a former U.S. Marine and his close friend and fellow veteran expressed dismay that he would be killed in this manner.
“Someone had killed a United States Marine, my brother in arms, who survived Fallujah, Iraq and Afghanistan,” Brandon Barfield wrote on a GoFundMe campaign, first established to help the search for a missing couple but now dedicated to bringing DeVoursney’s body back to the United States.
DeVoursney had been living in Corozal since December, Barfield said.
“It breaks my heart knowing that Drew and I have survived so many near death situations and laughed about it, and now I have to bring his body home.
“Today is the day where I demand answers to so many questions all of us have about this whole mysterious abduction and their senseless deaths.” Barfield and DeVoursney’s brother were en route to Belize Tuesday.
Matus had also been living in Belize since December, said her cousin Ivana Pucci, enjoying life on her waterfront property. She used to spend winters in the Central American country and return to the Toronto area for summer and fall to be with her mother and her two twin sons, aged 22, Pucci said.
“She loved it there and felt safe,” Pucci said. “She did tell us it was lawless there, but she felt safe in her little community.”
Her boys, brother and mother are grieving together in the Toronto area, Pucci said.
Matus grew up in Sault Ste. Marie as part a sprawling Italian-Canadian family, she said. Matus moved to Toronto after college and became a mortgage broker, which she still did for half of the year. She loved the water and boating in Belize, she said.
“She was 52 in a 35-year-old body,” Pucci said. “She really was such a beautiful person — both inside and out — and she did not deserve this,” Pucci said. “Nobody does.”
Pucci didn’t know much about Matus’s relationship with DeVoursney, but said she appeared to be happy.
DeVoursney and Matus had been dating for a few months before they were last seen last Tuesday night leaving Scotty’s Bar and Grill in Corozal.
Friends says Matus was supposed to fly back to Toronto the next day, but she wasn’t at home when a friend arrived to drive her to the airport. She was reported missing to police after neither she nor DeVoursney could be reached on their cell phones.
A large contingent of Canadian and American expats — about 100 — had been scouring the area over the past week in a desperate search to find the couple. They met up at Scotty’s bar and then fanned out.
“They had a lot of friends here, they were very popular,” said Colin McGowan, one of the owners of Scotty’s. Both Matus and DeVoursney frequented the establishment and made friends easily. McGowan said friends spontaneously started searching places where they thought something could have happened to them but the search was disorganized. He stepped in to regiment the efforts.
He said about 100 people, both expats and locals, volunteered to help both search for the couple and spread the word to local residents. Searchers traced various routes they might have gone after leaving the bar, McGowan said.
News of the discovery has left them in “shock and disbelief,” he said.
The car they were driving, a white 1998 Rodeo Isuzu SUV, was found on Sunday.
The bodies were found between Chan Chen village and Patchakan village on a small road leading to a sugar cane field, about six kilometres from where they were last seen.
Canada’s diplomatic corps is monitoring the case.
“Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the Canadian citizen who passed away in Belize. Consular services are being provided to the family during this difficult time. Canadian consular officials continue to liaise with local authorities to gather additional information,” said Austin Jean, a spokesman with Global Affairs Canada.
No further information was available out of privacy concerns, Jean said.
With files from Canadian Press

 

[B00Mer]

Canadian-American couple found dead in Belize!


Ch 7 Belize:
Canadian-American Couple Found Dead In Corozal Canefield

From Wednesday night we've been reporting on the missing couple: 52 year old Canadian Francesca Matus and 36 year old American DREW Thomas De Voursey - and yesterday evening, six days after they ere last seen, the worst fears were confirmed when they were found dead. Their bodies were found in an advanced state of decomposition about six and half miles from the center of Corozal Town where they were last seen alive. Jules Vasquez has the story:...
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Police kept an armed guard over the sugar road where the body was found. And when we tried to go close they told us it was off limits.

On Monday at around 4:00 a cane cutter found the bodies of Canadian Francesca Matus and American Drew Devoursney piled on top of each other.

About 150 feet down this road in Chan Chen village which is less than a mile from the Belize Mexico border:

Reporter
"Who discovered the bodies?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"It was a farmer. I believe that they would have burnt that field, but they were walking around the field to see that the fire pass and everything was made and that's when they made that discovery."

"Police had went to that area, it's about a mile and a half on the main road and a mile in a feeder road in a cane field. We have seen the 2 bodies. The male is partially on top of the female. The Scenes of Crimes were called in, the scene was processed. The bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition where the doctors was called in and the autopsy was done on site."

"Upon conclusion of the autopsy, the doctors conclude that the cause of death was massive strangulation."

Additionally duct tape was found on both their hands - they had been bound with it.

The vehicle was found on Sunday. It had also been hidden deep down a sugar road about 6 miles away from the bodies in Paraiso village, which is just outside Corozal Town.

The couple was last seen in that vehicle when they left this bar in Corozal Town on Tuesday night at around 11:00.

It's a popular hangout for expatriates and the owner, Colin McGowan who asked to appear off camera told us everything seemed normal:

Voice of: Colin McGowan, Owner - Scotty's Bar
"They were here last Tuesday, I was in the bar as well. Happy, content they left together. There were no problems."

But something went very wrong after that and police have one suspect, and a possible motive:

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Is that person in custody?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"So far, yes."

Reporter
"Is he a local?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"I rather not say."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Is there any indication that theft was a motive? Was anything missing from the vehicle or from the individuals?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"What I could say is that the female had on her jewelry, but to say that theft was a motive, we cannot say at this point."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Are you able to say if the suspects may have had some familiarity that these people were no on their guard then, because taking down a 6ft, 6in marine and strangled him, it wouldn't appear to be a quite easy thing. It would need a large or a significant number of people to do that."

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"At this point the investigation is still in its infancy stage and we are looking on that angle also. At this point we cannot say."

Reporter
"We know that from our investigation also that Francesca also dealt in real-estate also. Are you guys looking at that angle that she may have been some land transaction gone wrong and somebody taking revenge? Is that something that you guys are looking into?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"We are looking at all angles right now."

Reporter
"The person in custody, how long have you been questioning that person for?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"Just about 2 hours the most. We detained him today. We are looking at some threats that was made. That's all to it so far."

Reporter
"Which one of them?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"The female. That's all to it so far."

Reporter
"Can you say how recent those threats were made?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"No I can't say."

Reporter
"Did she reported it?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"No."

Reporter
"Threats against her life?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"No. Just open threats. I believe if a report of such of reported of that threat to Miss Francesca, maybe she would still be alive today. And I believe that members in the community, their community, knows exactly what was happening."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Would there be some measure of relief if it is an expatriate thing - or a foreign thing?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"Well I believe it would be to know that it's not one of our own commits such a gruesome crime."

Colin McGowan says that would be very surprising to him because he didn't know them to have enemies:

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Would it be very surprising to you if it was something that was orchestrated within the "expat" community?"

Colin McGowan, Owner - Scotty's Bar
"First of all I would say that's speculation and I wouldn't speculate on anything. If it was I would be very surprised. They were both very well liked throughout the whole community. So it hit people hard."

McGowan says the "expat" community sees it as isolated:

Colin McGowan, Owner - Scotty's Bar
"Something like this happens all over the world. Corozal is a beautiful town, very friendly town. So it hasn't shaken my sense of security, it's made me a little more cautious."

A memorial service for Francesca Matus - who lived in Corozal for 4 years - will be held on Thursday in Corozal Town. Their families were expected to arrive today. To accommodate them, police kept the bodies on site as they were found so that the families could see them. Drew Thomas De Voursey had been in Belize for about 6 months, and reportedly did own land here. Their cell phones were not found and the battery had been stolen from the vehicle.

source

So they have a suspect in custody and the woman had death threats against her.

 

[bill barilko]

...So they have a suspect in custody and the woman had death threats against her.

Drugs just like I said.

 

[B00Mer]

Drugs just like I said.

Real Estate deal gone bad, just like a said..

Francesca Matus Belize murder: Two suspects arrested | Toronto & GTA | News | To

 

[petros]

Real Estate deal gone bad, just like a said..

Francesca Matus Belize murder: Two suspects arrested | Toronto & GTA | News | To

Detectives are working on a number of theories including robbery, jealousy and a possible real estate deal that may have gone sideways.

Or...

 

[B00Mer]

Or...

She had all her jewelry and money on her..Robbery nah

Jealously, meh maybe.

Real Estate Deal gone bad.. most likely

 

[B00Mer]

Tonight, there is a somewhat surprising new development to report in the case of the North American couple murdered in Corozal. First, we can confirm that the single male suspect who police had detained is a Canadian. And, second, he will be charged tomorrow. But it's not a murder charge - in fact, it's not for any crime in Corozal. This suspect will be taken to Placencia where he will be charged for an unrelated burglary. We're still working on getting details on that alleged crime, but after he is arraigned on that charge, he will then be taken back to Corozal where he will be questioned further on the murder of 52 year old Canadian Francesca Matus and 36 year old American Drew Thomas De Voursey. As we understand it so far, he is not cooperating with police. Sketchy information to 7News suggests that the couple may have been targeted for murder by persons familiar to them, possibly in a land dispute. Police believe that more than one person was involved in the murder. A post mortem determined that they were both strangled and then taken to a remote sugar road in Chan Chen where the killer or killers dumped their bodies. A cane farmer who was about to burn the field found them on Monday evening in an advanced state of decomposition. Francesca's vehicle, a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo was found 6 miles away in Paraiso village.

Yesterday, the Corozal commander alluded to the possibility that the murder was carried out by someone familiar with the couple:

Jules Vasquez
"Are there any suspects?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"We have one person we believe can assist us in our investigation."

Jules Vasquez
"Is that person in custody?"


Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
"So far yes."

Reporter
"Is he a local?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
"I rather not day."

Jules Vasquez
"Often times these crimes may involve someone with some familiarity or intimacy because he's an ex-marine, according to his physical description, 6 foot 6 if I'm not mistaken. It's not someone lightly taken on. Are you able to say if the suspect may have had some familiarity that these people were not on their guard? Because taking down a 6 foot 6 marine and strangling him, it wouldn't appear to be a quite easy thing, you'd need a very large or a significant number of people to do that."

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
"At this point the investigation is still in its infancy stage and we are looking on that angle also. At this point we cannot say."

Reporter
"So why have one person detained if you believe that there may have been more than one persons involved?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
"Could have been."

Reporter
"We know that from our investigation that Francesca also dealt in real estate also. Is this a possible - are you guys looking at that angle that it may have been some land transaction gone wrong and somebody taking revenge. Is that something that you guys are contemplating?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
"We are looking on all angles right now. We are looking at some threats that were made, that's all to it so far."

Reporter
"Which one of them sir?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
"The female, that's all to it so far."

Reporter
"Can you say how recent those threats may have been made?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
"I can't say."

Reporter
"Did she report it?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
"No."

Reporter
"Threats against her life?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
"Just open threats and I believe that members in the community, their community knows exactly what was happening."

We'll keep following the story very closely. A memorial service will be held for Francesca Matus in Corozal tomorrow. She had lived there in the Consejo Shores area for about 6 years. She was headed for her home in Consejo on the night she was killed - but it appears she never reached. All her possessions in the home appear to be intact, while Drew Thomas's cycle was in the driveway.

source

OOH-AHH arresting a Canadian.. nice twist. Bet'cha the prisons in that 3rd world country are pretty sketchy - don't bend over for the soap.