Belize - Francesca Matus, 52, & Drew De Voursney, 36, murdered, Corozal, 25 Apr 2017

[fred&edna]

I apologize for quoting my own post. I just wanted to be the first to point out that this was a stupid, insensitive thing to say and I'm sorry.

I believe we all knew what you meant.

s'ok

 

[zencompass]

Is it possible that Francesca was selling her vehicle and that's why another friend, rather than Drew, was driving her to the airport? That's a long stretch, but maybe she was negotiating a deal on the phone at the bar?

Pure speculation, but ...

This would explain why another friend was driving.

The m.o. of the robbers was to lure a car seller somewhere and then ambush and rob them of cash and take their vehicle. Plans went awry this time and they murdered them?

F.M. 's jewelry was unique and would have been traceable unless they melted down gold as opposed to fencing it.

The car scenario works

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[Hazel]

Man questioned in Belize double murder had argued with victim, neighbor says
Canadian suspect denies involvement

Francesca Matus rented the ground floor of her home north of Corozal to John Deshaies, who police have identified as a person of interest in Matus’ and Drew DeVoursney’s murders. JEREMY REDMON/jredmon@ajc.com​

Meanwhile, a complicated portrait of Deshaies has begun to emerge. Friends described him as a close friend of Matus’ and incapable of such a violent act. But one neighbor told The AJC he had heard the two arguing loudly over money.

Police have not explained why they have identified Deshaies as a person of interest. Deshaies, who has worked in the construction industry, paid Matus rent to live on the ground floor of her spacious, seaside home in northern Corozal.

Deshaies’ girlfriend, Jasmine Lizarraga, waited outside the Corozal police station for him Monday, hoping he would be released from custody. Police, however, said he would soon be transferred to a prison southwest of Belize City on the theft-related charges. Lizarraga denied her boyfriend was involved in the killings.

“John is a very cool guy,” said Lizarraga, who stayed with Deshaies at Matus’ home. “He would never do something like that. He was very close to Francesca.”

Lizarraga and Perera also said Deshaies is not guilty of the theft-related charges. Police have accused him of stealing tens of thousands of Belizean dollars worth of computer equipment, gambling chips and other items from a casino in Belize. Lizarraga said her boyfriend was hired to move that equipment to another casino.

“He was just doing his job,” she said.

Read more: http://www.myajc.com/news/breaking-...-victim-neighbor-says/bDsGbgrSsY0F9Ntcuma4qI/

 

[Hazel]

But Don Richardson, a California native who is building a home across from Matus’ property, had a different impression. He said he witnessed Matus and Deshaies loudly arguing the day before she was reported missing. Deshaies owed Matus months of rent, Richardson said, and she was telling him to get out. Lizarraga denied Deshaies had fallen behind in his payments to Matus. A Belize police spokesman said he could not confirm Richardson’s account.

Richardson also said he and Deshaies got into a physical altercation at Scotty’s Bar & Grill in Corozal in March. Richardson said Deshaies pressed charges against him after the incident. Richardson and another neighbor, Dr. Pat King, said Deshaies nearly ran over them with his truck last month as they stood on the side of the road near King’s home.

The AJC could not independently confirm their account. Lizarraga said she witnessed the episode and denied Deshaies was trying to harm them. Instead, Lizarraga said, Deshaies was fearful of Richardson and was seeking to avoid him.

Richardson said Deshaies was helping build his home before Richardson fired him. His property sits across from Matus’ home, a white stucco house with a red-tiled roof that looks out onto the Caribbean Sea. A pair of Matus’ close friends said she was preparing to sell the property in the next few months.

rs&bbm

More: http://www.myajc.com/news/breaking-...-victim-neighbor-says/bDsGbgrSsY0F9Ntcuma4qI/

 

[Wondergirl]

Geez. These overnight developments leave me wondering Wth is going on.

I don't know why - argument or not - I can't get my head around that guy being involved with their murders.

Where was his girlfriend that night? Seems like she would have knowledge of the cane fields being burned.

Blah

 

[otto]

Maybe the plan was to take the car all along and use it as part of a regular scheme. Lure people with cash to buy and rob them. Maybe they like to kill (Dellen Millard) or maybe they were recognized and thought they needed to kill. But the next day, everyone's on the lookout for the vehicle so they have to ditch it. Maybe they took the battery because they needed it for another vehicle.

Maybe I'm just reaching because I would be way more comfortable with the thought of these two being the unfortunate victims of really evil dudes, rather than at the hands of someone they trusted.

The wallet being left behind is a puzzle as is the jewelry, but I don't think we know if the jewelry was worth anything or if Drew had any money in his wallet.
Sounds like these 4 guys are looking for bigger payouts.

Police initially described this as a robbery, presumably because they see crimes like this all the time and what they saw at the crime scenes probably looked exactly like other robberies they've investigated. They abandoned that idea and decided it was a land deal that soured with an expat responsible for the murders (better theory in view of tourism goals). Both theories seem common (like urban myth) where police do little more than look to fit the crime to a theory.

The discovery of the jewellery and wallet, which as you say could have been worthless to a **** from Belize, resulted in police deciding it was not a robbery - even though the car was taken (and then ditched), and still the car battery and registration were taken. The theft of the battery and registration does suggest that the car was the target. I can understand taking the car battery to ensure that no one hot wires the car, but the car registration was taken for a different reason. The car registration was apparently more valuable than Drew's wallet.

It could very well be thrill kill, where a couple of ****s like Millard enjoy taking from others and murdering in the process.

Given that Belize is a poor country, I think that a reward of $50k would bring useful tips. I wonder if rewards are allowed in Belize.

ETA: the word with stars is not a bad word and starts with T ... not sure why it's not allowed.

 

[Dushi]

Is the Toronto newspaper typically "wrong" when reporting facts?

I don't see anything blatantly incorrect or along the lines of "poor reporting" in the news article. I don't think that claims of inaccuracy in the Toronto newspaper are valid.

I don't think so.
It was not my statement, PaxBelise stated that they were wrong a lot while reporting this case.
i was trying to determine the exact meaning of all of PaxBelise's post

 

[Dushi]

PaxBelize PaxBelize is offline
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Quote Originally Posted by Dushi View Post
The FBI is in Belize investigating the deaths of a Canadian-American couple found dead last week.

DeVoursney said a member of the FBI contacted her on Friday to offer assistance and let her know that American agents were in Belize.

By ISABEL TEOTONIOLiving reporter

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/201...boyfriend.html


We are all aware of how reports can be wrong but I hope this reporter has checked her sources


That particular outlet has been incredibly inaccurate with reporting this case. I wouldn't count on anything they say. If you work on reading the local press and read between the lines, it's easier to wrangle fact over incompetence with them. There are probably always agents in Belize. It also happens to be a very popular place for retired spooks and a great place to capture America's most wanted when they are on the lam. It would not be normal for a foreign criminal investigation agency to do anything but act on an advisory level in another country. I believe they said the FBI also worked on the case of the journalist who was so tragically murdered on the Guatemalan border. We never heard a thing afterwards about that either.



This is the post I was referring to

 

[otto]

I don't think so.
It was not my statement, PaxBelise stated that they were wrong a lot while reporting this case.
i was trying to determine the exact meaning of all of PaxBelise's post

Thanks. It would be the first time that anyone suggested that there is something questionable about the Toronto news outlet.

 

[Dushi]

Thanks. It would be the first time that anyone suggested that there is something questionable about the Toronto news outlet.

I agree with you
There is some negativity within the thread, so I needed to be sure I was not misinterpreting quotes

 

[otto]

I agree with you
There is some negativity within the thread, so I needed to be sure I was not misinterpreting quotes

People in Belize are obviously concerned with how these murders will impact the tourism industry, so blaming an expat and suggesting that Canadian or US news outlets are unreliable would be one way to ensure that Canadians and people from the USA are unable to understand what actually happened. The blog comparing Belize to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness was interesting, but it's not news, and not fact. It's a fantasy about fiction. It's clear that there is political corruption in land ownership, but to suggest that a Canadian would murder his landlord over unpaid rent - that's a new one. People who don't pay rent typically move to another home where they also don't pay rent ... especially in a "lawless" country.

FBI are collecting prints and DNA from Francesca's vehicle, and that will very likely rule out the tenant. The murderers are very likely looking at how to get rid of the battery and distance themselves from the murders ... such as false alibis, etc. If the FBI can identify a suspect, they will likely request extradition to the USA for trial ... that will make the criminals very nervous. I don't think there's an extradition treaty, but I'm sure that Belize will be happy to avoid the cost of a trial and give the impression that they are eager to convict those who murder expats.

 

[Dushi]

Local LE believe that someone else was involved, helped to commit the murders.
That makes sense to me, given the size of Drew.
Only other way I can see is if he was disabled, hit on the head etc.

How in the world do you convince someone to help you commit murder?
It would have to benefit that person as well

From what I have been reading this morning, it sounds like JD has a temper
Unless this other expat has a grudge

 

[otto]

Local LE believe that someone else was involved, helped to commit the murders.
That makes sense to me, given the size of Drew.
Only other way I can see is if he was disabled, hit on the head etc.

How in the world do you convince someone to help you commit murder?
It would have to benefit that person as well

From what I have been reading this morning, it sounds like JD has a temper
Unless this other expat has a grudge

I don't think that the tenant was involved. It seems more likely that they were ambushed on the way to Francesca's home by men with guns. Drew, who has PTSD from active duty, may have complied with the assumption that they would be robbed and left alive on the side of the road.

The tenant probably does have a temper, but would having to find another place to live after months of unpaid rent cause him to murder the landlord?

 

[Dushi]

It sounds to me that the remark about threats being made to Fransesca probably came from the neighbor who overheard the argument about unpaid rent

 

[fred&edna]

Man questioned in Belize double murder had argued with victim, neighbor says
Canadian suspect denies involvement

Francesca Matus rented the ground floor of her home north of Corozal to John Deshaies, who police have identified as a person of interest in Matus’ and Drew DeVoursney’s murders. JEREMY REDMON/jredmon@ajc.com​

Read more: http://www.myajc.com/news/breaking-...-victim-neighbor-says/bDsGbgrSsY0F9Ntcuma4qI/

'Just want to say your info and links have been/are invaluable!!

My brain seems to operate on energy-saving and/or impatience-mode I don't pay attention to details. Bad habit of mine

Thank you for re-posting and clarifying info (last night), and bringing the new stuff (today and beyond)!

*Also, a shout-out to dotr who has kept me (or tried to keep me!) "informed' here AND on lots of WS threads

The patience is appreciated!

 

[zencompass]

I have great appreciation, as well, for all of the kind folks on this thread who are not only giving us updates but posting messages filled with insight, kindness and compassion.

I feel honored to be part of this thread. Thank you all.

 

[Wondergirl]

Deshaies Still Detained By Coro Cops, FBI Assisting
posted (May 8, 2017)

RS&BBM

Full story: http://7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=40247

3 Vehicles being looked at (FBI looking at them as well):

-White Isuzu
-Blue Pickup (JD)
-SUV (unknown 3rd vehicle - speculation - JD's GF?)

Also noted here - the U.S. Embassy offered the services of the FBI

http://7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=40247

 

[Wondergirl]

John Jeffrey Deshaies, shown here at the Corozal police station, has been identified as a person of interest in the case. Deshaies has denied involvement in the killings, telling local television reporters, “Not at all; she is a very good friend of mine. Absolutely not.” JEREMY REDMON/jredmon@ajc.com

http://www.myajc.com/news/breaking-news/man-questioned-belize-double-murder-had-argued-with-victim-neighbor-says/bDsGbgrSsY0F9Ntcuma4qI/

 

[Kophy]

Thanks. It would be the first time that anyone suggested that there is something questionable about the Toronto news outlet.

News is seldom entirely accurate IMO. In my previous work life, I sometimes had knowledge regarding specific crimes, due to my involvement with the offenders and/or the victims. I was often appalled at the number of news stories that disseminated false information. It is frustrating and hurtful to see untruths become fact, simply because they are in print. I've also seen it within the court system. Truth is subjective and fact is whatever is accepted by the judge.
It would be unfair to call out a Toronto outlet though. They are only sharing what has already been reported elsewhere, or adding the perspective of local friends and family.


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[dotr]

If this last profile pic that Francesca posted on fb where the caption reads, iirc, where she feels at home, is the view from her home, why would she sell it? speculation, imo.
http://heavy.com/news/2017/04/francesca-matus-drew-de-voursney-missing-belize/