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

[Wondergirl]

The Corozal Daily news outlet observed this about Francesca's vehicle:

Corozal Daily From what we personally observed where the vehicle is now stationed....Yes..the lifting of finger prints has already been done on the vehicle. The driver's side rear tire is flat and we noticed some peculiarities on the vehicle like the broken outside door lock on the door behind the drivers seat and what looks like a light brown in colour dried liquid running down from the driver's side of the outside door and the same for the outside door behind the drivers seat.

https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=adce9e8b02bcf59d5b1d6fbbb76e39d1&oe=5978424C

 

[Wondergirl]

I'm reading the Coroner's Act for Belize, written in 2000. On page 9 and 10, points #9 and #10.1, it does indicate that in the case of a death and the Coroner can't be reached at that time, the Police can direct and arrange for a "duly qualified medical practictioner" to perfom a Post Mortem on the body, where it was found lying.

Then in 10.3 (still page 10) it indicates that if a cause of death can't be ascertained by the above on-site Post Mortem, then dissection of the body would be performed to help determine cause, etc.

http://www.belizelaw.org/web/lawadmin/PDF files/cap126.pdf

Tho, that being said......after 5 days dead in the heat, with advanced decomp, I don't understand how any medical practitioner could conclusively determine a body in that state had succumbed due to strangulation. Tho..I did read in one of the MSM articles that an autopsy had been scheduled for Tues morning. So perhaps a cursory autopsy was done on-site, as per above....then a more indepth examination was done the next morning?

Thank-you for this - very informative.

Why were both victims right wrists duct taped?

WTH happened in Belize? UGH

(Duct tape remark occurs at 45 seconds - video here http://globalnews.ca/news/3425240/b...ey/?utm_source=GlobalNews&utm_medium=Facebook)

 

[Dushi]

Something isn't sitting right with me about this case. I get the feeling that there is going to be some "dirty laundry" from all parties uncovered by the time this case is solved. This crime seems more like a gangland hit than anything else. We shall see.

I have the same feeling.
Can't shake it

 

[otto]

Canadian Suspect in Double Murder Will be Charged For Burglary Tomorrow
posted (May 3, 2017)
RBBM

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=40202

It's looking more and more like Francesca, the real estate investor, may have at some time been not entirely above board with her dealings. It reminds me of the Liknes triple murder in Calgary where there were some unethical business dealings, and it cost them their lives.

 

[dotr]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/belize-canadian-detained-1.4098828

Canadian man detained in Belize double killing

No charges laid after Francesca Matus, Drew De Voursney found dead in sugarcane field on Monday

By Trevor Dunn, CBC News Posted: May 04, 2017 9:49 AM

Two police officers who asked not to be identified, as they are not authorized to comment on the investigation, told CBC Toronto that a Canadian man is being questioned about the the double homicide

Matus's family told CBC Toronto they are aware of this information, but have not received any updates on the investigation from authorities in Belize or Canada.

 

[otto]

It sounds like police are assuming that one person could not take down a 6'6" marine without help, and that is why they are suspecting more than one person was involved. However, if one person broke into the car and tasered them after they got into the front seats of the car, it would be possible to commit the crime alone.

 

[Wondergirl]

DeVoursney’s body was on top of Matus’s, their wrists were duct-taped, and both were in an “advanced state of decomposition.”
An officer with the Corozal police detachment confirmed Wednesday night that two suspects had been taken into custody.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...r-toronto-woman-and-boyfriend-found-dead.html

My speculation:

If each victim had only their right wrist duct taped, and Devoursney's body was on top of Matus, the duct taped could have been put on post-mortem to move them to the recovery location. That could explain why each victim had tape only on their right wrist. Maybe they were wrapped in a tarp to transport.

JMO

 

[andreww]

Belize, as it turns out, is one of the top 20 weed smoking countries in the world. Number 18 on the list of the world's top 30 toking towns.

I wonder if drugs played any part in this? I can't see Francesca selling much real estate in Belize, so I wonder if she was supplementing her income?

 

[dotr]

It's looking more and more like Francesca, the real estate investor, may have at some time been not entirely above board with her dealings. It reminds me of the Liknes triple murder in Calgary where there were some unethical business dealings, and it cost them their lives.

Unrelated, but noting it happened in El Paraiso village in the Corozal district. fwiw
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=36465

Mafia Style Hit At Mile 9
posted (May 30, 2016)

 

[andreww]

My speculation:

If each victim had only their right wrist duct taped, and Devoursney's body was on top of Matus, the duct taped could have been put on post-mortem to move them to the recovery location. That could explain why each victim had tape only on their right wrist. Maybe they were wrapped in a tarp to transport.

JMO

Where did it say that only their right wrists were taped?

 

[otto]

I don't think there was any involvement with drugs or mafia, but I do think that it's possible that a 52 year old Canadian woman who made a lot of money with real estate investments and mortgages could have occasionally benefitted financially while another person experienced financial loss. As we know from other cases, some people become very angry when they are taken advantage of financially, and after festering for some time they plan retaliation in the form of murder.

Perhaps she offered someone a great deal in Belize and encouraged someone to travel to Belize for that reason, things didn't work out and that resulted in resentment ... pure speculation.

 

[otto]

Where did it say that only their right wrists were taped?

In one of the earlier linked articles, it is stated that there was duct tape on the right wrist of each of the victims.

 

[Gardenista]

It's looking more and more like Francesca, the real estate investor, may have at some time been not entirely above board with her dealings. It reminds me of the Liknes triple murder in Calgary where there were some unethical business dealings, and it cost them their lives.

I missed where it says she was not entirely above board in her dealings. Can you please link?

 

[Wondergirl]

Where did it say that only their right wrists were taped?

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...Corozal-25-April-2017&p=13354193#post13354193

 

[Dushi]

I am reading backwards and trying to absorb.
I am guessing we don't know much about Mr john other than he was a tenant, drove a blue truck and was Canadian?
Do we know how long he rented from her? If they knew each other in Canada? What he did for a living? Did they have any kind of relationship outside of the business one? Was he at the bar that night? Did he hang out with the same crowd? His age?

 

[andreww]

It sounds like police are assuming that one person could not take down a 6'6" marine without help, and that is why they are suspecting more than one person was involved. However, if one person broke into the car and tasered them after they got into the front seats of the car, it would be possible to commit the crime alone.

Also, Francesca's car was driven to the first location, then another car took them to the final location. So unless Francesca willingly drove to the first location, more than one person would need to be involved.

Wondering about the large amount of money and whether Francesca and Drew had set up a meeting at the first location to settle a tab? Maybe they came up short? Seems like Francesca put aside her travel money and took the remainder with her for some reason. Maybe she knew that she couldn't risk the person taking her travel cash or she'd be stuck there? Maybe its not a coincidence that he new beau was a 6'6" ex marine? Maybe she felt the need for protection? And finally, if the threats made against her involved a real-estate deal, why wouldn't she alert the police? If the threats involved illegal activities on both sides, it would explain why it went unreported.

 

[otto]

I missed where it says she was not entirely above board in her dealings. Can you please link?

I said that "it is looking more and more like ..." It's not difficult to read between the lines in the comments from police.

 

[otto]

I am reading backwards and trying to absorb.
I am guessing we don't know much about Mr john other than he was a tenant, drove a blue truck and was Canadian?
Do we know how long he rented from her? If they knew each other in Canada? What he did for a living? Did they have any kind of relationship outside of the business one? Was he at the bar that night? Did he hang out with the same crowd? His age?

I think we can be sure that he did not live in the basement ...

 

[otto]

Also, Francesca's car was driven to the first location, then another car took them to the final location. So unless Francesca willingly drove to the first location, more than one person would need to be involved.

Wondering about the large amount of money and whether Francesca and Drew had set up a meeting at the first location to settle a tab? Maybe they came up short? Seems like Francesca put aside her travel money and took the remainder with her for some reason. Maybe she knew that she couldn't risk the person taking her travel cash or she'd be stuck there? Maybe its not a coincidence that he new beau was a 6'6" ex marine? Maybe she felt the need for protection? And finally, if the threats made against her involved a real-estate deal, why wouldn't she alert the police? If the threats involved illegal activities on both sides, it would explain why it went unreported.

How do we know that two vehicles were involved?

It seems equally possible that they were abducted in their own vehicle (tampered lock on vehicle), driven to Chan Chen, dumped, and then the vehicle hidden in a sugar cane field on the North end of Corozal in Paraiso Village.

 

[Dushi]

She had her jewellery
Don't know what kind of jewellery she wore, but I think it would be taken in a straight forward robbery