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

[andreww]

We have heard that before..


A longtime real-estate developer in Corozal told Postmedia that Deshaies, a local contractor, is being set up as a patsy.

"He didn't do it," said the source, who didn't want to be identified for fear of violent reprisals. "I sold him that blue truck. He's a great guy."

But the developer, and local media reports, said real-estate development in Belize is a virtual shooting gallery. People buy properties that don't exist and land swindles are common.

And then there is the violence.

"That's why people in Corozal aren't saying anything. They're terrified," the source said. "They know who is behind all this and they're very afraid of him."

"Him" is an elderly American land baron and the insider believes Matus may have been collateral damage and that the target was either Deshaies or DeVoursney.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/20...person-of-interest-in-double-murder-in-belize

BBM - I'm starting to think this as well. FM's life seems to be a pretty open book and I don't see any conflict or illicit dealings on her behalf. DDs background is a little more of a mystery. We do know that he bought land at some point and doesn't seem to have done anything with it. We also know that he was about to go back to the States to pursue a career in heavy machinery operation. I'm wondering if he was looking at unloading his property, had an agreement with somebody, but then re-neged after meeting his real estate broker girlfriend? People are focusing on FMs property, but I don't see that as being very likely in the immediate future as JD was still living there.

 

[dotr]

http://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-ne...belize-set-for-friday/17hT0XINMisDJk7K5R9QxH/

[h=1]Burial for Atlanta Marine killed in Belize set for Friday[/h]

Drew DeVoursney, the Marine veteran from Atlanta who was recently killed along with his Canadian girlfriend in Belize, will be buried during a special military ceremony at Nashville National Cemetery in Tennessee Friday morning.


Marines will participate in the ceremony. DeVoursney’s mother, Char, will be presented with a U.S. flag. And “Taps” will be performed. A memorial service will be held at a separate location later in the day in Nashville, where DeVoursney grew up and graduated from high school.

Drew DeVoursney, center, a Marine veteran from Atlanta who served in Iraq

 

[Satchie]

I find it interesting that in this case and in the case of Anne Swaney, the ABC producer who was murdered in Belize over a year ago, police have said that they believe that members of the community know what happened. Im wondering if this is a similar situation to what happens in some of the slum areas in North America, where just about everybody knows who committed a crime, but nobody wants to speak up of fear of reprisal?

I've heard of a couple of murders of expats in Mexico, where it's assumed the local Mexicans know who the killers are, but aren't talking because a) a lot of the people in the community were relieved to see it happen, the murdered person had po'd a lot of people and therefore b) the killers have power/support in the tight-knit community and no one wants to be the one to betray them to police.

On the other hand, I've heard of situations where the community believes the killing was wrong, and they are the ones who tip off police, though they may let the (usually) teen get away first.

In expat communities I think the situation would be somewhat different, as people are much wealthier, don't have deep ancestral ties to the location and usually just superficially socialize. In the case of the serial killer Bill Holberg in Panama, no one came looking for the victims and their bodies weren't discovered, so the crimes weren't detected. Once serious concerns were raised about one missing victim, there was apparently resistance in the community as Wild Bill used to host parties with free cocaine...but once there was a serious investigation (not as serious as the FBI tho), he ran away.

So, I just don't believe that in a wealthy expat community anyone could terrorize residents into keeping silent. However, there would be a conspiracy among the people directly involved in the crime. Normally, the only way to keep people like that quiet is to ensure they would be arrested too.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

 

[Snoopster]

I agree with most of your post otto, with the exception that the "first person" who makes a move to buy her property could be a "clue" to a motive in killing her. It is obvious that her property will become available for sale, and interested buyers will be waiting for the chance to make offers on it. Whoever makes the first move to buy her property is irrelevant IMO. Her murder has generated public interest in Belize, Canada and USA. Interested parties who want to buy in Belize know that her property will be coming up for sale and will be waiting to move on it.

I agree.

I've read that it takes a LONG time to sell property in Belize. There's always the opportunity to build a new development and bring new supply on the market, yet there a likely many expats who see 'paradise', move to Belize to escape their troubles, and then recognize that life is far from perfect there as well. So they want to sell.

I don't think it is about FM's property specifically. That doesn't mean that I don't think the murder wasn't about property development though.

(Hi casesensitive! :seeya: )

 

[DirtyDR]

Yes he is. Don Richardson. From the US

 

[otto]

Yes he is. Don Richardson. From the US

That's who I'm interested in as well. He not only represented the relationship between Francesca and her tenant as hostile (even though they've been friends for years), but he also claims that Francesca was selling her home.

Also, regarding where the couple were abducted, the only thing I can think of that makes sense - as in no witnesses - is that they were ambushed on the deserted roads near her home. This again goes back to someone who knew her habits and where she lived. I've thought from the beginning that she was the target.

 

[AshikurAB]

[h=2]Murder Victim Warned Over Relationship[/h]While Inspector Zuniga stopped short of making any connections, Martinez’s roommate confirms that he was indeed in a love triangle where the young woman was involved with both Martinez and Lino. Valerio says he warned his best friend on previous occasions to stay clear of the young lady.
http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/146531

 

[Kamille]

Yes he is. Don Richardson. From the US

Welcome DirtyDR :welcome:

Do you know Don Richardson or have you had any dealings with him?

Is this an error in name Don vs Doug? :waitasec:

Some retirees, however, question the amount of money that retirees are required to deposit in a Belize bank -- up to $2,000 a month -- and don't like the paperwork and application fees of about $700 associated with the program. One is Doug Richardson, a retired lawyer and investor from Malibu, CA, who is building a large home on the Caribbean Sea in Placencia.

"I feel the program is a failure as an inducement to encourage anyone to retire (in Belize). There are too many fees, hurdles and demands made by the government," says Doug, who also believes the program doesn't offer enough to wealthy retirees. For example, it permits retirees to bring only $15,000 worth of household goods and just one vehicle duty free. Yet for a retiree with limited resources, the monthly income requirement may be too high.

https://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/article14.html

 

[otto]

Welcome DirtyDR :welcome:

Do you know Don Richardson or have you had any dealings with him?

Is this an error in name Don vs Doug? :waitasec:
https://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/article14.html

He's building a home next right next door to Francesca. It would be so much simpler if he could have her home.

 

[Kamille]

He's building a home next right next door to Francesca. It would be so much simpler if he could have her home.

Well I believe all the news reports indicated that he is building a home "across" from FM's in Consejo Shores. Which would indicate across the street and not oceanfront to me, but of course I could be wrong. I think another neighbour was quoted in the press and was considered to be a "next door" neighbour so I would assume that would also be oceanfront.

He was voted onto the board of directors of a condo complex in Ambergris Caye in 2014.

The link I posted above, if they got his first name incorrect and it is him, indicates that back in 2001 he had plans to build a large home in Placencia.

And this link appears to show that he IS a property "flipper" in Belize. https://flipboard.com/@DonaldRicha1mrg

So it looks like he may have property in all of the main tourist areas of Belize and is constantly looking for the next good deal. I guess we can speculate on how badly he may have wanted to purchase oceanfront in Consejo Shores? Perhaps there was no oceanfront property left to purchase?

:waitasec:

MOO

 

[Kamille]

I also believe it was "close friends" of FM who were quoted as saying she was considering selling her property in the next few months. They were unnamed but I don't believe it was DR who said that.

And her very close friend and the former owner of Scotty's Bar indicated in the People.com article that FM had no threats that she was aware of. I suppose this friend would have known if FM had any issues or problems with anyone. So who told the police that there were threats against her?

As rumors swirl about a possible motive or suspects, Rifenbark disputes speculation that Matus was threatened. Corozal police have raised such a possibility in interviews while also saying any threats were never reported.

“Just open threats,” as one investigator described it, according to the Toronto Sun. “I believe if a report [had been made] of that threat to Miss Francesca, maybe she would be alive today.”

But according to Rifenbark, Matus “was not being harassed or threatened by anyone.”

http://people.com/crime/toronto-mom-francesca-matus-murdered-in-belize/

 

[Kamille]

[h=2]Murder Victim Warned Over Relationship[/h]While Inspector Zuniga stopped short of making any connections, Martinez’s roommate confirms that he was indeed in a love triangle where the young woman was involved with both Martinez and Lino. Valerio says he warned his best friend on previous occasions to stay clear of the young lady.
http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/146531

Welcome AshikurAB :welcome:

I wonder also whether there may have been another person involved with either FM or DD at some point who was resentful of their relationship with each other.

Thanks for posting this example of a love triangle gone wrong. Do you know if there is any relevance to this case?

 

[otto]

Well I believe all the news reports indicated that he is building a home "across" from FM's in Consejo Shores. Which would indicate across the street and not oceanfront to me, but of course I could be wrong. I think another neighbour was quoted in the press and was considered to be a "next door" neighbour so I would assume that would also be oceanfront.

He was voted onto the board of directors of a condo complex in Ambergris Caye in 2014.

The link I posted above, if they got his first name incorrect and it is him, indicates that back in 2001 he had plans to build a large home in Placencia.

And this link appears to show that he IS a property "flipper" in Belize. https://flipboard.com/@DonaldRicha1mrg

So it looks like he may have property in all of the main tourist areas of Belize and is constantly looking for the next good deal. I guess we can speculate on how badly he may have wanted to purchase oceanfront in Consejo Shores? Perhaps there was no oceanfront property left to purchase?

:waitasec:

MOO

That makes him more interesting as a suspect!

 

[DirtyDR]

His name is Don . Don Richardson. He is flipping land down their . He is a CON . Flashes money like a big man. Buys off people. Has hired people to hurt other people. He is not Canadian . He is from The U.S.. A very Dirty Business man . I know this guy my entire .I grew up with this guy .

 

[DirtyDR]

He should be considered a suspect !!!

 

[DirtyDR]

"Him" the elderly American Named Don Richardson a convicted Felon from the U.S.. He is who needs to be investigated . not only for this. But laundering money stealing land selling land that isnt his the list is long. .

 

[neesaki]

"Him" the elderly American Named Don Richardson a convicted Felon from the U.S.. He is who needs to be investigated . not only for this. But laundering money stealing land selling land that isnt his the list is long. .

Do we know what state in the US this DR is from ?

 

[Kophy]

Do we know what state in the US this DR is from ?

Media outlets that used his comments re: JD threatening FM identified him as being from California.

 

[otto]

When I heard about the wealthy land baron, I assumed it was Richardson. I hope that police will take the time to investigate that neighbour as well, and not just the tenant.

 

[DirtyDR]

Last know was Bakersfiled Ca