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

[casesensitive]

Thanks dotr. Belize has succumbed to extreme violence. I hope the word has spread to vacationers, and if I owned a vacation house there, I would sell it and get the heck out.

“So far, six months into 2019, there are 70 murders and that is not counting those people still missing … and those whose remains have yet to be identified,” Briceno said. “Crime is an issue which should never be made political, it’s a problem that requires all sectors of society to fight it together.”

Swank and his tour guide, Mario Nestle Graniel Jr., 53, were killed during a fly-fishing expedition in the San Pedro Town lagoon — five days after a group of five fishermen were shot to death in Swallow Caye."

https://nypost.com/2019/06/26/docto...-killed-during-week-long-bloodbath-in-belize/

 

[JerseyGirl]

There have been no arrests and the case appears to have gone cold with sources telling The Toronto Sun the murders are unlikely to ever be solved.

PERIL IN PARADISE: Snowbird murders in the tropics

 

[dotr]

April 28 2020
HUNTER: No answers on 2017 Belize murder of Keswick woman

''Thousands of miles from home.

Three years later, it doesn’t appear cops in two countries are any closer to unravelling the mysterious strangulation murders of Keswick real estate speculator Francesca Matus, 52, and her boyfriend, former U.S. Marine, Drew DeVoursney, 36, of Georgia.

From the start, detectives believed that the murders were carried out by more than one person. DeVoursney stood 6’6″ and could handle himself in a fight. It would have taken a gun or more than one conspirator.''

''Sadly, homicide is not a rarity in Belize. The tiny nation has the highest murder rate in the world. Some of the dead have been Canadians.

Most of the slayings are connected to the drug trade and tiny Corazol in the country’s northeast corner is not far from the killing fields of Mexico.

Maybe Matus saw something she wasn’t supposed to? Cops aren’t saying.''

 

[Trvl4Lyfe]

I'm sure it's been said but these countries don't have the funds or manpower to go after these cases in the details that may be needed. So that unfortunately can equate to not caring so much.

 

[dotr]

Did FM see or hear something others did not want repeated, did she contact LE?
Reminded of FM's brutal murder in 2017 and how the sugar cane field where she and D. were found , was about to be burned. fwiw, imo.
April 2020 rbbm.
Former Sault resident's killer still not found
''Now, the doomed duo’s final resting place would be a sugar cane field about to be scorched.''
''From the start, detectives believed that the murders were carried out by more than one person. DeVoursney stood six-foot-six and could handle himself in a fight. It would have taken a gun or more than one conspirator''

Family of Keona Ara Fears that They Won’t Get Justice for Her Murder | Channel5Belize.com
Aug 4 2020
Family of Keona Ara Fears that They Won’t Get Justice for Her Murder

Keona Ara
''She was stabbed multiple times to the back and stomach and her throat slit before her body was set on fire. On March eleventh, 2017, the body of the eighteen-year-old was found burning at the Belmopan Dump Site by a caretaker, on routine patrol. Her upper body and face were burnt beyond recognition, but it was tattoos on her left arm that Mai identified as that of her daughter’s. Tonight, the family of Ara fears that they won’t get justice for murder.''

''Teakettle residents Shaylon Santos and Jamie Patnett were charged back in 2017 for the murder of Keona Ara and have been on remand for over three years''.

''Sherlene Mai says that she and her family are in fear of their lives because two weeks prior to her murder, Keona’s life had been threatened. She says that a report was made to the police, but the statement could not be located''.

 

[dotr]

Also noting Drew D's interest in fishing and the double murder of an American cardiology doctor and his guide..fwiw,imo.
July 2, 2019
Belizean authorities reportedly release main suspect in Roanoke doctor's murder
''SAN PEDRO, BELIZE – Authorities have released the main suspect in the murder of Dr. Gary Swank and his tour guide, Mario Graniel, according to 7 News Belize. ''

''Swank, 53, was a cardiologist at Carilion Clinic and was on a fly fishing expedition. He had recently been promoted to associate professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.''

 

[Wondergirl]

Also noting Drew D's interest in fishing and the double murder of an American cardiology doctor and his guide..fwiw,imo.
July 2, 2019
Belizean authorities reportedly release main suspect in Roanoke doctor's murder
''SAN PEDRO, BELIZE – Authorities have released the main suspect in the murder of Dr. Gary Swank and his tour guide, Mario Graniel, according to 7 News Belize. ''

''Swank, 53, was a cardiologist at Carilion Clinic and was on a fly fishing expedition. He had recently been promoted to associate professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.''

That's a good catch, Dotr.

Doesn't seem like there is any effort or hope in these cases, does it?

 

[dotr]

DREW DEVOURSNEY | Federal Bureau of Investigation

• 
  
• 
• Reward:
  "The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 USD for information leading directly to an arrest for the murder of United States citizen Drew Devoursney.
  
  Details:
  Drew Devoursney was last seen leaving Scotty’s Bar in Corozal, Belize on April 25, 2017, with his Canadian girlfriend Francesca Matus. Drew and Francesca were found murdered on May 1, 2017, in Corozal.
  
  Submit a Tip:
  If you have any information, please contact the FBI Miami Field Office at 754-703-2000, your nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or send a text message with the information to Belize telephone number 603-1144.
  Field Office: Miami''

 

[dotr]

Diving..
Ex-Marine and girlfriend found 'strangled'
''Mrs DeVoursney says that her son had been travelling to Belize off and on for four years to visit friends. After studying to become a master diver, he hoped to move to Belize permanently and open up a diving school, she said.

Described as "adventurous and committed", DeVoursney dropped out of college and enlisted in the Marines following 9/11.''
ETA
And fishing too.

NY Daily News

 

[dotr]

HUNTER: Cuba $hakes down Niagara murder victim's family | Toronto Sun
Mar 04, 2021
''A lot like Francesca Matus, except her poison was Belize.

The 52-year-old Keswick woman and her boyfriend, Drew DeVoursney, 36, of Georgia, were strangled to death in a sugar cane field in 2017 after goodbye drinks with pals at a local watering hole.

Nearly four years later the investigation is at a standstill and remains unsolved.
But what interested me was that her family told the same dreary tale of dealing with Global Affairs. Red tape, runarounds, scream-invoking frustration.

And the Americans?

They dispatched a team of FBI agents to Belize to assist local cops in the investigation.

So far, the probe has landed in Nowheresville but at least the U.S. was cognizant that, yes, one of its citizens had been violently murdered and maybe something should be done.''
DREW DEVOURSNEY | Federal Bureau of Investigation

• 
• 

Date(s) of Birth Used February 5, 1981
Race White
Nationality American
Reward:
"The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 USD for information leading directly to an arrest for the murder of United States citizen Drew Devoursney.

Details:
Drew Devoursney was last seen leaving Scotty’s Bar in Corozal, Belize on April 25, 2017, with his Canadian girlfriend Francesca Matus. Drew and Francesca were found murdered on May 1, 2017, in Corozal.

Submit a Tip:
If you have any information, please contact the FBI Miami Field Office at 754-703-2000, your nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or send a text message with the information to Belize telephone number 603-1144.
Field Office: Miami

Submit an anonymous Tip online''

 

[Satchie]

HUNTER: Cuba $hakes down Niagara murder victim's family | Toronto Sun
Mar 04, 2021
...
They dispatched a team of FBI agents to Belize to assist local cops in the investigation.

So far, the probe has landed in Nowheresville but at least the U.S. was cognizant that, yes, one of its citizens had been violently murdered and maybe something should be done.''

The FBI has overseas offices in many locations, including Belize.

They do not investigate all deaths of Americans (for eg, Faye Lin Cannon), they're primarily there to stay on top of anything that involves US interests such as organized crime, drug smuggling, terrorism, corruption, and Cuba.

Overseas Offices | Federal Bureau of Investigation

Reynaldo Verde, Deputy Director of Belize Tax Services, nabbed in US on extortion charge: FBI

The USA is a world superpower, Canada is not. As well, some countries are not willing to have US secret operators on their soil, but so far Belize seems okay with it.

If an American is murdered in Canada, the FBI is not allowed in move in to investigate.

 

[Ambergold2003]

That isn't entirely correct. The FBI and special sections of the RCMP do work together and share info.

 

[dotr]

By Peter Edwards
March 20 2022 rbbm.
A GTA mom’s Caribbean murder looked like a hit | The Star
''Whoever murdered York Region mother Francesca Matus and her American boyfriend Drew (Devo) DeVoursney in the tiny Caribbean country of Belize didn’t do it for the money.

Matus’s brother Tony Rino is sure of that much.
“100 per cent, it was a hit,” Rino, an Ottawa school teacher, said in an interview. “If it was a robbery, they would have taken everything … Nothing was stolen, other than my sister’s cellphone.”

After that, things get murkier for Rino, who has done his best to probe into the murder of his big sister, who was 52 when she was slain in the spring of 2017.

Rino says he’s sure he’s not getting the full story from officials in Belize.
Messages to the police there about the case from the Star were not returned.
“People know what happened,” Rino says. “No one’s saying.”

''She had planned to fly back to Toronto on April 26, 2017, while DeVoursney was planning to go back to Atlanta, Ga., where his mother lived.

On April 25, 2017, the night before her scheduled flight, there was a going-away party at Scotty’s Bar and Grill in Corozal and then the couple left together in her 1998 white Isuzu Rodeo.
Matus never made the flight to Toronto. Her luggage, passport and cash were found in her Belize home, set off the beaten path on a 2 ½ acre property.
“Nothing was touched,” Rino said. “Nothing.”

The farmer later told a reporter that he was alerted to the bodies by something that smelled evil in his sugar cane field.
He found the bodies decomposed in the heat, with DeVoursney stacked on top of Matus.
They were both still wearing their clothes from the going-away party at Scotty’s.
DeVoursney had on a Toronto Maple Leafs T-shirt while Matus wore pink denim shorts, a blouse and wedge shoes.

Rino says he was troubled by what he considers a low standard for local police.
“They didn’t even have a body bag,” Rino says. “My sister got brought out on an old door. Drew was brought out on a piece of plywood.”
An autopsy determined they had been strangled.''

''The FBI offered a reward of up to $10,000 (US) for information leading directly to an arrest for the murder of DeVoursney. There were no takers, but plenty of cranks.
“People were just making up things, just to get a reward,” Rino said.
Meanwhile, one of the homicide investigators tried to buy his sister’s Isuzu for $250 (US), Rino says, adding the officer then backed out of the deal.''

 

[Wondergirl]

By Peter Edwards
March 20 2022 rbbm.
A GTA mom’s Caribbean murder looked like a hit | The Star
''Whoever murdered York Region mother Francesca Matus and her American boyfriend Drew (Devo) DeVoursney in the tiny Caribbean country of Belize didn’t do it for the money.

Matus’s brother Tony Rino is sure of that much.
“100 per cent, it was a hit,” Rino, an Ottawa school teacher, said in an interview. “If it was a robbery, they would have taken everything … Nothing was stolen, other than my sister’s cellphone.”

After that, things get murkier for Rino, who has done his best to probe into the murder of his big sister, who was 52 when she was slain in the spring of 2017.

Rino says he’s sure he’s not getting the full story from officials in Belize.
Messages to the police there about the case from the Star were not returned.
“People know what happened,” Rino says. “No one’s saying.”

''She had planned to fly back to Toronto on April 26, 2017, while DeVoursney was planning to go back to Atlanta, Ga., where his mother lived.

On April 25, 2017, the night before her scheduled flight, there was a going-away party at Scotty’s Bar and Grill in Corozal and then the couple left together in her 1998 white Isuzu Rodeo.
Matus never made the flight to Toronto. Her luggage, passport and cash were found in her Belize home, set off the beaten path on a 2 ½ acre property.
“Nothing was touched,” Rino said. “Nothing.”

The farmer later told a reporter that he was alerted to the bodies by something that smelled evil in his sugar cane field.
He found the bodies decomposed in the heat, with DeVoursney stacked on top of Matus.
They were both still wearing their clothes from the going-away party at Scotty’s.
DeVoursney had on a Toronto Maple Leafs T-shirt while Matus wore pink denim shorts, a blouse and wedge shoes.

Rino says he was troubled by what he considers a low standard for local police.
“They didn’t even have a body bag,” Rino says. “My sister got brought out on an old door. Drew was brought out on a piece of plywood.”
An autopsy determined they had been strangled.''

''The FBI offered a reward of up to $10,000 (US) for information leading directly to an arrest for the murder of DeVoursney. There were no takers, but plenty of cranks.
“People were just making up things, just to get a reward,” Rino said.
Meanwhile, one of the homicide investigators tried to buy his sister’s Isuzu for $250 (US), Rino says, adding the officer then backed out of the deal.''

Thanks, Dotr.

I follow the Belize news station on Facebook still to this day because of this case.

The number of people who are absolutely slaughtered for next to no reason, astounds me. As does the lack of standards, as she says in this article.

I have no doubt that a "hit" in that country would have cost next to nothing to pay for.

I think there are a couple of really good candidates with motive in this case.

It's very unfortunate that justice will likely never come.

WG

 

[Curious Me]

Wondering if FM and DD ran into this guy who is believed to be hiding in Belize, maybe as an ex Marine he was recognized by Drew, also he is known to work in construction.?
Speculation, imo.rbbm.

Murdred woman's mom investigates fugitive boyfriend suspect 02/01/2017

I haven't been following this case. I was interested in finding a thread for Krystal Mitchell, 30, found beaten and strangled during a visit to San Diego from Phoenix on June 10, 2016. No thread for her. You did mention him. He's finally been captured and your speculations about others may be real. The victim's mother was instrumental in catching this guy. Just in case this ties in, I will leave some current news articles about this suspect. He is said to maybe have beaten other women in Guatemala and Belize. ​

"Mitchell's mother, Josephine Funes Wentzel, a former police detective who was fundamental to locating McLeod."

[...]

"Wentzel worked tirelessly to locate McLeod and received numerous tips regarding the defendant. According to the mother, she was contacted by a woman in Guatemala who claimed the defendant beat her neighbor's daughter, was informed McLeod allegedly beat another woman in Belize, was told he's accused of bludgeoning a dog to death in Belize and was also informed he is suspected of killing an elderly hostile owner who was found dead with a broken neck. The District Attorney's Office and U.S. Marshalls have not confirmed those allegations."

MSN

Student: Fugitive wanted for murder was his English teacher for 2 years

Raymond McLeod arrested in El Salvador for 2016 murder of his girlfriend in San Diego.

www.cbs8.com

NBC 7 Staff • Published September 2, 2022 • Updated 5 hours ago see Video​

Ex-Marine Captured in El Salvador Pleads Not Guilty in Girlfriend's San Diego Murder

The former U.S. Marine who was arrested in El Salvador after landing on the U.S. Marshals’ 15 Most Wanted Fugitives pleaded not guilty on Friday to the murder of his then-girlfriend – more than six years after she was found dead in an Allied Gardens apartment.

www.nbcsandiego.com

 

[dotr]

Just noting the recent murder (believed to be 'a hit') of an American real estate developer in Belize, fwiw..

American Boris Mannsfeld Murdered in Placencia

Police are investigating the murder of 56-year-old Boris Alexander Mannsfeld, an American real estate developer.

edition.channel5belize.com

Feb.22, 2025

American Boris Mannsfeld Murdered in Placencia

Police are investigating the murder of 56-year-old Boris Alexander Mannsfeld, an American real estate developer.

edition.channel5belize.com

''Mannsfeld was originally from Colorado but moved to Belize in 2006, where he built the Villas at Cocoplum, which was considered one of Placencia’s top real estate developments. In a January 2025 email, Mannsfeld described a high-profile fraud case as involving stolen assets, money laundering, and the deaths of two associates, Ricardo Borja and Darren Taylor.

In the email, Mannsfeld stated that he had securely stored important evidence and shared it with trusted individuals, instructing them to release all files—such as names, bank details, receipts, messages, and passwords—to major news outlets and US lawmakers if anything were to happen to him.''

 

[dotr]

Nov 28, 2024

HUNTER: Where's the mastermind in Canadian man's Guyana murder?

Foreign morgues have never been strangers to Canadians murdered overseas.

torontosun.com

When Keswick mother-of-two Francesca Matus and her American boyfriend were viciously murdered in a sugar cane field in Belize on the night before she was flying home, the U.S. reacted. A team of FBI agents was dispatched to the violent Central American country to investigate.
Canada? Nada.
The 2017 double murder remains unsolved.''

Francesca Matus was murdered in Belize in 2017. FACEBOOK