A Marine veteran from Atlanta and his Canadian girlfriend were found dead in Belize on Monday. The couple had been missing for a week when their bodies were discovered.
ABC reports that Drew DeVoursney, 36, and Francesca Matus, 52, disappeared after an evening out at Scotty’s Bar and Grill in Corozal on April 25. On Friday, a friend reported the couple missing after he arrived at Matus’ home in the Corozal District to take her to the airport. She was scheduled to fly back to her Toronto home. The friend also reported that Matus’ bicycle was missing.
Update: Toronto woman, American man killed in Belize. Drew DeVoursney had done 2 tours of duty in Iraq https://t.co/IsCSDtCeiJ pic.twitter.com/LgABx2p3pB
— CityNews Toronto (@CityNews) May 2, 2017
On Sunday, authorities found Matus’ white 1998 Isuzu Rodeo in a sugar cane field, around 10 miles from Scotty’s Bar and Grill. On Monday, a search party found their bodies on a road near the field. So far, authorities haven’t disclosed how the couple died or whether they were victims of foul play, but numerous media outlets and the victims’ loved ones have said that they were both killed.
DeVoursney, who did two tours of duty in Iraq, moved to Corozal in December. He was staying with a friend but planned to return to Atlanta on April 21 for trade school. DeVoursney and Matus met in Corozal and had only been dating a few months.
Francesca Matus,Drew DeVoursney Dead Bodies Found Sugar Cane Fields, #Missing #Belize #crime #travel #touristhttps://t.co/xiWgYtiwlU pic.twitter.com/vf8rfQNpnw
— Traciy Curry-Reyes (@Traciyreyes) May 2, 2017
DeVoursney’s mother, Char DeVoursney, told People that the couple’s hands had been duct taped and they were both murdered. Char said she’d been in constant contact with the U.S. Embassy, but so far, they haven’t told her exactly how her son was killed.
“They wouldn’t tell us how they were murdered, but they said they were murdered…..I’m not able to really do anything, kind of just sit and think and cry and that’s all I’m capable of at the moment.”
The Toronto Star reported that the couple was strangled and that their bodies were already “in an advanced state of decomposition.” Police have not yet confirmed or denied the claims.
Officials with the U.S. Embassy confirmed that they were aware of the incident but declined to comment any further.
The story is still developing. Check back Crime Online as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Family Handouts]
