Canadian questioned in death of Francesca Matus charged with robbery
Posted May 6, 2017 9:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Canadian man detained by police in Belize in connection with the death of an Ontario woman in the Central American country has been charged with robbery.
7News Belize has identified the man as John Deshaies, who rented the basement of Francesca Matus’s home in Corozal. They add he is a contractor who has been living in Corozal for about three years.
The bodies of Matus and her American boyfriend Drew Devoursey were discovered almost a week ago in a sugar cane field. Police said the bodies were in an “advanced state of decomposition” and their wrists had been bound together with tape.
Police added the pair died of strangulation.
Deshaies was among several suspects detained by police in Belize as part of the investigation into the death of Matus and Devoursey. However, the robbery charge stems from an unrelated case.
Police say they intend to further question Deshaies about the murders but he told 7News that he had nothing to do with Matus’s death.
“Not at all. She is very good friend of mine. Absolutely not.”
A spokesman with Global Affairs Canada confirmed on Thursday that consular officials were assisting the family of the detained Canadian and were in contact with local authorities.
