Police have launched homicide investigations into the deaths of a 52-year-old Canadian woman and a 36-year-old American man in Belize after a post-mortem examination revealed that both had died from strangulation.
Autopsies were performed on the couple Tuesday morning, Belizeâs Corozal Police Department confirmed to ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝.
Francesca Matus and Drew De Voursney were reported missing after they were last seen leaving a local bar in Corozal, Belize on April 25.
After nearly a week of searching, Matusâ white SUV was discovered on Sunday in a sugarcane field near the village of Paraiso, located approximately 15 kilometres away from the bar. Police say the coupleâs bodies were found together a day later in an âadvanced state of decompositionâ by a search party in a sugarcane field in Chan Chen Village, in the countryâs northern Corozal District.
Police say both Matus and De Voursney had tape around their wrists then they were found. They believe that murders are a case of a robbery gone wrong.
Matus leaves behind twin 22-year-old sons.
Jackie Logan, a friend of Matusâ, told CTV Toronto that Matus owned a beachfront property in Belize
âShe spent this past winter there and then she was due to come back and she didn't make it on the plane,â Logan said in an emotional interview with CTV Toronto. âShe deserves so much better than this. She really does.â
On a rainy Tuesday, friends and neighbours stopped by Matusâ Keswick, Ont. home to lay flowers in front of the house. Many expressed shock and disbelief.
âThis is just a horrible situation,â neighbour Tony Tallon told CTV Toronto. âJust horrible.â
Neighbour Ryah Lopizzo described Matus as âa good friendâ and âa great neighbour.â
âIt's just a complete shock that she had to go through this.â
With files from CTV Toronto and The Canadian Press