7 News Belize

Deshaies Still Detained By Coro Cops, FBI Assisting
posted (May 8, 2017)
Canadian John Deshaies remains in the custody of Corozal Police tonight. He is the only suspect presently detained for the murder of 52 year old Canadian Francesca Matus and 36 year old Drew Devoursey. Here's the report on why police believe that a local with knowledge of the area helped in disposing of the bodies:...

Joe Milhloen, Friend of Couple
"I was schedule to pick up Francesca Matus at 8:30 to transport her to the airport in Belize and when I arrived she was not at home. Her vehicle was gone."

Jules Vasquez reporting
And now, her tenant in that Consejo Shores home John Deshaies is being questioned by police. On Friday, Independence police charged him for an unrelated theft in Placencia. He says he knows nothing about the murder in Corozal:

Courtney Weatherburne, 7News
"Were you involved in the murder of your landlord Francesca Matus?"

John Deshais, Charged for Theft
"Not at all. She is very good friend of mine. Absolutely not."

After he was arraigned, Police took Deshaies straight to Corozal for further questioning about the double murders.

The FBI Police is now assisting local police. On Friday we saw them collecting evidence from Francesca Matus's Isuzu Rodeo - where she and Drew Devourseny were last seen. And Deshaies' pickup - last seen in the driveway at the home was also being scanned by the FBI investigators - it's been impounded at the police compound.

The FBI team was also taking samples from another SUV. Police believe that more than one person colluded to kill the couple and local knowledge would have been needed to take the bodies down this road at the far end of Chan Chen, and put them in a mature canefield that was about to be burned.

If one of the cane farmers hadn't been checking the field before burning, those bodies might not have been found:

Reporter
"Who discovered the body?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"It was a farmer. I believe that they would have burnt that field, but they were walking around the field to see that the fire pass and everything was made and that's when they made that discovery."

The Isuzu Rodeo was also placed in a mature canefield which was about to be burned - again showing local knowledge.

WE should stress that when they are mature, canefields are burnt, which is what was about to happen with the one In Chan Chen where the bodies were dumped.

We have learnt that the US Embassy offered the services of the FBI.

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