A man from Barrie, Ont. has been detained in connection with the deaths of a Keswick, Ont. woman and her American boyfriend in Belize earlier this month.
John Deshaies, 54, has been questioned by local police and named a 鈥減erson of interest鈥� in the suspected murders of Francesca Matus, 52, and Drew DeVoursney, 36, in Corozal, Belize.
Matus and DeVoursney鈥檚 bodies were found bound in a sugar cane field on May 1, six days after they were last seen leaving a local bar. Police in the Central American country said the couple died from strangulation.
Deshaies has been renting the lower level of Matus鈥� waterfront property in Corozal with his girlfriend and children for the past two years.
As he left a bail hearing for separate charges, the Canadian man proclaimed his innocence to reporters gathered outside the courthouse.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always been good friends,鈥� Deshaies said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 absolutely nothing I鈥檝e ever done to hurt her.鈥�
The construction worker said he assumes he鈥檚 being questioned about the deaths because he lives in the same house as Matus.
鈥淥therwise, there鈥檚 nothing that ever happened between us to make anybody think that,鈥� Deshaies said.
Deshaies told reporters that he鈥檚 fully co-operating with the FBI investigation into the couple鈥檚 deaths.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e taken my DNA. They鈥檝e taken my vehicles. They鈥檝e checked my entire house. There鈥檚 no reason why I would need counsel,鈥� he said.
The Barrie, Ont. man has not been charged in relation to the suspected murders.
Deshaies is facing charges of theft and possession of stolen property in relation to $50,000 worth of electronics allegedly stolen from a casino in Placencia, Belize two months ago.
