While Belize basked in a warm 28°C on Wednesday, a stark contrast painted the skies over Hamilton – a chilling 3°C with rain threatening to fall. This is the time of year when a longing for sun-drenched escapes grips Canadians, a yearning that often translates into a southward journey.
But paradise isn’t always what it seems. The allure of exotic locales like Belize often obscures a harsh reality: these places operate under different rules, far removed from the safety and order of familiar Canadian cities.
Marty Thorne, a 65-year-old masseuse from British Columbia, embodied the spirit of adventure. She had built a life in Belize, owning and operating the Raw Spa Cabanas, and cherished her years in the country. That life was brutally cut short.
A handyman discovered Thorne missing from her property in Bullet Tree Village, near the Guatemalan border, on Monday morning. A search revealed the unthinkable – Thorne was found with visible injuries, the victim of a stabbing. Local authorities have been guarded with details, a frustratingly common occurrence in investigations within the developing world.
Those who knew Thorne remember a kind and generous soul, a woman deeply woven into the fabric of the community. “We are like family… I never believed what’s happened to her,” shared neighbour Michael Waight, his voice heavy with disbelief. He described a horrifying scene, the sight of blood a chilling first for the village.
Belize, according to Global Affairs Canada, is a country grappling with significant violence. Border regions like Bullet Tree Village are particularly vulnerable, a reality often overlooked by those seeking refuge in its tropical climate.
The dangers haven’t deterred Canadians drawn to Belize’s warmth and affordability. Francesca Matus, a 52-year-old realtor from Keswick, Ontario, was another captivated by the country’s charm, enjoying a comfortable life in the coastal town of Corozol.
Each year, Matus would escape the Canadian winter, returning home in the spring. But in 2017, she never came back. She and her American boyfriend, Drew DeVoursney, were found strangled to death, their bodies left in a sugar cane field intended to be burned.
Their murders remain unsolved, a haunting testament to the challenges of seeking justice in Belize. The odds of finding closure in Marty Thorne’s case are similarly bleak, a grim reality for her loved ones.
“Ms. Thorne was a good people,” Michael Waight repeated, a simple statement echoing the sentiment of a community in mourning. As heavy rain descends on Belize this Thursday, a sense of sorrow hangs in the air, a darkness that will linger long after the sun returns.
For others, the forecast promises a return to “rich man’s weather” – sunny skies and 29°C temperatures. But for those touched by tragedy, the warmth feels distant, a cruel reminder of paradise lost.
