'It's just sad”: Friends mourn Keswick woman slain in Belize

Keswick woman remembered by friends Friends and neighbours of a Keswick woman killed in Belize are devastated after learning of her death. CTV Barrie’s Mike Arsalides reports.

Friends and neighbours of a Keswick woman killed in Belize are stunned she won’t be coming home.

A memorial has formed outside of Francesca Matus’ home, as the people who knew her best lay flowers and pay their respects.

“She was just so friendly with everybody. It's just sad,” says Joe Eastman.

“Everywhere she went, she just lit the place up and everyone's friend and what can I say? Just horrible, absolutely horrible,” says Tony Tallon.

Matus moved to Keswick two years ago. She had finally just finished renovating her home and wanted to enjoy it this summer with friends and her 21-year-old twin boys.

The night before she was supposed to fly home, something happened and now Matus and her American boyfriend are dead. Both were found strangled in a sugar cane field near Matus' home in Belize.

Police say both victims’ hands were bound.

“My dad was there last week or the week before that. She was a great person,” says Tallon.

Jackie Logan says Matus was a once in a lifetime friend. She loved her like a sister.

“She just became part of our family. The first time she came here to meet my daughter, she grabbed my daughter's phone and she just loved her instantly and she said ' you know what, I'm going to be your second mom and in Christina's phone now it says Francesca - second mom.'”

Matus is also survived by her mother, brother and nephew.