7 News Belize

Body Found at Bze-Guat Border, Could It Be Missing Canadian?
posted (December 31, 2013)
All day today, authorities in Belize have been trying to negotiate with their Guatemalan counterparts to have Canadian Kory Townsend go over to that country to see if he can positively identify a body strongly believed to be that of Brian Townsend.

The body was discovered on December 27 by Guatemalans in Arenal Village, where it was taken to Melchor and held there in hopes of someone identifying it. Viewers will know that half of Arenal is in Belize, the other half in Guatemala - this body was apparently found on the Guatemalan side.

It remained unidentified up to the point which it was buried, because it was in an advanced state of decomposition.

As we've said, it is strongly believed to be the missing 68 year old Canadian who disappeared on Christmas Day. Still, though, we stress, there has not been any absolute confirmation that it is him. From what Benque Viejo Police have been able to gather from solid sources in Guatemala, the body of the unidentified person which was buried matches the description of Brian Townsend, and they're in the works to try to get photographs to work with so that Kory Townsend can review them.

It also matches the timeline of Brian Townsend's disappearance, and reports to the authorities who are searching for him are that a vehicle matching the description of his missing pickup was seen crossing over to that area.

But while those suspicions are high, we must stress that there has NOT been absolute confirmation that this body buried in Guatemala is indeed Brian Townsend.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize