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Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Police kept an armed guard over the sugar road where the body was found. And when we tried to go close they told us it was off limits.

On Monday at around 4:00 a cane cutter found the bodies of Canadian Francesca Matus and American Drew Devoursney piled on top of each other.

About 150 feet down this road in Chan Chen village which is less than a mile from the Belize Mexico border:

Reporter
"Who discovered the bodies?"

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."

"Police had went to that area, it's about a mile and a half on the main road and a mile in a feeder road in a cane field. We have seen the 2 bodies. The male is partially on top of the female. The Scenes of Crimes were called in, the scene was processed. The bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition where the doctors was called in and the autopsy was done on site."

"Upon conclusion of the autopsy, the doctors conclude that the cause of death was massive strangulation."

Additionally duct tape was found on both their hands - they had been bound with it.

The vehicle was found on Sunday. It had also been hidden deep down a sugar road about 6 miles away from the bodies in Paraiso village, which is just outside Corozal Town.

The couple was last seen in that vehicle when they left this bar in Corozal Town on Tuesday night at around 11:00.

It's a popular hangout for expatriates and the owner, Colin McGowan who asked to appear off camera told us everything seemed normal:

Voice of: Colin McGowan, Owner - Scotty's Bar
"They were here last Tuesday, I was in the bar as well. Happy, content they left together. There were no problems."

But something went very wrong after that and police have one suspect, and a possible motive:

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Is that person in custody?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"So far, yes."

Reporter
"Is he a local?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"I rather not say."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Is there any indication that theft was a motive? Was anything missing from the vehicle or from the individuals?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"What I could say is that the female had on her jewelry, but to say that theft was a motive, we cannot say at this point."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Are you able to say if the suspects may have had some familiarity that these people were no on their guard then, because taking down a 6ft, 6in marine and strangled him, it wouldn't appear to be a quite easy thing. It would need a large or a significant number of people to do that."

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"At this point the investigation is still in its infancy stage and we are looking on that angle also. At this point we cannot say."

Reporter
"We know that from our investigation also that Francesca also dealt in real-estate also. Are you guys looking at that angle that she may have been some land transaction gone wrong and somebody taking revenge? Is that something that you guys are looking into?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"We are looking at all angles right now."

Reporter
"The person in custody, how long have you been questioning that person for?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"Just about 2 hours the most. We detained him today. We are looking at some threats that was made. That's all to it so far."

Reporter
"Which one of them?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"The female. That's all to it so far."

Reporter
"Can you say how recent those threats were made?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"No I can't say."

Reporter
"Did she reported it?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"No."

Reporter
"Threats against her life?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"No. Just open threats. I believe if a report of such of reported of that threat to Miss Francesca, maybe she would still be alive today. And I believe that members in the community, their community, knows exactly what was happening."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Would there be some measure of relief if it is an expatriate thing - or a foreign thing?"

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal
"Well I believe it would be to know that it's not one of our own commits such a gruesome crime."

Colin McGowan says that would be very surprising to him because he didn't know them to have enemies:

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Would it be very surprising to you if it was something that was orchestrated within the "expat" community?"

Colin McGowan, Owner - Scotty's Bar
"First of all I would say that's speculation and I wouldn't speculate on anything. If it was I would be very surprised. They were both very well liked throughout the whole community. So it hit people hard."

McGowan says the "expat" community sees it as isolated:

Colin McGowan, Owner - Scotty's Bar
"Something like this happens all over the world. Corozal is a beautiful town, very friendly town. So it hasn't shaken my sense of security, it's made me a little more cautious."

A memorial service for Francesca Matus - who lived in Corozal for 4 years - will be held on Thursday in Corozal Town. Their families were expected to arrive today. To accommodate them, police kept the bodies on site as they were found so that the families could see them. Drew Thomas De Voursey had been in Belize for about 6 months, and reportedly did own land here. Their cell phones were not found and the battery had been stolen from the vehicle.