A woman from Vancouver was discovered deceased at a spa in Belize on Monday morning following a stabbing incident, confirmed by local authorities. The body of Marty Thorne was found before 8 a.m. at RawSpa resort near Bullet Tree Village. RawSpa is situated approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Belize City and 37 kilometers southwest of Belmopan, the capital of Belize.
According to a Belize Police Department spokesperson speaking to CBC News, a caretaker noticed blood at a cabana at RawSpa, leading to the discovery of Thorne’s body about 50 meters away near a river on the property. One individual has been detained in connection with the case, while two more suspects are being sought.
Authorities suspect that Thorne may have been acquainted with the suspects, as only her cellphone was reported missing. The exact motive and cause of death have not been disclosed pending an autopsy. Thorne, who had lived in Belize since her youth but temporarily returned to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, had gone back to Belize around six weeks prior to the incident.
Police have informed Thorne’s two sons in Vancouver, whose father is of Belizean descent. When contacted via Facebook, one of Thorne’s sons expressed shock and mentioned consulting with family before granting an interview to CBC News. Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the death of a Canadian citizen in Belize and conveyed condolences to the family. Consular officials are liaising with local authorities and the family to provide necessary support, citing privacy concerns for restricting further details.