A Canadian snowbird's tropical dream has ended in tragedy after 65-year-old Marty Thorne was found stabbed to death on her Belize property, marking another violent incident involving Canadian expatriates in the Central American country.
The Discovery at Raw Spa Cabanas
On Monday morning around 7:30 a.m., a handyman made a grim discovery at Thorne's property in Bullet Tree Village, Cayo District. After initially finding the Canadian woman missing from her Raw Spa Cabanas, he conducted a more thorough search of the premises and located her body in the yard with visible injuries.
Belize police confirmed Thorne had been stabbed to death, though local authorities have been slow to release specific details about the investigation. ASP Stacy Smith stated the handyman immediately contacted police after making the horrific discovery.
A Beloved Local Figure Cut Down
Marty Thorne, a mother of two grown sons from British Columbia, had lived in Belize for decades and was described as a beloved community member. Neighbors expressed shock and devastation at the violent death of the free-spirited masseuse who operated her cabana business in the small village near the Guatemalan border.
"I knew Ms. Thorne. We are like family... I never believed what's happened to her. I was really sad," neighbor Michael Waight told local media. "As I see the blood, I was already thinking that this is something not good... I never has seen something like this. My first time. Very scary."
Waight described Thorne as "a very friendly person, a very good person, like a family" who had no apparent enemies in the community.
A Pattern of Violence Against Canadians
Thorne's murder echoes another tragic case involving a Canadian snowbird in Belize. In 2017, 52-year-old Francesca Matus from Keswick, Ontario, was found strangled to death along with her American boyfriend in Corozol.
Matus, a semi-retired realtor who made her fortune in Toronto's booming housing market, had been a regular visitor to Belize for years. Like Thorne's case, Matus's murder remains unsolved, with local authorities making no arrests in the eight years since her death.
Global Affairs Canada has issued warnings about Belize, identifying it as one of the most violent and dangerous countries in the world. The department specifically notes that border areas like Bullet Tree Village, with its population of approximately 2,124 people, are particularly prone to violence and drug-cartel activity.
Despite these dangers, Canadian snowbirds continue to flock to Belize each winter, drawn by the warm climate and lower cost of living. Many are retirees with substantial real estate holdings, pensions, and investments who seek escape from Canada's harsh winter months.
As investigations continue into Marty Thorne's murder, statistics suggest the odds of solving her case are less than 50/50. For the friends and family of the vibrant Canadian woman who embraced life in Belize, the forecast remains cloudy with the pain of unexpected loss.
