The spouse of an Abbotsford woman who was reported missing in Peru in November has now been charged with her murder.
Christopher Franz Bettocchi, 38, has been charged with femicide – the killing of a woman – in relation to the death of Kimberlee Kasatkin, 41.
He is being held in prison without bail until the trial, which is expected to begin in nine months, according to an update posted on the family’s GoFundMe page.
“The police have seized all his holdings and properties to search for additional evidence that may lead to the whereabouts of Kym’s body. We are hoping to bring her back home,” the page states.
The family says they are hoping to bring her two children – a six-year-old boy and three-year-old girl, who are currently with Bettocchi’s mom – back to Canada.
Kasatkin last had contact with her family on Nov. 26, 2016. Her parents, Kathleen and Alexander Kasatkin of Abbotsford, held a press conference in early January, seeking information that might lead to her whereabouts.
Kimberlee was living in Lima, Peru, with Bettocchi, who is from Peru, and their two children at the time of her disappearance.
The couple met in Victoria, where Kimberlee was attending school, and moved to Peru more than three years ago.
Kimberlee travelled to Abbotsford once or twice a year, for a few weeks at a time, and would then return to her spouse and kids.
Her last contact with her family was during a FaceTime (video conversation) call with two of her sisters.
During the press conference, Kathleen said that Bettocchi had indicated to the family that the last time he had seen Kimberlee was also on the evening of Nov. 26.
Kathleen and Alexander travelled to Peru to try to find answers to their daughter’s disappearance. It was during their time there that Bettocchi was arrested late last month.
Online reports from Peru media indicated that he was linked to her death after police reviewed security footage of a man believed to be him dragging a heavy bag or box across the parking garage of his residence and loading it into a vehicle before driving off.
Bettocchi apparently rested the bag on a wall, and police allegedly found blood there, which they tested to determine whether it belong to Kimberlee before the charges were laid.