Mother of Montreal man slain in Honduras seeks justice

The mother of a man slain in Honduras in October is asking the Canadian government to put pressure on Honduran authorities to catch her son's killer.

Chantal Vallée's son Themy-Alexandre Vallée, 34, was shot in the head outside a bar on the island of Roatan, a popular destination for divers and other tourists.

Honduran police have arrested a suspected accomplice in the slaying of the Montreal man, who was an officer with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

However, Vallée says the man suspected of killing her son hasn't been apprehended, although authorities know his name.

"Things are not moving," Vallée said. "I doubt there is a serious investigation. We want the Canadian government to help us to do something."

'Safe to come and visit,' vows ambassador

Honduran Ambassador to Canada Sofia Cerrato says authorities are stepping up security in tourist areas.

Cerrato said more police officers have been hired, and 600 security cameras have been installed in and around popular tourist destinations.

"We are addressing security problems," Cerrato said. "Yes, we have them … But it's safe to come and visit us."

Honduras is considered a dangerous country, with the highest homicide rate per capita in the world, according to the United Nations.

Roatan, the Bay Islands and other tourist destinations have a lower crime rate. Still, the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade warns Canadians to "exercise a high degree of caution" when visiting Honduras, because of the risk of violent crime.

In the last five years, 24 American tourists have been killed in Honduras. All of those homicides remain unsolved.

Four Canadians have been killed over the same period.

External Links

Government of Canada Travel Advisory