A wealthy real estate developer from Colorado who was found dead at his luxury villa complex in Belize is thought to be the victim of a professional assassination, possibly by a former disgruntled business partner who is already in custody.
Local police said Boris Mannsfeld, 56, was shot to death in his yard on Friday at The Villas at Cocoplum, one of the residential communities he helped develop on the southeastern coast of the Central American country.
His death comes as two of his former employees at Boris Mannsfeld and Associates, Ricardo Borja and Darren Taylor, were killed in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The news was first reported Saturday morning by Breaking Belize News, with the outlet revealing that Mannsfeld had a single gunshot wound to the back of his neck.
A loaded 9mm pistol, Mannsfeld’s wallet and a spent shell casing was found near his body, police told the outlet.
Mannsfeld spent 10 years as a developer in Denver before moving to Belize and starting Boris Mannsfeld and Associates in 2010, according to his company profile.
Belize Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told local journalists Monday that they have arrested Frik de Meyere, a former associate of Mannsfeld, as a suspect in his murder.
‘The shooting of Boris Mannsfeld has all indications of a hit,’ Williams said in a briefing. ‘He was in his yard when, seemingly, he was approached by whoever the gunman or gunmen are, and he was shot once in the head behind the neck.’
Boris Mannsfeld, a 56-year-old real estate developer based in Belize, was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the back of the neck. Police suspect it was a professional hit over business disagreements
Mannsfeld’s body was found at The Villas at Cocoplum, a luxury housing development in the southeastern coast of Belize
De Meyere, who was born in Belgium, spent 12 years as the general manager of Mannsfeld’s company before leaving in August 2023.
De Meyere hasn’t been charged with a crime, with Williams referring to him as both a ‘suspect’ and a ‘person of interest.’
Police said they are investigating Mannsfeld’s financial transactions, as he was involved in several civil disputes before his death over potentially shady business practices.
Journalists at the press briefing raised the possibility of Mannsfeld’s death being connected somehow to the murders of Borja and Taylor, an idea Williams did not rule out.
Before his death in 2023, Borja claimed that De Meyere was behind a land fraud scheme. He was allegedly killed before he could reveal his supposed evidence to authorities, according to Belizean newspaper Amandala.
‘It will not be wrong for one to assume that there may be some connection there, and we’re looking at that possibility,’ Williams said.
Sometime in January, Mannsfeld sent an email to trusted individuals about a ‘massive fraud case’ that involved millions in stolen assets and money laundering.
He also referenced the deaths of Borja and Taylor, plus a $3.9 million lawsuit he was involved in against a former associate, Breaking News Belize reported.
Frik de Meyere, a former associate of Mannsfeld, was arrested in connection to his murder. He remains a suspect and hasn’t been charged with a crime
Police are investigating whether the killings of Ricardo Borja (left) and Darren Taylor, both former employees at Mannsfeld’s company, are connected to Mannsfeld’s murder
Mannsfeld’s fascination with Belize began in 1992, when he visited the Placencia Peninsula for the first time. By 2006, he established a new home for his family in the area, known for its gorgeous beaches
It’s not clear if De Meyere was that former associate he was battling in court.
Mannsfeld appeared to have knowledge that he was in danger, instructing the people he contacted to release important evidence he had – including names, bank details, receipts, messages and passwords – to major news outlets and US lawmakers if something ever happened to him, Channel 5 Belize reported.
Police said they are reviewing the January email from Mannsfeld to see if there’s a connection to Borja or Taylor.
DailyMail.com approached the Belize Police Department for further comment on the ongoing investigation.
According to his company profile, Mannsfeld leaves behind children. It’s unclear if he was married at the time of his death.
His fascination with Belize began in 1992, when he visited the Placencia Peninsula for the first time. By 2006, he established a new home for his family in the area, known for its gorgeous beaches.
The Villas at Cocoplum, where he was murdered, was Mannsfeld’s first major development on the peninsula.
Mannsfeld was highly involved in the community as one of the founding members of Placencia’s volunteer fire department. He was also sworn in as a member of the Belize Police Department.
