‘We’re holding each other up:’ Kasatkins
Abbotsford couple frustrated over delays in trial of man accused of murdering daughter in Peru
Two years ago Al and Kathy Kasatkin lost contact with their daughter Kimberlee.
The mother of two was living in Peru with her common-law husband, Christopher Franz Bettocchi, who claimed she’d abandoned him and their children.
A few months later, police charged him with murder.
Since then, the Abbotsford couple has been to Peru almost half a dozen times, seeking justice for Kimberlee.
They had hoped her husband’s murder trial would begin in January, but they’ve been told a date won’t be set until he’s in custody.
He was released from jail while awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor in charge of the case was recently charged with corruption.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy to deal with the courts there, but we didn’t expect it to be this hard,” said Kathy Kasatkin.
“You can’t expect things to work the Canadian way.”
The family has seen a copy of an international warrant for Bettocchi’s arrest, and they’re hoping he will be apprehended soon.
They ’re also pursuing a civil case to gain custody of their grandchildren, who are now five and eight currently living with Bettocchi’s mother.
Kimberlee was born and raised in B.C. but moved to Peru about five years ago with Bettocchi.
The couple met while he was studying at a college on Vancouver Island.
The Kasatkins became suspicious when Kimberlee abruptly stopped making daily phone calls to her sister.
Kimberlee, who was 41 at the time of her disappearance, also has two adult children in B.C., as well as a grandchild she’s never met.
“We knew she would never leave her children,” said Kathy. “When (Bettocchi) said she’d abandoned them, we knew something was wrong.”
The couple reported their daughter’s disappearance to local police and set off for South America, where they spent six weeks asking police and prosecutors to take the case seriously.
In February 2017, Bettocchi was arrested and charged with femicide.
The case has drawn intense scrutiny from Peruvian media, which aired leaked security-camera footage showing a man believed to be Bettocchi dragging a large bag from an elevator to a vehicle in the parkade of their home.
A TV station also aired an undated home video showing a bruised Kimberlee accusing her partner of assaulting her.
After a Postmedia News story about the case, Bettocchi reached out to reporters by email.
In a message, he said he was in Peru, disputing information the Kasatkins had received that indicated he may have left the country.
“I am innocent,” he added. “I do not know, either, where Kimberlee is.”
The Kasatkins continue to hope the case will be tried.
They ’re planning another trip to Peru in February.
When asked what keeps her and Al going, Kathy is quiet for a moment.
“We seem to take turns with having the strength. If I’ve had enough, he’s got the strength. And when he’s had enough, I can go on. “We’re holding each other up.” The couple also wants some closure for Kimberlee’s siblings and children in B.C.
Her body has never been found. “In some ways, I think they’re still hoping to bring her home.”