Family of B.C. woman killed in Mexico trying to bring her home

Kiara Agnew’s lifeless body was found in a Mexican resort Friday. Monday, her family has the grim task of making arrangements to fly the 23-year-old’s body back to Dawson Creek, B.C.

“We couldn’t protect her while she was down there, and the thought of her being down there alone, we don’t know what is happening to her,” said Tanya Roberts, Kiara’s aunt. “We need to get her home, for her mother and her father.”

Agnew and her boyfriend were celebrating her birthday in Mexico. They had arrived just a day before she died. Now, Mexican police say it’s a murder investigation.

• READ MORE: B.C. woman killed in Mexico, boyfriend detained in suspected homicide

“She was found by resort staff in a laundry room facility, and her boyfriend at the time was lying next to her. There were visible injuries, and he had blood on himself, and her blood on himself we’ve been told. And his fists were extremely, extremely swollen. My brother could only ID her through tattoos,” Roberts explained.

“She was a typical fun-loving young woman. She always was going on hikes, and her love for animals is unparalleled by anybody I’ve seen. She loved to travel and adventure and just always had a smile on her face. She was so full of life, it is such a loss not only for us, but for her community, her coworkers and friends, and based on the response that we’ve been getting, it’s a loss for Canada.”

In a tweet Friday, police in Mexico confirmed they took a man into custody – but would not confirm if it’s Agnew’s boyfriend. Mexican prosecutors say possible femicide charges are being considered.

“My only message to anybody who is a victim of domestic violence is, you have to love yourself more than you love your spouse who is hurting you.”

While the police investigation moves forward, Agnew’s family is raising money to bring her body back home.

“Mexico is now wanting $6,000 USD upfront to release her body and then it’s a $10,000 flight to get her here, then there’s a charge once she gets here, and then the cost of her funeral. So it’s terrible to have to think about money and funding at a time like this, but certainly, the people of Canada have taken that burden away from us,” said Roberts.

“Our focus is getting our girl home, and after that, we will need our privacy, but right now, it’s all hands on deck to get her home.”