DAWSON CREEK -- The community of Dawson Creek is mourning the loss of a 23-year old woman who was found dead at a resort in Mexico. The woman has been identified by family members as Kiara Agnew.
Kiara’s family said she went on what was supposed to be a “dream vacation” to celebrate her upcoming 24th birthday to Playa del Carmen with her boyfriend, but that “turned into a nightmare” when they were notified of her death on Friday.
Katlyn Levesque said she last heard from Kiara on Thursday night, “They were going to go get something to eat and go check out the beaches. She flipped the camera and showed me the view from their room and the pool. She was pretty excited.”
Levesque told CJDC TV the next day she heard from a family member that Kiara was gone.
“My reaction was complete shock. I didn't believe her at first. I didn't think I heard her right so I asked her again, like if this was real because it didn't feel real and then it just kind of hit me,” said Levesque.
SSP Solidaridad said in a statement in Spanish that police from the Secretariat of Public Security took a man into custody after “a lifeless woman was found with possible marks of violence in a hotel located in the Xcalacoco neighbourhood.”
“It's not really something that you want to hear or even think is going to happen to you because you read about it on the news and you see it on TV, but you never really think it's going to happen to your family,” said Levesque.
Mexican police have told the family that Kiara’s body was found in the laundry room of the resort. According to the Mexican government, a hotel worker found Kiara’s body and the alleged suspect sleeping beside her on the floor.
According to the Riviera Maya News, the employee pointed out “26-year-old Ryan “N”, originally from Canada, who presented apparent blood stains on his clothes and swelling on his hands and next to him, a woman lying face up on the ground with visible injuries and blood stains,” the SSP reported.
In a news brief, the State Attorney General’s Office reported that “an investigation was initiated on a foreign person arrested for his probable participation in the femicide of a Canadian woman that occurred in a hotel in the Riviera Maya.”
Police say they believe there was enough evidence to immediately arrest the Canadian man on suspicion of murder. A man from Dawson Creek has being detained for the suspected homicide of his 23-year-old girlfriend at the resort south of Cancun.
Global Affairs Canada has confirmed it is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen and the detention of another Canadian citizen in Mexico.
Kiara worked at the Lake View Credit Union in Dawson Creek. In a Facebook post it announced “the loss of our teammate and friend. This is a devastating tragedy and loss for our community.”
Kiara’s family describes her a loving and caring person. Kiara’s was going to be celebrating her 24th birthday on March 11th. Now, her family is arranging for her body to be brought back to Dawson Creek.
A GoFundMe page has raised more than $23,000 towards bringing Kiara home and to help with funeral costs.
Levesque has also set up an email address loveisntalwaysenough@gmail.com for donations including e-Transfers.
Levesque said the family is waiting for the results of an autopsy.
So far no charges have been laid. The family says if a trial is to be held, they have been told it will be held in Mexico.
Levesque said her family is aware that this a horrible time for everyone including the suspect’s family. “We are asking the public to please be mindful and respectful, not only to our family, but to the family of the alleged suspect as well, because we're all going through something that is beyond tragic and spreading hate is not what Kiara would have wanted,” added Levesque
”She deserves justice. She deserves for the truth to come out,” said Levesque.
