UPDATE: After speaking with members of Kiara’s Agnew family, it has become apparant that a number of family members disagree with the sentiments in this story. We have changed our headline accordingly.
More than two and a half years after the death of a Dawson Creek woman in Mexico, some members of Kiara Agnew’s family but not all, are publicly acknowledging that they no longer believe her boyfriend is responsible for her death.
On March 3rd, 2023, Agnew was murdered while on vacation in Mexico. Kiara was in Playa del Carmen to celebrate her 24th birthday with her boyfriend, Ryan Friesen.
The day after they arrived in the Mexican Riveria, the couple were found at the resort, laying on the floor of a janitor’s closet.
Kiara was pronounced dead at the scene, while Mexican authorities arrested Friesen and took him into custody.
Friesen was acquitted in a Mexican court in September 2024 of femicide, but the family at the time remained skeptical of the verdict
“A big one is the fact that the DNA test excluded him as a possibility,” Levesque said. “It’s not new evidence, but it’s something we only just got access to. It was part of the trial, but it was information the prosecution never shared with us.”
Face-to-Face Meeting with Friesen
Kiara’s maternal aunt, Katlyn Levesque said they came to the conclusion about Friesen’s innocence, after a meeting with Ryan. It wasn’t until after this meeting that they finally gained access to case files and DNA evidence from the prosecution that hadn’t been shared from them during the trial or months leading up to it.
Levesque said, “During this meeting we got to see some videos of Kiara and Ryan arriving at the resort. I got to see them checking in and, seeing him wearing the same ripped shorts as when he got arrested. That also wasn’t really told to us either.”
Levesque shared, “I actually had a few conversations with Ryan, we’ve talked about a lot of things.”
Levesque described the meeting with Friesen saying, there was a lot of accountability taken. “There was a lot of emotional conversations had.”
Alleged Domestic Abuse
Kiara’s family had long raised concerns about alleged domestic abuse. “I’m not taking away from anything that may have happened in their relationship when they were in Canada, but facts are still facts. Running a hate campaign against somebody about moments in their relationship that are two sided and do have more depth than what is being shared, is kind of hard when you support people, that have done the same thing in their own relationship.”
Levesque mentioned that they originally believed that Friesen’s shorts were ripped as a result of a fight that night at the resort. “I saw that for myself. Pair that with the DNA results and it’s just kind of eye opening. I wouldn’t say my whole family agrees with this, but facts are facts,” said Levesque
That statement marks a striking shift from the family’s earlier public comments, when they alleged that Friesen’s acquittal could put other women at risk.
In recent weeks after the face-to-face meeting with Friesen, Levesque emphasized the need to confront the inconsistencies in the way the case was handled.
Inconsistencies From the Start
Levesque described a pattern of mismanagement and miscommunication by Mexican authorities. She said prosecutors failed to provide timely updates or key pieces of evidence, including the DNA report, and that videos the family had been told existed mysteriously disappeared.
“There’s been just some inconsistencies with how the prosecution has handled this case from the start,” Levesques said. “From Michele (Kiara’s mother) reaching out and then repeatedly not answering her in a timely manner, then not providing the results of the DNA testing, just lots of inconsistencies and having different lawyers tossed onto it.”
From Anger to Forgiveness
Levesque said she is no longer blaming Friesen for Kiara’s death. Levesque added that family members on Kiara’s father side, are still angry and still blame Friesen, referencing an online campaign.
Levesque is urging the public not to harass or vilify Friesen and instead to direct their frustrations toward a Mexican justice system she says, mishandled the case from day one.
Even with their changed view of Friesen, Kiara’s family has not stopped seeking answers. Levesque emphasized that unresolved questions remain about how Kiara died and who else may have been involved. But for now, the family says they are stepping back from public battles over Friesen’s guilt.
Seeking Closure
“From the start, my goal was always to find out what happened to Kiara and get the truth out, be respectful of everyone involved, be respectful of both families. That is something I said from the start, and I still maintain that.”
Levesque added that there’s a campaign of blame against Friesen that has made its way across Canada and she would like it to stop.
“I want to say that I’m sorry on behalf of the other members of my family that are continuing this hate campaign because it’s so misguided and it’s going in the wrong direction,” said Levesque.
When asked what her message to Friesen was on behalf on Kiara’s family, Levesque said, “Thank you. Thank you for having the conversations that you had. I know it hasn’t been the easiest, vulnerability never is. It has allowed so much healing and so much peace and serenity. It gives answers where they were lacking. It wasn’t easy to reach out and meet with us.”
Kiara’s family started a petition that has over 3,500 signature last year to demand answers and safety for Canadians abroad.