KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The mother of one of two British Columbia men murdered in Puerto Vallarta says she will head to Mexico as soon as possible to bring home her son’s body.
Carol Haughton said she heard the horrifying news about her son Jeffrey Ivans from one of his friends.
Ivans and Gordon Kendall, both 37, were shot to death outside a condo early Sunday.
Haughton said she also read about the incident on a Mexican news website that included graphic pictures of the murder scene, showing Ivans and Kendall on the ground and covered in blood.
“We’re all in shock,” Haughton said through tears.
The Kamloops, B.C., woman said she will fly to Mexico as soon as she can make arrangements, possibly by Wednesday.
“I’m going to bring my son home,” she said, her voice quivering with emotion.
Haughton said she does not believe Mexican authorities and RCMP, who have said the men were involved in the drug trade.
She said her son lived in Kelowna, B.C., until a couple of weeks ago and went to Mexico to work in construction for several months.
Haughton said he was a skilled heavy equipment operator who was known as a hard worker.
“He was a good person. Everybody loved him, he was a great guy.”
Ivans had four brothers and a girlfriend.
Haughton last saw Ivans in May, when he visited her in Kamloops, B.C., where he and Kendall were raised.
“They grew up together,” she said. “They were good friends.”