Hunting in Mexico

[elkiny]

Friends in Phoenix say Ronald C. Ryan loved Mexico and its people so much that he made regular trips south of the border, often delivering clothing and gifts to the poor. Last week, the 67-year-old Valley businessman apparently was murdered in Sonora, his corpse left in a shallow grave outside the town of Santa Ana. He had vanished May 3. Bart Hill, partners with Ryan in Sueño Sonora Outfitters, a Scottsdale company that leads hunting expeditions into Mexico, said it appears bandits killed the American retiree to get his new pickup truck, which was later recovered by police at a carwash in town. Mexican media reported this week that investigators arrested two men in the slaying, identified as a son and nephew of a prominent figure in the Sinaloa cartel. Special Agent Manuel Johnson, an FBI spokesman, said the bureau was assisting Mexican law enforcement with the investigation, but he could provide no additional information. Violence among narcotics cartels has resulted in an estimated 22,700 deaths in Mexico since 2006. That violence has rocked northern Sonora the past year, with scores of deaths and kidnappings. On May 6, the State Department issued a new advisory for Mexico, warning about travel in the Nogales area. Representatives at the U.S. Consulate declined to comment on the case. Hill said he and Ryan sponsor about 30 deer-hunting trips to cattle ranches in Mexico each year, where local cowboys serve as guides. He said Ryan also visited Sonora about twice a month, sometimes bringing clothes and other items gathered by Elias Entertainment Group, a Phoenix company whose directors own one of the ranches. "He was a very compassionate person," Hill said of Ryan. "He cherished it down there. Sueño Sonora means you're dreaming about Mexico, and that was Ronnie's passion." Hill said he and Ryan spoke recently about the violence in northern Sonora, agreeing to take precautions and not drive at night. Nevertheless, Hill said, Ryan left the ranch south of Santa Ana in pre-dawn darkness en route to Nogales, Sonora, where he was scheduled to drive a friend to the hospital for surgery at 6:30 a.m. When Ryan failed to arrive at the appointed time, Hill contacted the U.S. Consulate to report his friend missing. According to the Associated Press, the remains were discovered Saturday near a river about 60 miles from the border. Ryan, who lived in the Valley from his childhood, retired years ago from a career that included ownership of a construction-crane businesses and a self-storage outlet, as well as real-estate investments. Hill said he initially suspected that kidnappers targeted Ryan for abduction and ransom. After speaking with the FBI, Hill said, it appeared his friend was killed over the truck, a new 4-wheel-drive Dodge with chrome wheels. Hill described Ryan as eager to help others and willing to laugh with self-deprecation. He said it was painful knowing that Ryan died so needlessly."Part of me loves Mexico, and part of me is mad at Mexico right now," he added. Juan Elias is co-owner, with his brother, of a concert business that has helped provide clothing and Christmas gifts to villagers in Sonora for the past five years. Ryan had assisted them since 2008. "The mothers would come, some carrying babies with another child by the hand, walking miles just to get a toy and some candy," Elias said. "Ron saw what we were doing and he fell in love with it. He was a very fine man. . . . This has really been devastating for us." Hill said a memorial Mass is planned in Nogales, Sonora, for Ryan's friends in Mexico. No information was immediately available aboutservices in the Valley.

 

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix...l#ixzz0zfDGd27G

[tjhunt2]

Thoughts and prayers go out for the family and friends. What a sad story. For those who still think it's alright to go south of the border please be careful. It will continue to get worse before it gets better.

 

TJ

[Chef]

This is the tragedy that happened back in May of this year.

I was wondering if another incident had happened.

[elkaholic]

repost- truly sad - just a reminder - forget mexico - spend your money on a new mexico hunt or go hog hunting in texas or california -

[grizzly]

My brother goes down every year and I keep trying to talk him out of it. Mexico is a third world country that doesnt let you defend yourself. I am fluent in Spanish and have several friends who are from Mexico, both legal and illegal, but you could not pay me enough to go down to Mexico.

[D.F.M.]

Thoughts and prayers go out to friends and family.