An American mother of three has been shot dead by thieves who invaded her farm in Ecuador, where she and her husband built their own “humble Shangri-La”.
Francesca Williams, of Poway, California, was shot in the back – near her heart – as the group of men tied up and beat her husband, stabbed her father and terrorized her three young daughters as they searched through their house.
The five surviving family members “enduring horrific trauma” after the invasion, in which Francesca, 44 – remembered as the “light of their lives” – was killed on May 20.
Michael Williams, her husband, now remembers the horrific moment he realized their idyllic rural farmhouse in Vilcabamba, Ecuador was overrun.
Francesca Williams, from Poway, California, lived in Colorado before moving to Ecuador with her family. But they experienced a terrifying break-in, during which Francesca was shot
Francesca Williams, her husband Michael and their three daughters Rachel, Renee and Rebekah. They all lived on the farm in Vilcabamba, Ecuador
The view of the family’s rural house in Vilcabamba, Ecuador
He said KDVRName: ‘We have to navigate this heartbreak that we are about to go through. There are a ton of different stages right now, we’re on a heightened level of anxiety and security because we’re not in a safe place.
“We never imagined that people were stalking us.
“We are so far away. It is a three kilometer journey to and from. And walking and coming and going, it’s incomprehensible.
Williams was outside when he felt like he had been hit in the head with a brick – then Rachel, the daughter of a Francesca, saw her grandfather on the ground with strange men, pushing them away.
She then heard gunshots. The men entered the house ordering her and her other sister Renee to ask in Spanish where the “great aunt” was.
Rachel said that was when she realized they may have had the wrong house, as no one fitting that description had ever been on their property.
Francesca Williams, of Poway, California, was shot in the back – near her heart – as the group of men tied up and beat her husband, stabbed her father and terrorized her three daughters as they searched through their House.
Francesca was killed, while her husband and father (pictured) were beaten and stabbed during the ordeal. The girls were physically unharmed but suffered the horrific home raid
Meanwhile, Michael was tied up by the thieves as they searched the house, stealing their belongings before finally leaving.
It was then that he got up and looked for his wife – whom he found shot dead.
Michael said: ‘I found my wife and she had been killed. We ran down the hill and into our car and took her to emergency services, but it was too late for her.
Their other daughter Rebekah saw what was happening and fled to a nearby jungle area.
Speaking about how Francesca was doing everything she could to help her family when the robbers arrived, Michael said: “I think they saw Francesca as a threat and she was physically able to handle this man .”
“I think things could have been a lot worse if it hadn’t been for her. She probably did her best to make sure we were all okay.
The family moved to the countryside from their home in Colorado and established a rural lifestyle, where they cared for animals and lived in the countryside.
Marianna Bacilla, Francesca’s adoptive mother who lives in California, started a fundraising page for her daughter following the tragedy.
Francesca has often shared images of her stage life in Ecuador. It is unclear if this is his photographed farm
Francesca (left) pictured with one of her daughters
The GoFundMe read: “On Saturday evening May 20, my daughter Francesca Williams was killed in a home invasion robbery at her farm in Ecuador.
“My three granddaughters are physically unharmed, but the trauma is immeasurable. My son-in-law, Michael, was badly beaten.
“Francesca’s biological father, John, whom she cared for, was stabbed multiple times. Michael and John are discharged from the hospital and are physically fine.
“They all suffered horrible trauma. Their Ecuadorian community fully embraces them – takes care of them until they all return to the United States at the end of May.
“We are working with the US Consulate in Ecuador to help return Francesca’s body to the United States.
Writing about her daughter, she wrote: “Francesca was the light of our lives. She was a devoted wife and mother of three beautiful daughters. She graduated from Poway High School and UCSD with a BA in linguistics.
“She was fluent in French, Spanish and Lithuanian. She was a translator and a passionate writer and illustrator who had published her first book, “The King’s Magic”. In the small town of Vilcabamba, Ecuador, Francesca’s family lived on a small farm they built themselves, raising chickens, goats, horses, pigs, ducks and guinea fowl, working for a purpose. of sustainable agriculture. – It was their humble Shangri-La.
“His family will return to their home in Colorado. Francesca will be buried at Riverside Cemetery in Kremmling, CO.
“She will be buried next to my sister Stephanie, the biological mother of Francesca who died in 2021, shortly after Mark, my late husband.
“Thank you for understanding the need to share my heart and pain with you. We appreciate your support.’
