Okla. Family Tries To Bring Man's Body Home After Being Killed In Mexico

An Oklahoma dad and veteran was brutally killed in Mexico. Now, a month later, his family is fighting a stack of bureaucratic red tape, trying to bring him home. 

Josh Farley, 29, was likely killed by the cartel in Guadalajara. He was beaten so badly, his face is unrecognizable. 

Josh Farley’s family said he was a free spirit.

“He liked to laugh. And have fun. He loved his three children. He loved his entire family but his free spirit took him to different places, and he began to love the Mexican culture,” said Josh’s father, Tim Farley.

So, Josh Farley moved to Mexico and had a family. 

“He loved Mexico. And I guess he expected the people there to treat him like family as well, and love him back. Unfortunately, that’s not how it worked out,” said Josh’s sister, Lindsey Farley.

“He was more than likely beaten. Heavy facial injuries. We were told he was knocked over the head, and that his body was dumped in a canyon outside of Guadalajara. And who knows how long it was there. A week? Ten days? Two weeks? We really don’t know,” Tim Farley said.

Josh’s father remembered getting the call. 

“It kind of like was like a heat or something running through your body when you hear those words. ... Two friends of his said they had identified the tattoos. I mean, I didn’t believe it,” Tim Farley said.

“Just hearing my brother had died at 29 years old, very violently, it’s, it’s awful and I don’t know where to even begin to start the process of mourning,” Lindsey Farley said.

On Wednesday, the embassy told the Farleys the tattoo identification will be enough, and they'll begin the process of returning the body to the U.S. 

Josh Farley's family said he deserves to be back home and at peace.

"And I think we do, too,” Lindsey Farley said. “I think, 100% my brother would have wanted that for us, too. He would have wanted to be back here with us.”

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with the cost of bringing the remains back to Oklahoma.