Parent Compass Radio

She came out into the hallway shouting, “Agent Avila, He’s been shot!” Victor Avila was a US Diplomat in Mexico with the Global Trafficking and Human Initiative taking down human traffickers and fighting the cartels. Wife, Claudia, was also working at the US Embassy. Together with their two children they begin a fight for survival and justice. Can the cartel be dismantled? See and feel the love of God in this award-winning series. Subscribe for more at parentcompass.tv/subscribe. Download the Parent Compass App.

You will hear:

She came into the hallway shouting, “Agent Avila, He’s been shot!” I am trying to grab the phone from her. – Claudia

When you hear your boss say he is not aware of any security issues in Mexico, it’s a problem. – Victor

I was in charge of taking down human traffickers. – Victor

I felt warping out of one world into another. – Victor

We had a great life. – Claudia

I always knew there was risk. – Claudia

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. – Matthew 5:5

8 of them come out. We have our hands up. – Victor

No one can tell me if he was alive. – Claudia

They shot over 100 rounds. – Victor

Shot with a AK47. Bleeding profusely. – Victor

I knew he was in trouble when he said he was going to be on that highway. – Claudia

All I remember is someone pulling me away from the phone, because I wanted to talk to Victor. – Claudia

This is where my panic and my fear sets in. – Victor

We need to be a complete family. – Claudia

What about my kids. – Claudia

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:3

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4

It could have very well been my husband that died that day. – Claudia

The incident has escalated and we are having the Government of Mexico escorting us to the airport. Brace yourself. – Claudia

We have these hoods put over our heads. – Victor Emilio, age 6 at the time

They put us in the back of this suburban. – Sofia, age 10 at the time

They put a hood over my head and kind of escorted me. There was at least seven, if not more, vehicles with armed guards on the back of the trucks pointing long guns at everything. – Claudia

It was scary. – Claudia

I remember my kids just “Momma, mommy, momma.” – Claudia

This is way too much for a fire hazard. This does not make sense. – Sofia

The alarms were blaring. They were yelling at us. Keep your kids down. – Claudia

Armed vehicles next to us and it front of us and we are just hauling. What else is happening? – Claudia

Are our lives in danger? What is happening? – Claudia

We get to the airport and there is military all over the place. That is when I was told it was a cartel hit. – Claudia

Nothing made sense. – Claudia

Something is not right here. – Sofia

News trucks pulling up to the house. – Sofia

How do you tell your kids, your dad was gunned down by cartels and they killed his partner. – Claudia

Had a lot of survivor’s guilt. A lot of people died. Your partner died. But, why didn’t you die? – Victor.

Things seemed just so out of control. – Sofia

Without God, can’t make sense out of anything. – Claudia.

They won’t have to worry about me. I won’t let them down. – Victor Emilio

The seven were extradited from Mexico, charged with murder—calls for a mandatory life sentence. – Victor.

The only reason why he’s here is by the grace of God. – Sofia

I had to do calls to the family and let them know there is no one in prison for the murder of their son. – Victor

Open communication and trust and faith is the cornerstone of our family. – Claudia.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:10

You cannot have inner peace without faith. – Claudia.

We all have just become so close. – Sofia

I have changed a lot for the better. I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore. – Victor

Everything we knew just changed overnight. – Claudia.

I testified. The Zeta cartel was dismantled because of this case. – Victor

It was nothing short of a miracle. – Sofia.

Faith has always been in background. You talk to God. You ask him for guidance, for help. – Victor

If there’s tragedy, we find a way out of it. And it’s all because of Him. – Claudia

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