Francesca and Michael Williams spent nearly a decade building a new life in the Ecuadorian countryside – living off the land on their “humble Shangri-La” farm with their three teenage daughters.
But their dream life was shattered one Saturday night, when a gang of men approached their secluded home and killed Francesca as she hung up the washing.
California-born mother-of-three, Francesca, 44, was shot in the back as the assailants tied up and beat up her husband, stabbed her father and terrorized her three young daughters before rummaging through their home.
Their humble home — where the Williams family raised chickens, goats, pigs and horses after moving from the United States in 2014 — turned into a bloodbath in the deadly, violent raid on May 20.
Francesca and Michael practiced sustainable farming and often posted photos online of their loving animals, sweeping landscape views and happy country life.
The five surviving family members now move back to Colorado in the aftermath of the invasion on their idyllic rural farm in Vilcabamba, Ecuador.
California-born mother of three, Francesca, 44, was shot in the back as the attackers tied up and beat up her husband, stabbed her father and terrorized her three young daughters before rummaging through their home
Francesca’s three daughters Rebekah, 19, Rachel, 17, Renee, 14, were all on site when the ambush began and witnessed the attack on their grandfather, mother and father
A 2016 photo of Francesca Williams taking care of her many animals in her idyllic home she built with her husband in Ecuador
The UC San Diego graduate was hanging laundry outside her quiet farmhouse in rural South America when the gang began closing in on their property.
Francesca saw her disabled father John, 65, who she was caring for, being attacked by the men – so she rushed down to save him.
The men stabbed John several times and then turned their attention to his daughter Francesca, who shot her.
Her three daughters Rebekah, 19, Rachel, 17, Renee, 14, were all at home when the ambush began and witnessed the attack on their grandfather, mother and father.
Rachel heard gunshots and immediately shut their front door, but the men forced their way in, forcing her and Renee to give them charge during the looting.
Rebekah was in her yurt, an outdoor tent, when the commotion erupted — and rushed into the jungle before running to nearby neighbors to get help.
Their father Michael, meanwhile, was tied up and knocked unconscious by the men.
It was only after they fled with the family’s possessions and belongings – including iPads, money and computers – that he escaped and set out to find his wife, Francesca, and his oldest daughter Rebekah.
The mother of three was found on land bleeding from her gunshot wound, which hit her heart. They rushed to carry her body to their car and drove to get medical attention, but it was too late.
Francesca, a multilingual published author and illustrator, also took care of her disabled father. Tributes have poured in for the beloved mother.
No one has been arrested, but an investigation is ongoing.
The US State Department said in a statement: “We extend our sincere condolences to the family for their loss. We are in contact with the family and provide all necessary consular assistance.
“We refer you to the government of Ecuador for information about a local investigation. Out of respect for the family at this difficult time, we have no further comment.’
The view of the family’s rural house in Vilcabamba, Ecuador
Francesca Williams, from Poway, California, lived in Colorado before moving to Ecuador with her family. But they experienced a terrifying burglary, in which Francesca was shot dead
Francesca Williams, her husband Michael and their three daughters Rachel, Renee and Rebekah. They all lived on the farm in Vilcabamba, Ecuador
said Michael KDVR“We need to navigate through this sadness we’re going through. There are a lot of different stages of this right now, we are at a heightened level of fear and security because we are not in a safe place.
“We never thought people would risk us.
‘We are so far away. It’s a three-mile drive to and from. And getting in and out is incomprehensible.’
Williams was outside when he felt that he had been hit on the head with a rock – and then Rachel, a daughter of Francesca, saw her grandfather lying on the ground with strange men fighting them off.
Then she heard shots. The men entered the house and ordered her and her other sister Renee around – asking in Spanish where the ‘great aunt’ was.
Rachel said that’s when she realized they might have the wrong house because no one fitting that description had ever owned their property.
Francesca Williams, of Poway, California, was shot in the back – close to her heart – when the group of men tied up and beat up her husband, stabbed her father and terrorized her three daughters as they rummaged through their home
Francesca was killed, while her husband and father (pictured) were beaten and stabbed during the ordeal. The daughters were physically unharmed, but withstood the gruesome house attack
Michael said, “I found my wife and she was murdered. We ran down the hill, into our car and took her to emergency services, but it was too late for her.”
On how Francesca did 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 capable of handling that man.
“I think it could have been a lot worse if she didn’t intervene. She probably did her best to make sure we were okay.’
Marianna Bacilla, Francesca’s adoptive mother who lives in Poway, California, launched a fundraising page for her daughter in the wake of the tragedy.
Francesca often shared images of her scenic life in Ecuador. It is unclear if this is her farm in the photo
Francesca (left) pictured with one of her daughters
The GoFundMe Lecture: ‘Saturday night, May 20, my daughter Francesca Williams was killed in a robbery on her farm in Ecuador.
“My three granddaughters are physically unharmed, but the trauma is immeasurable. My son-in-law, Michael, was severely abused.
“Francesca’s biological father, John, whom she cared for, was stabbed several times. Both Michael and John are out of the hospital and are doing well physically.
“They have all endured terrible trauma. Their Ecuadorian community fully embraces and cares for them until they all fly home to the US at the end of May.
“We are working with the US Consulate in Ecuador to return Francesca’s body to the United States.
She wrote of her daughter, “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 an avid 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 were building themselves, raising chickens, goats, horses, pigs, ducks and guinea fowl and working towards a goal of sustainable agriculture. – It was their humble Shangri-La.
Her family is returning to their home in Colorado. Francesca will be buried at Riverside Cemetery in Kremmling, CO.
“She will be buried next to my sister Stephanie, Francesca’s biological mother who died in 2021, shortly after Mark, my late husband.
Thank you for understanding the need to share my heart and my pain with you. We appreciate your support.’