W5 EXCLUSIVE: Convicted of femicide, free in Canada: The legal fight to put a B.C. man behind bars

Ryan Friesen was convicted of killing his girlfriend at a Mexican resort in 2023. While he appeals that conviction, he lives as a free man in Canada.

Warning: Graphic content.

Ryan Friesen was convicted of killing his 23-year-old girlfriend, Kiara Agnew, at a Mexican resort in 2023. While he appeals that conviction, he lives as a free man in Canada.

It’s a legal reality that has infuriated many, pushing thousands of Canadians to sign a petition demanding he be sent back to prison.

‘We were screaming’

Friesen, from Dawson Creek, B.C., was initially found not guilty in Kiara’s death at his 2024 trial in Mexico. He returned to Canada, triggering a wave of protests from those who believed the verdict was wrong.

Then, in early 2026, in what legal observers call an exceedingly rare turn, a Mexican judge revoked that acquittal. The judge declared Friesen guilty of femicide.

For Kiara’s aunt, Tanya, who has spent years fighting for justice on her niece’s behalf, the ruling was a long-awaited vindication.

“We were so excited when we got that verdict,” Tanya said. “We were screaming in our homes.”

The case against him

According to court documents, the Mexican judge’s decision to overturn the acquittal and convict Friesen of femicide rested on several key findings:

1. There was no evidence of any other suspects at the scene of Kiara’s death
2. Injuries found on Friesen’s hands and knees were consistent with having inflicted the attack
3. A documented history of past abuse – outlined in Agnew’s own diary – established what the court characterized as a precedent of violence

According to the ruling, and diary entries featured in W5’s documentary “If I Am Ever Found Dead,” Kiara described a previous incident eerily specific to how she was found: Friesen passing out and falling asleep after beating her.

Friesen free for now

Despite the guilty finding, Friesen remains free in Canada while he appeals the Mexican conviction. Tanya says the family isn’t willing to wait quietly.

“He is free as a bird,” she said, “but the Canadian citizens are speaking up.”

A petition calling for Friesen’s imprisonment has drawn roughly 5,600 signatures.

There is no specific timeline for when the appeals court in Mexico will issue its decision, but it could come any day. For Tanya, the wait has taken its toll.

“It’s a very long road,” she said. “And we’re getting tired. We’ve had to fight for things that nobody should have to fight for. We shouldn’t have to be protesting for a convicted man to be put in prison.”

Friesen has not responded to repeated requests for comment. In his last communication with W5 in May, through his lawyer, Friesen maintained his innocence.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series. On Wednesday, one of Ryan Friesen’s former girlfriends breaks her silence.

You can read parts 1, 2 and 3 of W5’s investigative series on Kiara Agnew’s murder. You can also watch W5’s “If I’m Ever Found Dead” on CTV News’ YouTube channel.