Husband: US Missionary Fatally Wounded in Mexico
- Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:13am by
Scott Baker
- Print »
- Email »
DALLAS (AP) — A woman described by police as a U.S. missionary died at a South Texas hospital Wednesday after her husband brought her mortally wounded over a Rio Grande bridge from Mexico, where he said she had been shot in the head by gunmen in a pickup truck.
Nancy Davis, 59, died in a McAllen hospital about 90 minutes after her husband drove the couple’s truck against traffic across the Pharr International Bridge, according to a statement issued by the Pharr Police Department.
Her husband told investigators that he and his wife were traveling about 70 miles south of the Mexican border city of Reynosa when gunmen in a pickup truck tried to stop them. When the Davises sped up, the gunmen fired, wounding Nancy Davis in the head, the statement said.
The husband, identified as Sam Davis by U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Felix Garza, told police he continued to drive at top speed in hopes of outrunning the gunmen until he reached the international bridge and sought help.
Pharr Police Chief Ruben Villescas said Mexican authorities contacted by his department confirmed the shooting happened near the outskirts of San Fernando, about 70 miles south of Reynosa. The area is heavily controlled by the Zetas drug cartel and is one of Mexico’s most dangerous. It is the same area where 72 Central and South American migrants were found slain in August, a massacre blamed on the Zetas.
Pharr police and U.S. Customs agents converged on the Davises’ truck just before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, after Sam Davis stopped in the middle of bridge traffic to seek help. Nancy Davis was found bleeding from a head wound in the front passenger seat. An ambulance took her to a McAllen hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 1:54 p.m., according to the police statement.
The statement said the Davises live in a city in the lower Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, but did not specify where or provide details about Nancy Davis’ missionary work. Villescas, the police chief, did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment late Wednesday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection referred all additional questions about the case to the Pharr police, whose statement said the CBP, the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Mexican authorities also are participating in the investigation.
The Mexican Interior Ministry released a statement expressing condolences over Davis’ death. It said Mexican authorities were investigating the shooting but provided no further details. Officials at the Tamaulipas state attorney general’s office in Mexico could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
U.S. Embassy spokesman Alexander Featherstone said “we want to convey our condolences to the family” and that the embassy was trying to contact Mexican authorities about the case. He could provide no other information.
In late September, an American tourist was killed on a border lake about 170 miles northwest of San Fernando, and concerns about the investigation prompted Texas Gov. Rick Perry to call for a stronger response from Mexican authorities. David Hartely’s wife says he was gunned down by Mexican pirates while riding a Jet Ski on the Mexico side of Falcon Lake. His body was never found.
___
Associated Press writer Alexandra Olson in Mexico City contributed to this report.





















Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (80)
MickyD
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:22amI thought “WOW”, then I saw the 2:44am post time… well, still… wow.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:01amIt’s tragic but the gunmen would vote Democrat if they were allowed to immigrate to America so Obama wants to let them in.
Report Post »nbarendt
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:36amWhere is the outrage on this one. I am so sorry about the people in arizona and i hope the guy hangs but where is our government on the outrage of another american shot in the head again first was the guy with his wife in the lake they never found his body. It is because it is mexicans or al queda or both together and our present administration including congress does not want to hurt their feelings. This is bs.
Report Post »HotSteaminTeaAnyone
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:35amAmerica is a funny place. Our laws are so strict that our MONEY goes to other countries who’s laws are more lenient and we are FUNDING these border wars. I hope every time someone in America smokes a joint that has been smuggled from Mexico, they realize what they are doing. Not to mention that by buying products from China we are supporting the horrible conditions of Chinese workers. We have gone the wrong way! Wake up people and change the government we have so we can stop supporting this activity! Big government is great for Mexican drug lords and for China but not for us!
Report Post »DR4SOUL
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:19amCompassionate missionary work has been conducted in Mexico for the last 100 years. Evangelical churches have sent teams of young people to minister to children and adults to help build churches and homes for the impoverished. Sadly, it has become so dangerous that many churches and Christian missionary organizations will no longer risk crossing the border. It is time for our “President” to become pro-active in solving this problem before we are fighting the drug cartels within our borders!!!
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:18amYes we have an immigration problem. It is a failure of both democrats and republicans.
You white people listen up. MAKE MORE BABIES!!!!!!!
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:18pmBULLCRAP!
Report Post »Whatever Bush did is NOT AN ISSUE! Obama has ignored the border and let the mexicans come in for their votes. He has done absolutely NOTHING to make it any better! I STAND BY THAT STATEMENT!
rfycom
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:29pmMake more white babies. I stand by my statement.
Get busy.
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:44pmI guess you think you have done your part with 12 children. Trying for 13 yet?
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:14amThis Jesus work is pretty dangerous. Maybe the peoples who loves the Jesus should keep it to themselves and stop trying to go to dangerous places and get people to believe in the Jesus. If he was the real deal, he should go there and convert some souls.
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:14am@TONYDARRINGTON:
Report Post »It has a lot to do with border security! 2 WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT! Whatever the Bush administration did or did not do on the border is no longer an issue. What Obama is or is not doing IS! Border lack of security is much worse now because obama wants more mexicans to come here so he can get their votes. SECURITY BE DAMNED! Posting signs—BIG DEAL! We should not have to be posting warning signs about our safety 80 miles in from the mexican border in Arizona! That shows a DEFINITE lack of security. I do agree that if you go to mexico or near it’s border now you are taking a risk and will have to live with whatever happens—or die, whichever one happens to anyone who goes there. That is the way it is now but should NOT BE! They keep streaming across our borders causing financial hardship here and we have to be afraid near their border and 80 miles in? DOESN’T SOUND FAIR OR MAKE SENSE TO ME. THE GOVERNMENT IN PLAY NOW IS NOT DOING IT‘S JOB AND THEY DON’T REALLY WANT TO. OBAMA WANTS THE VOTES AND DOESN’T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!!
rfycom
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:19amOf course what Bush didn’t do is an issue. If he had fixed the issue we would not be talking about the issue.
It’t the issue PEOPLE.
Report Post »mikemanners11
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:08amMexico is an ENEMY!
Mexicans are Alien INVADERS!!
Mexicans are killing us, raping us, stealing from us, exploiting us.
Mexicans are criminals.
Report Post »Akira Gomi
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:07amWhy dont they put drones on the border? we could easily turn those gang bangin mexican dirt bags into screaming human torches. There isnt a single problem on the planet a couple of hell fire missle couldn’t solve.
Report Post »SeymourJohnsonafb
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 1:06pmYou get it authorized and I’ll load it!
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:59amGood old mexico. So friendly and nurturing that it’s citizens keep crossing the border taking away from the people in our country while they treat us like a pile of crap—-with OBAMA’S blessing. That ass just wants as many of them to come here to vote for him as he can get regardless of the harm it is causing the rest of us. I’d like to make that jerk live there with no help or perks from this country. WHAT A WASTE OF A PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE!
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:15amNot a liberal or republican here just have to point out baby doll that the right had the country for 8 years and didn’t do **** about immigration either,
Report Post »bustin
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:49amI believe we ( the US citizens) should say we all pull out of Mexico. If they can’t get the country safe all americans can just STOP spending money. Lets see how Mexico survives then.
Report Post »Helldogger
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:14am50 yrs ago this would’ve been an act of war, but we didn’t have everybody from Barny Frank to Rush Limbaugh making loads in the stock market from NAFTA.
Report Post »icediva
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:07amENOUGH ALREADY!!! Massachusetts now pays for the tution of illegals. Legal residents can’t reieve grants though. JUST TOTALLY DISGUSTED!!! Say hello to the new Obama-Patrick America ! legals third class citizens illegals first rate citizens.
Report Post »TonyDarrington
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:53amMexicans in Mexico are not “illegals.” We need to read the articles before posting obligatory, knee-jerk responses. The couple was well inside Mexico of their own free will, despite well publicized knowledge of the situation in that country. It has nothing to do with how this administration, or the previous administration treated illegal immigrants. It has nothing to do with border security. It has everything to do with 2 people who made an unwise decision to put their lives in God’s hand to preach His word. This case is also a byproduct of the American government making substances illegal, creating a violent black market.
Report Post »Hondaman
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 4:39amI wish some of the trillions of dollars this President is spending would be spent securing the border. And I really mean “securing” it. I mean “whatever” it takes. I guess I am convinced he doesn’t care.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:01amObama cares about getting re-elected, period. There is no way he is going to antagonize Latinos by securing the border.
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 4:25amI wonder did the drug cartel have this road block up to keep rival gangs from distributing their product or were they after the missionaries because they were American and gringos maybe for hostages.
Report Post »hotrod78
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:56amThe cartels dont take hostages. They’d rather kill you and take your truck than mess with you for a few days. Less headaches and questions that way.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:36amWhen will President Obama realize that the USA is not being protected from the drug cartels in Mexico? The Federal Government is supposed to protect USA citizens from encroachments on our borders. That makes two American citizens killed by the drug lords. President Obama close the border of Mexico/America now! Shoot to kill anyone who dares to cross over into the USA. The USA is a sovereign Nation, and Mexico lost the right to claim any part of us long ago.
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:59amMr Obama knows he‘s a constitutional law professor so he must have missed the enemies foreign and domestic part along with many others or he don’t care .A border patrol agent ,the rancher shot at his water trough ,the jet skier ,the sheriff’s deputy , another border agent and this lady all these in Texas and Arizona and i am positive their are many we will never know about who were unsolved cases on the border.
Report Post »TonyDarrington
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:00amYou can’t expect the government to protect every fool who travels to a foreign country. There is personal responsibility. Everybody knows the situation down in Mexico. The State Department posts bulletins about the political, crime and risk assessments of all foreign nations. You have to read up on these things before you travel. What else is the government supposed to do? Should they provide armed escort to every citizen who choses, unwisely, to travel to a hostile drug lord controlled country to preach the word of Jesus?
Report Post »justice
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:33amThank god for the missionary work. They put themselves before others, including knowing the dangers of the work. Prayers go with her.
Report Post »hotrod78
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:17amWe need a full scale military presence on the border, just like mexico has done.
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:25amShould be a border like the one between North and South Korea.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:16amI don’t buy these stories. How come the couples put themselves in harm’s way, and then one spouse is shot dead, while the other survives without a scratch. That is not the the drug cartels’ MO.
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:34amSome people don’t think it could happen to them .It is possible their is more to the story but i would say they were being followed by the cartel who found out they were missionaries and were afraid their mules would get faith in God and not be so afraid of them possibly converting the lost who might rat out the druggies was enough to get them killed.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:55amScott,
My question is, How did the husband get away TOTALLY unharmed? Are you kidding me? If this was a contract hit on the Davises, why did the gunmen do such a sloppy job? Drug cartels are expert killers. They do not improvise. For starters, they would have used a faster vehicle than the one Davis was driving.
The jet skier story is even fishier.
Report Post »hotrod78
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:27amThere were no witnesses to the Hartley case. I have my doubts that it happened the way Tiffany said it did. But this is different. They ran a cartel check point, so they were chased in a black chevy pickup that was probably older than the brand new pickup Davis was driving. When bullets are flying, there‘s no telling what they’ll hit. Unfortunately, one hit Mrs. Davis in the head. The truck riddled with bullets from AR‘s and AK’s no doubt. Put yourself in Mr. Davis’ shoes. You decide to run the checkpoint and the cartel chases you down shooting at you with automatic weapons. You‘re standing on the gas pedal because that’s all you know to do. If Davis hadnt made it to the Pharr Bridge, he would have died too and their truck taken and used to haul drugs and guns across the border or outfitted with a turret to use in a similar chase later. The cartels dont care what or who they shoot. The cartel members that chased the Davises 70 miles into Reynosa started a shootout in Reynosa when they got there.
I hear and see stories like this everyday. About schools having to go on lockdown because of the shooting and grenades and IED’s the cartels are using. Students finding spent bullet casings on a border college campus. It’s a broken record. But people up north dont hear about it. I live on the Texas/Mexico border about 20 miles from Pharr, where Davis crossed back into the US, and I have family 6 hours north in the Austin area and they dont hear about ANYTHING that goes on down here. There’s always a bomb threat at a bridge. The Mexcian military has rushed a bridge claiming that they were chasing someone across. It’s an all out war here. And no one in our government seems to care what’s happening down here. Even our own senators and representatives… RINOs like Cornyn and Hutchison, and self proclaimed Blue Dog Democrats Henry Cuellar and Ruben Hinojosa, that are both insults to the english language, dont care what’s happening in their own state. It’s really starting to annoy.
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:30amYou will never, ever find this old trucker in Mexico. Period!
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:17am@hotrod78
“They ran a cartel check point, so they were chased in a black chevy pickup that was probably older than the brand new pickup Davis was driving.”
—–
That makes a little more sense, but you’re telling a different version of the story. There’s no mention of a checkpoint in the article or videos; only that it was in retaliation for a funeral service Davis performed for Zetas’ rivals.
I believe you when you say it is an all out war. The only difference between the Taliban and the drug cartels is that the latter don’t blow themselves up when they detonate their bombs. Many will soon become U.S. citizens, thanks to Obum’s upcoming amnesty. What a nightmare. Stay safe.
Report Post »hotrod78
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:15amMaybe instead of “investing in the future”, BoBo the clown could invest in border security. Oh wait, I forgot… “the border is safer now than it has been in the last 20 years.” Bullsh*t! If its so safe, BoBo, come on down and explore. It’d make for a great photo op. Maybe you’ll see some illegals crossing the river loaded down with drugs and guns. You can have your picture made with them before they shoot another American rancher or a Border Patrol agent.
Report Post »ItTakesFaith
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:12amTime to call in artillery… better yet, the AC-130 gunships will rain thunder-fire on those south-of-the-border thugs!
I’d tend to support the concept of invasion… but we’d get stuck with rebuilding the country later (that’s the last thing we need, another Iraq!)
Report Post »Thundermouth
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:14amNeither this country nor this administration have the stones to fight a war the way wars need to be fought; to the death (of the enemy) and with the sole objective being complete and swift victory. If GWB had ignored unpatriotic voices like the ACLU and deported any non-U.S. citizens from countries on the terror watch list (pending a background check) immediately following 9/11 and simultaniously carpet-bombed any known Al Qaeda training camps, things like air travel would be much easier today. The “war on terror” would have taken about 72 hours of heavy bombing to win.
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:38amGod bless them for their work but that place is not safe for any body let alone unarmed missionaries god took home one of his workers .The mexican authorities better not investigate too hard or they will be dead too they need major military help and to attack the drug cartels all out no mercy no prisoners unless it’s long enough to hang them publicly.Did they miss the report on the jet skier on the lake on the Texas border or the massive numbers of decapitated bodies, have they never watched a episode of border wars .I am a christian who has been known to evangelize when you do that you run the risk of being persecuted for his names sake but if i am going out for Christ’s sake . I will go out surrounded by future convert’s .
Report Post »New-American-Saviors
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:20amKey Word…Misionaries. There are No moral Boundaries for Killers. So Stop attempting to save the World…. Until they realize they need saving.
Report Post »Mikeyyy
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:14ami agree the keyword to me is missionaries – and these bad guys have no boundaries. but lets not make the missionaries to blame here in any way. the focus should be to mourn for those have just lost loved ones imho.
Report Post »Karen D.
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:25amThe blood of the martyrs are the seed of the church. We never stop sharing the gospel where God commands us to go. RIP my dear sister.
Report Post »taxed
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:19amI am so frustrated about the border security that I can’t see straight…
http://conservativepoliticalforum.com
Report Post »taxed
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:25amHussein just does not take the border seriously. Why???????????????????????
http://conservativepoliticalforum.com/index.php?topic=1598.0
Report Post »http://conservativepoliticalforum.com/index.php?topic=1608.0
RobertCA
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:07amNobody is my friend nobody is , both parties suck on this matter .
Report Post »RIP Nancy Davis .
GONESURFING
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:26amVery sad, but no greater love than a life given for their brother, she gave her life for God and has a special place in Heaven.
But, yes secure the border now.
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:43amVery unfortunate, but they knew the risks and will be rewarded for them in heaven. Let’s hope that justice is served though and that the murderers are found and put to death.
Report Post »FlatFoot
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:54amWell, God rest her soul and condolences to her husband… but anyone who travels into Mexico these days faces the possibility of this exact outcome to their excursion the moment they set foot in Mexico, and at this point -everyone- should already be well aware of that. For them, though, the reward far outweighed the risk. I applaud their faith. But somehow, I can’t help but think that this could have been easily prevented by just not going into Mexico. That country is a corrupt to the core soulless third world cesspit on the precipice of anarchy where human life has no non-monetary meaning whatsoever.
RIP Nancy Davis.
Report Post »Mikeyyy
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 4:09ami have a progressive new radical idea: let’s annex all of Mexico..all Mexicans are now Americans automagically – amnesty for ALL!! woohoo! party hats and painted on smiles for everyone!!
What immigration problem? Problem solved!!
Sorry, caught myself thinking like a Progressive 4 a second: there, I slapped myself: all better.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 4:10amProtecting us from foreign invaders is governments most basic job, and they are simply not doing it. In their infinite wisdom they woud rather give us heathcare which we have rejected.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
Dustyluv
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 5:27amIf you buy drugs, even “recreational” drugs, you are part of the problem…YOU CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN!!
If you are a businessman that hires illegals you are the problem too. Shame on your sorry a@@!
Report Post »TonyDarrington
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 5:52amI feel sorry for their loss, but they were 70 miles into Mexico in one of “the most dangerous” areas. If you want to minister to the masses, you have to accept a significant risk. It would have been a border security problem if the husband was able to drive all the way to the hospital before being stopped. As it was, he was stopped on the bridge, so kudos to the border patrol.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:18amI feel the Plan was always to use Mexico to destabilize the US
Report Post »So I think things are going just as Bilderburg group and CFR wanted
streetrodder
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:56amYes he does, these are all future democrat voters.
Report Post »BeckIsNuts
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:20amIt appears that her god was busy elsewhere yet again. Chalk up another one for delusional thinking.
Jackers
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:41amMs. Janet Napolitano, our Head of Homeland Insecurity, said that our border was more secure than it’s been in 20 years; and not too long ago, Ms. Michelle Obama proclaimed that it was safe for Americans to travel in Mexico…
The longer our federal government turns a blind eye to the utter chaos along our wide-open southern border, the more these types of crimes will spread across our border…
How many more Americans must die before our government takes this crisis seriously?
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:45amVery, very sad. No matter what the reason to be there, Americans need to stay out of Mexico. These people have no regard for life whether you are doing God’s work or not. Secure our borders!
Report Post »Highland
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:24amWhen will Pres. Soetero acknowledge that Mexico has declared war on U.S. citizens?
Report Post »UPSETVET
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:57amMy deepest condolences to the husband, Sam Davis and all family members and friends of Mrs. Nancy Davis. It‘s everybody’s worst nightmare come true.
Report Post »The Mexican authorities are “investigating ”, yea right. My wife and I are missionaries living and working in Brazil for the past 38 years, and I know the wheels of Latin American justice turn very slowly, IF they turn at all.
Let’s face it folks, Americans have a bulls eye painted on their foreheads and are easy targets in any foreign country. So, be careful. The life you save may be your own. The area where Mrs. Davis was shot is one of the most violent in Mexico and is controled by the Zeta Drug Cartel. Those people are ruthless and very unpredictable. So, proceed with extreme caution missionaries and “ Trust in the Lord with all thy understanding ”. Mrs.Davis is absent from the body and present with the Lord. Our loss is heaven’s gain. May God bless us all.
mtnclimberjim
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:03amOK, What part of violent drug gangs and don‘t go to mexico warnings didn’t these idiots not understand. In my church they are trying to send people down there to help build housing and I will not support it. Plenty of work that needs done right here at home.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:23amTime to change the Texas flag to the one I use as my profile picture. It’s from the Battle of Gonzales.
I’m not necessarily sad for Nancy Davis; I have no doubt she’s in a better place. I’m sad for the rest of us who will no longer have Nancy Davis.
May God bless you, Nancy!
Report Post »DisillusionedDaily
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:08pmMr. President, hear our plea………..Close the damn border!
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:39pmMexico is a toilet with no way to flush it.
There “IS” a civil war being waged there and Americans are in considerable danger should they travel there. No matter what any one says. I have family there and it’s true. Mexico has TREMENDOUS contempt for Americans. From Caldaron right on down to the pot mule carrying into our country across the border.
Report Post »