14 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS
Qsaltlake.com |
ISSUE 320 | FEBRUARY, 2021
Two Salt Lake men die on Puerto Vallarta vacation New Year’s Eve. Two Salt Lake men, vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, were found dead of apparent overdoses on New Year’s Eve. According to local news outlet Debate, at 10:25 p.m. December 31, police were called to check on two men who appeared to be unconscious in a room of a condominium near Playa Los Muertos, the main public beach in Puerto Vallarta. The condo was in the gay Zona Romantica area. Upon entering the unit, police found Dustin Terry Childs, 35, and Austin Jordan Hales, 32, dead in their beds. Police say the unofficial cause of death is drug overdose. Mexican law requires an autopsy to be performed. Second-hand reports on social media vary widely on what happened to the pair. Childs was self-employed, assisting people to generate income using social media. He also helped people lose weight and feel better through Isagenix dietary supplements and personal care products. According to his Facebook
page, Hales was a technical support representative at Dealertrack DMS, an automotive software and online service company. Roommate Alex Aguila called the pair good-natured and fabulous. “They are healers/guides in their own respects as well as positive forces in the world, that if you got to meet and chat with had an overwhelmingly constant energy of love and soulfulness,” Aguila wrote. “They were such sweet, kind people that didn’t deserve to leave us so early on. But their love, outlook, and even jargon still circulate around those that spent enough time with them. We had our disagreements, but the love we had for each other remained and what mattered most was that we felt cared for and valued for one another within our homey space. I’m gonna miss the cooking, the super smashing, dancing, and the vibing we all did together. Even the small ‘I love yous’ before bed made me feel like I was part of a loving home and that I
mattered. I sincerely hope you two are doing what you love most through the other side, whatever that is, I just hope you’re doing it with the same fabulousness and good-natured will you always had.” Childs’ niece, Madi Childs, has put together a fundraising page to help with funeral services and bringing the pair’s bodies home. “Dustin Childs is loved by many. A son, brother, uncle, and friend to everyone. He has impacted the lives of everyone he has met in a special way. He genuinely cared about everyone he crossed paths with. Always checking in on everyone and welcoming everyone with open arms, he has a big heart and a kind soul. His love and light will shine on, Madi wrote. “He and his partner Austin Hales unexpectedly passed away while vacationing
in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with friends over New Year’s Eve. Dustin and Austin were both very caring and welcoming to everyone. They will be deeply missed.” In Childs’ obituary, his family wrote that he was “disciplined and dedicated enough to accomplish whatever he set his mind to; from mastering video games, perfecting multiple gymnastic maneuvers, obtaining a black belt in Shaolin Kempo, graduating as the Class of 2003 Valedictorian from Springville High School, speaking fluent Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and German. In Hales’ obituary, his family wrote that “He was always the one called upon to fix, setup or recommend new technology to his family and friends.” Funerals were held Jan. 15 and 17. Q
AFRAID TO SELL YOUR HOME and/or BUY A HOME? There are 1.1Mil people in SL County, and only 600 homes and condos for sale (and 10,000 REALTORS trying to sell them). IF you’re a seller you need to make sure you have an exit strategy that will maximize your equity and not leave you homeless. IF you ’re a buyer you’ need a strategy to win! As the first OUT REALTOR in Utah (almost 40 years ago) I can help you write offers that will win. Text or email babs@urbanutah.com
Babs De Lay, Urban Utah Homes and Estates 801.201.8824
