MINNEAPOLIS — An outdoorsman, former conservation and police officer, realtor and a missionary; 44-year-old Beau Shroyer of Detroit Lakes wore many hats. But no matter what he was doing, his cousin Bret Shroyer said Beau always put others first.
"Beau was a shining light," Shroyer said. "He was the kind of man that you hope your son grows up to be. He's the kind of person you hope you have in your family, and he's gone."
The father of five was killed in a violent alleged "murder-for-hire" attack on Oct. 25 while serving as a missionary in Angola, according to the Angola Press Agency.
In its reporting, the Angolan news outlet also said two men and Beau's wife Jackie were arrested in connection to his death.
"That's shocking," Shroyer said. "Jackie is a part of the family, and you don't know what to believe. We're waiting for answers. That's all I can say. We're waiting for answers."
Bret said answers have been slow-coming, as Beau's family in Minnesota seeks justice from thousands of miles away. He said family members are in contact with the Embassy of Angola, SIM USA, the North Carolina-based missionary organization Beau was affiliated with and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"Nothing has really sat right along the way. It feels like there's something deeper that's going on here," Shroyer added. "Information isn't being shared. It's been very frustrating for us. On the one hand, we desperately want answers and we want justice, but we understand that takes time. In the meantime, we're also in shock and I don't think we've taken time to grieve."
The family's grief is accompanied by their pursuit of justice, as they remember Beau's life and look ahead to what comes next.
"We'll focus on learning the rest of the story, learning what really happened, finding justice, finding answers," Shroyer said.
Beau's family is planning a memorial service for him at the end of this month. An online fundraiser was created to help with funeral arrangements and navigating legal fees.