Fundraiser will send body of California construction worker killed by four dogs back to his family in Guatemala

Riverside resident Mateo Lucas Salvador worked construction far away from his family in Guatemala.

Now his family is seeking support after Salvador was killed by dogs earlier this month while on a job in Jurupa Valley.

The 42-year-old was attacked and killed by four dogs while he worked on a property in Jurupa Valley on Tuesday, March 7. After calls from neighbors, Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies found Salvador unresponsive in the front yard. He was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he died.

A GoFundMe fundraiser was created to help Salvador’s family pay to transport his body to Guatemala, where his wife and youngest children live, and for his funeral, the GoFundMe page states.

As of Wednesday, March 22, the fundraiser had passed its goal of $15,000 and collected $17,146.

The online fundraiser will continue “to collect funds for Mateo’s family and the needs they will have beyond the funeral,” an update on the GoFundMe page states. “We would love to help Mateo’s wife as she figures out how she will support her younger children moving forward.”

Diego Lucas, who is named as the beneficiary on the GoFundMe page, wrote a message as well:

“Your support will help my mother and my little sisters and also me and my brother. I thank all of you. I have no words to give to you how much I can say thank you. Your donations will help us a lot.”

Family members declined to comment, GoFundMe spokesperson Clara Benitez said. The organizer of the online fundraiser could not be reached.

The four dogs were surrendered by the property owner to Riverside County Animal Services for euthanasia. The property owner was not there when the attack occurred. Salvador had worked on the land before with no problems, Animal Services spokesperson John Welsh has said.

According to authorities, Salvador was hired for construction work.

He is survived by his wife and five children, the youngest of which is 4, the fundraiser website states.