Mayvette Monzon, a 31-year-old woman known for her generous spirit and zest for life, was a popular and charismatic figure in Vancouver’s nightclub scene and a beloved member of the city’s close-knit Filipino community. Described by police as "exceptionally kind-hearted" and "unselfish," she supported her mother, Juliet Andalis, with whom she lived. Her sister, Maria Franco, remembers her as a friend to everyone. At the time of her death, Mayvette was working as a bartender at several venues across the Lower Mainland, including Cheer’s Pub in Delta, Fever Nightclub in New Westminster, Capital Nightclub in Richmond, and Barcode in Vancouver. She was reportedly growing tired of the late-night work and was looking forward to getting married and starting a family.
In the early morning hours of September 23, 2005, Mayvette finished her shift at Cheer's nightclub in Delta and drove her black Honda Civic home.
She arrived at the house she shared with her mother in the 1400 block of West 53rd Avenue near Granville Street at approximately 4:30 a.m. Sometime after she parked, an assailant ambushed her, shooting and killing her as she sat in her car. Her mother later recalled hearing the phone ring around 4:45 a.m. with no one on the line, and the family's five dachshunds barking, which she assumed was just Mayvette playing with them. Tragically, her mother left for an appointment at 9 a.m., walking past the car without noticing anything wrong. Mayvette was not discovered until that afternoon, around 4 p.m., when one of her nieces ran to the door to report that something had happened to her "auntie."
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) launched a homicide investigation, quickly concluding that the murder was planned and that the killer had either followed Mayvette home or was lying in wait for her. Investigators noted that while there was no indication Mayvette was involved in crime herself, her job put her in contact with a clientele that included criminals and gang members who would follow her to the various bars where she worked. Homicide Detective Ken Nixon stated that police believed "a number of people are aware of how it occurred and who have other significant details."
Despite receiving anonymous tips over the years, the investigation has been hampered by a lack of public cooperation. Police acknowledged that Mayvette had relationships with people associated with gangs and drugs, but a clear motive for her murder has never been established. In 2014, Mayvette's mother shared a photo album with a reporter that contained pictures of her daughter with known gang members, including some who were later killed in targeted shootings. This information, which had previously been given to police, was a shock to her mother.
The years following Mayvette’s death have been agonizing for her family. Her sister Maria described the experience of not knowing who killed her as "hell." She suggested her sister's trusting and non-judgmental nature may have been her downfall. Her mother, Juliet, a retired nurse, made repeated, desperate pleas for information. "Whoever knows anything — I am begging you whoever you are, please come forward and say something," she said in an interview. "I don't want to die without closure for my daughter.” The family's grief remains profound as they continue to seek justice.
As of September 2018, the Vancouver Police Department confirmed that the investigation into Mayvette Monzon’s murder is still active and that a homicide case is never closed. A reward was offered for information that would lead to a conviction in the case. The VPD offered $10,000, and Mayvette's family added another $3,000. Police continue to urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Tips can be directed to the Vancouver Police Department Homicide Unit at 604-717-2500 or, to remain anonymous, to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
