Ian Valway Hoyt, 45

Jan. 13, 2014, 7 a.m.

Ian Valway Hoyt, a 45-year-old white male, died Monday, Jan. 13, after being stabbed in Pomona, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

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Four reader comments

Ian was born in at home Mt. Baldy, on March 18, 1968.
He lost his father at age 3 1/2 when he died in a plane crash over the Palmdale desert. Keith Hoyt had been piloting a p-51, and made a fatal error which caused the plane to crash.

He grew up in a canyon in the Mt. Baldy area with three siblings: his older sister by 8 years, his older brother by 2 1/2 years, and his younger brother, by 2 1/2 years.

Growing up without a dad has its disadvantages:
no male model to relate to. He was very bright in school. His teacher said, "he taught himself to read". Ian never graduated from high school, but passed his GED with high marks a year or so later.

He never found his passion in life, but did eventually find his way back to school and took many classes at Mt. SAC College toward a 2 yr degree in Computer Networking. During that time he was clean of drugs for three years plus.

Unfortunately, he became enamored with a young woman, who led him back to the life of drugs. His family tried to support him, but failed to help him see his way out of that lifestyle.

I only hope that society finds a way to help our lost youth who get lost in drugs and become hopeless. Ian was facing jail for being stopped with drug paraphernalia more than once, and was extremely afraid of going to jail or prison.

I don't know exactly why he was in Pomona: to get drugs? to connect with someone he thought was a friend? he had been in a verbal fight with his brother earlier that night. He was asking me to go to court with him, and I was putting it off for two more days, because I didn't think he was ready--he'd slept for two days straight before he left his brother's house about nine that evening.

I wish I had connected with the program that Ian had been attending. Perhaps I could have gotten some insight into how to help him.

He was a loving son, and always ready to help those in need. I loved him so much.
Rest in peace, my darling, Ian.

— Beatrice Churchill, natural mother Feb. 23, 2014 at 11:57 p.m.