They were brothers-in-law who lived in the same house, worked maintenance jobs together and served as deacons at their church. On Saturday night they died together, trapped in the same dark canal just blocks from home.
"They were good men. Everybody loved them," said the Rev. Elivar Ductan, who on Sunday identified the victims as his cousin, Herold Ductan, in his 50s, and Fariles Jeanlouis, 47.
The men were pronounced dead at separate area hospitals after rescuers pulled them from a vehicle that was completely submerged in a canal in the 3300 block of Northwest 40th Street, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.