A Pasadena man accused of kidnapping and then killing his ex-girlfriend will stand trial this week.
ABC13 found that Maira Gutierrez had repeatedly called the police for assistance before her murder two years ago.
Gutierrez left behind four children.
“It ripped a large chunk out of every one of our hearts. Jimmy Puente, Gutierrez’s ex-husband and the father of three of her children, stated that he took them with her.
My initial reaction is always one of tremendous despair and defeat. Am I surprised? Unfortunately not.
“We’ve been waiting two long, devastating years, and the day has finally arrived,” Maira’s sister, Andrea Gutierrez, said.
Daniel Chacon was Maira’s former boyfriend and the father of her youngest daughter.
Police claim he pushed Gutierrez into her own SUV at gunpoint when she arrived to see their daughter, then shot and killed her.
Chacon was detained in Mexico.
Court documents suggest that he has a history of violence against women in Harris County extending back to 2012.
Wright serves on the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. She is also a domestic abuse survivor, so she understands how limited legal and emotional resources are.
“The need to combat, address, and hopefully eradicate domestic violence as compared to the shelters, the awareness, and the help for the people that are causing the harm in the relationship, it just doesn’t add up,” she told the audience.
According to the Houston Area Women’s Center, one in every three women in our community will face domestic violence.
The majority of victims never call the police, and those who do don’t always get the assistance they require.
Gutierrez had already reported Chacon to the police.
However, the district attorney never accepted the charges.
“She pleaded, but they emerged and persisted in ignoring her.” “Go to different sources and places that offer assistance,” Puente advised. “I think we could have prevented this.” We don’t know to what degree, but we could have prevented this.
If you or a loved one require assistance, the Houston Area Women’s Center has a free hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7322).
Licensed specialists can help you navigate the legal system and get to safety.
The helpline receives 120 calls per day.