The body of Diana Gonzalez was discovered last week in a campus bathroom at San Diego City College. Gonzalez had been a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her estranged husband. Authorities now believe that he killed her. KPBS investigative reporter Amita Sharma explains why some say Gonzalez was failed by the justice system.
Transcript
This is a rush transcript created by a contractor for KPBS to improve accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Please refer to the media file as the formal record of this interview. Opinions expressed by guests during interviews reflect the guest’s individual views and do not necessarily represent those of KPBS staff, members or its sponsors.
LAST WEEK A YOUNG MOTHER WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED ON EXAMPLE USI TY US --CAMPUS, AUTHORITYIES BELIEVE THAT HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND KILLED HER. MANY SAY SHE WAS FAILED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HER, WHO WAS SHE?
SHE WAS A 19-YEAR-OLD WOMAN AND MOTHER THAT WAS FOUND MURDERED INSIDE A MEN'S BATHROOM NEAR THE COLLEGE LAST TUESDAY NIGHT. POLICE BELIEF HER HUSBAND HAS KILLED HER, HE HAS BEEN CHARGEED AND HE IS HE IS ON THE LAMB.
THERE WERE CLUES THAT SHE WAS A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE BEFORE NOW CAN YOU ITEM US ABOUT IT -- CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT
SHE HAD REPORTED BEING KIDNAPP ED BY HER HUSBAND AND HELD CAPTIVE DURING WHICH HE RAPED HER, CHOKED HER, THIS IS WHERE IT'S GRAPHIC, SHE YOU'RE SHE URINATED ON HERSELF AND THEN SHE CAME TO. HE THREATENED TO KILL HER OVER THE THREE DAYS TIME, WHEN SHE RETURNED SHE IMMEDIATELY TOLD POLICE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND REPORTED IT TO POLICE POLICE AND BASED ON HER INJURIES, THE BURST CAPILARIES AND THE FACT THAT SHED A SHE HAD INJURYIES THAT WERE CONSISTENT WITH EVIDENCE THAT SHE ALMOST DIED FROM BEING STRANGLEED, BASED ON WHAT SHE SAID AND EVIDENCE, POLICE THOUGHT THEY HAD ENOUGH TO TURN OVER TO THE DA'S OFFICE. THEY FELT THEY HAD A STRONG CASE ON MULTIPLE CHARGES. 93 TURN THE DA DECLINED TO PROSECUTE.
SO WHY DID THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DECLINE TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST HER HUSBAND IN
WELL?
WELL I SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID THERE WAS INFORMATION BEYOND WHAT WAS CONTAINED IN THE POLICE REPORT. HERE IS MORE OF WHAT SHE SAID.
THE LAWN ENFORCEMENT AGENCYIES LOOK INTO THE CASE AND AGAIN, WE ARE OPERATING WITHIN A TIMEFRAME AND YOU KNOW 72 HOUR TIME FRAME AND THEY PRESENT WHAT THEY HAVE AT THE TIME TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WE REVIEW EACH CASE TO SEE IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND IN IN CASE WE WERE UNABLE TO FILE CHARGES BECAUSE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. WE WANT TO HOLD THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DEATH RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE NOT GOING FRY IT TRY IT IN THE PRESS. THERE ARE PEOPLE DIG AGREEING DISAGREEING WITH HER.
THERE HAS BEEN OFFICIALS THAT SAID THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILED HER. BUT HE ALSO SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FOOL HEARTY TO BLAME ANY ONE AGENCY BECAUSE NOT ALL THE EVIDENCE IS IN ON THIS CASE. ALL RIGHTY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MURDERS HAVE GONE WAY UP IN THE COUNTY LAST YEAR. I UNDERSTAND. SO IS THERE AN INDICATION AS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING?
YES. THERE'S A 100% INCREASE. THEY THINK THE ECONOMY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. OKAY.
