Death
of Friend, Daughter, and Sister
Why did she choose to stay?
She could have walked away
But she didn’t know
He appeared a quiet kid
Can't imagine the pain he hid
That allowed him do what he did
She is gone, and yet he lives.
Why weren’t we ever warned
Of the impending storm?
Their denial lay so deep
They just wanted him to sleep.
Forgiving the mistakes they made
The price 1000 times paid
Trapped in an awful place
While she lies still in her grave. Grh Oct. 2013
Kristina Rodriguez was born in Dallas, Texas on July 14, 1987. She graduated from Skyline High School with high honors in 05’, went to Texas to University of Denton and pursued a degree in journalism. Kristina was extremely bright and her future goal was to become an anchorwoman like Donna Hicken or maybe Katie Couric, later an editor for a magazine in NYC. She had high hopes and she was very much filled with so much potential.
Kristina came back home from school in Christmas of 2005. Kristina informed her mother Maria that Frank was in the hospital. She told her parents that he was having some issues but they didn't know how serious it was because it was downplayed. It was a six year on and off boy/girlfriend relationship she had with Frank Perez. Kristina was only a loyal friend to him at that point and she stayed by his side supporting him. She then had to return back to college.
Summer of 2006 came and Kristina was home for summer break and she got a part time job at Red Lobster. Everything seemed to be going fine. Kristina’s family finally got to meet Frank and his family on 4th of July for a good time of watching fireworks together. The 14th came and there was a family party thrown for Kristina who turned nineteen years old. There was a colorful happy birthday banner on top of the patio’s sliding door and a butterfly designed balloon over her birthday seat. As her family and quiet boyfriend gather around the living room surrounding Kristina for what was going to be the last birthday she celebrates. On their sky blue couch sits Kristina as she bends forward to open all her gifts with her graceful hands. Love and warmth fills the room as she smiles big and you can hear her sweet laugh as she playfully raises her beanie baby crab.
A month later, Kristina joined her sister Jasmine and step father Jose for dinner at her grandmother’s house. All three enjoyed a lovely dinner together that night. Frank lived very close to her grandmother’s house and she went over to see him. Frank’s parents had attended the high school (open house) with his little sister and left Frank home alone. He was tired from his Schizophrenia medicine he was taking. They hung out for a while until Kristina decided she wanted to go home already. Kristina felt frustration with him and they argued a bit over him taking her home. Kristina being 5’4, curvaceous, 150 lbs. very fragile due to the surgery she underwent a few weeks prior, she then throws a shoe at Frank and he grew angry. He snapped at that very moment and allegedly hits her with his fist. He then goes out to his car and grabs a baseball bat and enters back into the house and proceeds to strike Kristina repeatedly in the head, face and chest. Kristina still conscious was dragged by Frank and thrown in the back swimming pool. At some point that night his mother which was a registered nurse came home and pulled Frank out of the pool and attempted to give her CPR, then called police. Frank stayed in the house while police and ambulance were on their way. The officer looks at Frank and notices an abrasion on his right hand and blood splattered on his legs and feet. The officer then pulls out the silver handcuffs, arrests, and books Frank at Lewsterrick County jail for murder.
It was Maria’s worst nightmare come true when she heard a knock that night and she answered the door with such a worry some look on her face. The officer asked, “ma’am are you the mother of Kristina Rodriguez? Maria replied, “yes, what’s wrong? Officer replies back, “ there’s no easy way to tell you this but your daughter has been murdered tonight.” She starts to heavily cry and told the officer, “This is going to devastate my mom; I can’t tell her this!” she looked at them, as if they could offer her an alternative. There was none. Maria felt as if she failed as a mother. But the cop assured her that it was not her fault. Policeman told her, “It’s not your fault, remember that she’s nineteen y/o and you can’t always be with her 24/7.” And worst of all, Kristina’s little 11 year old sister Jasmine sat sobbing next to her, learning that her sister was just killed in an act of violence by her boyfriend, someone Kristina loved. How does a child process that? Maria held Jasmine tight in her arms and they just cried and wailed together.
This is the lasting effect Kristina has on her friends and family. This is proof her legacy goes on. Maria received this letter from Teresa Todd a week later after Kristina’s death. Teresa said, "just thought you should know... I carry Kristina's message with me every single day. Being nice to others and treating them with respect no matter the circumstances. This is a message that you helped pass on after her passing. Your daughter continues to give me a better perspective and makes me a better person every single day, even in her absence. I don't know anyone that has been such a wonderful influence on so many people even after they have been gone for so long. Thank you for making her the wonderful friend I will always be so fond of. “Maria shares this message with her family and friends, “ I think Kristina would want me to share this last thought because it reflects who she was... Live your life with passion, live each day to the fullest. Not because you think something bad might happen but because each moment is precious. Make plans but let go of any expectations of the outcome. Be kind to others because you don't know what that they have been through in their lives”. This note was written by Kristina on the date of Feb. 13, 2006 on her Myspace page. She said, "I have come to a point in my life where I realize how righteous and powerful God is. This past year I have gone through some rough times and am continuing to go through. I understand now that life doesn't get any easier, but the consistency of God's love eases me through the unbearable moments and gives me the peace of mind I so long for. Recently something extremely wonderful and extremely hard has come into my life. I won't divulge into detail about what that may be, but know that this experience has been far from easy. Not knowing it until now but God has been there beside me, holding my hand, telling me things will be okay. He has given me the strength to be the person I need to be and realize that though this "thing" may be hard it is well worth it and beautiful in the end. This blog is not to try and stress the importance of religion or even spirituality, but to explain my view of true love, the love that God has for each and every one of us."
Rodriguez, Maria. "Kristina." Message to Tanya Magargle. 25 Mar 2014. E-mail.
Why did she choose to stay?
She could have walked away
But she didn’t know
He appeared a quiet kid
Can't imagine the pain he hid
That allowed him do what he did
She is gone, and yet he lives.
Why weren’t we ever warned
Of the impending storm?
Their denial lay so deep
They just wanted him to sleep.
Forgiving the mistakes they made
The price 1000 times paid
Trapped in an awful place
While she lies still in her grave. Grh Oct. 2013
Kristina Rodriguez was born in Dallas, Texas on July 14, 1987. She graduated from Skyline High School with high honors in 05’, went to Texas to University of Denton and pursued a degree in journalism. Kristina was extremely bright and her future goal was to become an anchorwoman like Donna Hicken or maybe Katie Couric, later an editor for a magazine in NYC. She had high hopes and she was very much filled with so much potential.
Kristina came back home from school in Christmas of 2005. Kristina informed her mother Maria that Frank was in the hospital. She told her parents that he was having some issues but they didn't know how serious it was because it was downplayed. It was a six year on and off boy/girlfriend relationship she had with Frank Perez. Kristina was only a loyal friend to him at that point and she stayed by his side supporting him. She then had to return back to college.
Summer of 2006 came and Kristina was home for summer break and she got a part time job at Red Lobster. Everything seemed to be going fine. Kristina’s family finally got to meet Frank and his family on 4th of July for a good time of watching fireworks together. The 14th came and there was a family party thrown for Kristina who turned nineteen years old. There was a colorful happy birthday banner on top of the patio’s sliding door and a butterfly designed balloon over her birthday seat. As her family and quiet boyfriend gather around the living room surrounding Kristina for what was going to be the last birthday she celebrates. On their sky blue couch sits Kristina as she bends forward to open all her gifts with her graceful hands. Love and warmth fills the room as she smiles big and you can hear her sweet laugh as she playfully raises her beanie baby crab.
A month later, Kristina joined her sister Jasmine and step father Jose for dinner at her grandmother’s house. All three enjoyed a lovely dinner together that night. Frank lived very close to her grandmother’s house and she went over to see him. Frank’s parents had attended the high school (open house) with his little sister and left Frank home alone. He was tired from his Schizophrenia medicine he was taking. They hung out for a while until Kristina decided she wanted to go home already. Kristina felt frustration with him and they argued a bit over him taking her home. Kristina being 5’4, curvaceous, 150 lbs. very fragile due to the surgery she underwent a few weeks prior, she then throws a shoe at Frank and he grew angry. He snapped at that very moment and allegedly hits her with his fist. He then goes out to his car and grabs a baseball bat and enters back into the house and proceeds to strike Kristina repeatedly in the head, face and chest. Kristina still conscious was dragged by Frank and thrown in the back swimming pool. At some point that night his mother which was a registered nurse came home and pulled Frank out of the pool and attempted to give her CPR, then called police. Frank stayed in the house while police and ambulance were on their way. The officer looks at Frank and notices an abrasion on his right hand and blood splattered on his legs and feet. The officer then pulls out the silver handcuffs, arrests, and books Frank at Lewsterrick County jail for murder.
It was Maria’s worst nightmare come true when she heard a knock that night and she answered the door with such a worry some look on her face. The officer asked, “ma’am are you the mother of Kristina Rodriguez? Maria replied, “yes, what’s wrong? Officer replies back, “ there’s no easy way to tell you this but your daughter has been murdered tonight.” She starts to heavily cry and told the officer, “This is going to devastate my mom; I can’t tell her this!” she looked at them, as if they could offer her an alternative. There was none. Maria felt as if she failed as a mother. But the cop assured her that it was not her fault. Policeman told her, “It’s not your fault, remember that she’s nineteen y/o and you can’t always be with her 24/7.” And worst of all, Kristina’s little 11 year old sister Jasmine sat sobbing next to her, learning that her sister was just killed in an act of violence by her boyfriend, someone Kristina loved. How does a child process that? Maria held Jasmine tight in her arms and they just cried and wailed together.
This is the lasting effect Kristina has on her friends and family. This is proof her legacy goes on. Maria received this letter from Teresa Todd a week later after Kristina’s death. Teresa said, "just thought you should know... I carry Kristina's message with me every single day. Being nice to others and treating them with respect no matter the circumstances. This is a message that you helped pass on after her passing. Your daughter continues to give me a better perspective and makes me a better person every single day, even in her absence. I don't know anyone that has been such a wonderful influence on so many people even after they have been gone for so long. Thank you for making her the wonderful friend I will always be so fond of. “Maria shares this message with her family and friends, “ I think Kristina would want me to share this last thought because it reflects who she was... Live your life with passion, live each day to the fullest. Not because you think something bad might happen but because each moment is precious. Make plans but let go of any expectations of the outcome. Be kind to others because you don't know what that they have been through in their lives”. This note was written by Kristina on the date of Feb. 13, 2006 on her Myspace page. She said, "I have come to a point in my life where I realize how righteous and powerful God is. This past year I have gone through some rough times and am continuing to go through. I understand now that life doesn't get any easier, but the consistency of God's love eases me through the unbearable moments and gives me the peace of mind I so long for. Recently something extremely wonderful and extremely hard has come into my life. I won't divulge into detail about what that may be, but know that this experience has been far from easy. Not knowing it until now but God has been there beside me, holding my hand, telling me things will be okay. He has given me the strength to be the person I need to be and realize that though this "thing" may be hard it is well worth it and beautiful in the end. This blog is not to try and stress the importance of religion or even spirituality, but to explain my view of true love, the love that God has for each and every one of us."
Rodriguez, Maria. "Kristina." Message to Tanya Magargle. 25 Mar 2014. E-mail.