The Death of Janet Christiansen Abaroa

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On April 26,2005 police received a call from Raven Abaroa that his wife was injured. When they arrived at the home, they discovered Janet Abaroa dead on the bedroom floor with large amounts of blood on the floor, the wall and a side door of the home. She had been stabbed in the chest. Their 6-month-old son was uninjured. Her husband, Raven, told them he’d come home from a soccer game and found her. Police began investigating the murder, and retained a search warrant to seize numerous items from the home. Including knives, the clothing Raven was wearing, financial statements, a pawn shop ticket and a check book. The autopsy showed Janet was pregnant.

Within a week, Raven retained an attorney.

Police continued to investigate the murder but remained more quiet than open to the media about progress. A few months later Raven Abaroa was offered a plea deal on another matter, embezzlement from the company he and Janet worked. A charge had been lodged against him in Feb of 2005. In September of that same year, Raven accepted the plea deal and pled guilty. He was sentenced to two years probation plus had to pay back near 10 thousand dollars. The police also began searching through the Abaroas’ email accounts. In the meantime Raven was mum about his wife’s murder and a few weeks after Janet’s death Raven moved to Utah to raise his son. Over a year after Janet was killed, the police began looking into a new lead involving computers, one was missing from the home. Police believe Janet had known her killer since no evidence of a break in was discovered.

Two years later, Raven met a woman named Vanessa Pond. In 2008 he asked her to marry him. But on the day of her bridal shower Raven became violent with her. He threw her down and pushed her around. Vanessa did an internet search on him and discovered a video of him opening a knife in front of Janet while talking about how he liked to collect knives. Vanessa was disturbed by the video. Raven told her he didn’t collect knives or have a fascination with them. Vanessa continued with her plans to marry Raven. Her parents confronted Raven asking if he’d killed his wife but all he’d say was he loved his wife. He didn’t deny or directly admit it.

Vanessa said on their wedding night, Raven was drunk and talked about how mad he was after Janet died. She said he kept saying how mad he was. She said he then cuddled up close to her and said, 'I promise I'll never hurt you.' Vanessa stated she didn't know how to take that. During the marriage, Raven had mood swings, he’d curse and call her names telling her how he hated her and didn’t care if she died. One comment he allegedly said to her is very telling to me.

He said, ‘you know what, I want to hit you so bad, and I can't get in trouble for it any more.’ She said she was in the bathroom and he pushed her and wouldn’t let her out. Vanessa said when Raven left, he grabbed Kaiden (his and Janet’s son) and said, come on, we have to go. Mommy doesn’t want us anymore.

It would be 2010 before police in NC would arrest Raven Abaroa for the murder of his wife, Janet Christiansen Abaroa. Raven fought extradition from Idaho but that is a battle he couldn’t win. Raven was brought back to Durham and Judge Stephens set a 5 million-dollar bond on him.

The police decided they needed Janet’s body exhumed for further testing. Allegedly they wanted to take fingerprints, casts of her hands and to see marks made on her skeleton by the weapon and to check if she was wearing contact lenses.

Raven Abaroa refused to sign the consent but Janet’s family did give permission and a Chambersburg, Pa., Judge ordered her remains exhumed.

Raven Abaroa’s trial has been set for Oct 2012. He still maintains he was at a soccer game when his wife was attacked and murdered.

　

Mode's Been on Hold but I Do Care

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Spouses are still killing spouses. Boyfriends are still killing girlfriends and vice-versa. Children are still being abused and killed. Police officers are still being shot and killed. It’s a deplorable circle. So, I’ve been slack on my blog. My mode is on hold. A couple trials I’ve watched in the recent months and the verdicts or sentencing really gave me the humbug feelings so I haven’t wanted to write about any other case. Then along came the disappearance of Kelli Bordeaux and I really felt my posting on crimes mode go more downhill. Kelli, a PFC combat medic, is still missing with whereabouts unknown. Two people from the establishment she visited the night she disappeared have been arrested on unrelated charges but no one has been arrested in connection with her disappearance.

The short version:

Fort Bragg officials reported Kelli’s status on Monday, April 16, 2012, she had not shown for work. Family members did not know where she was and law enforcement was notified. LE received information during their investigation that Kelli could be in danger. The last known place Kelli was seen alive is Froggy Bottoms bar. While at the bar she was seen conversing with a man. No reason is known why she went to the bar. The only real truths anyone has are questions. Why did Kelli decide to go to the bar on Friday April 13? Where is Kelli? Is she safe? Did she willingly disappear for reasons of her own? Did Kelli drink the 4 shots and 4 beer paid for on her tab? She was seen leaving the bar after 1 AM on April 14. The man she was speaking with while at the bar, is known sex offender Nicholas Holbert. Holbert has since been arrested but not in relation to Kelli’s disappearance. Police and volunteers have since done numerous searches in that area , including checking a pond, but come up empty. Family members nor her husband have heard from her.

Just when I thought the mode to write and post more on domestic violence and other crime had returned. I am once again thrown for a backward loop. Little is known at this time but in Columbus, Ohio police receive a tip of a man plotting murder for hire. Surveillance was set up and apparently evidence surfaced because they arrested Angel Javier Benitez on conspiracy to commit murder. The alleged victim was his wife.

Of course another case catches my eye today too. One that sounds to have been personal since he only shot the man. Ramundo Zerate, Jr. and his family drove home from a Mother’s Day celebration at the Tomball area park in Magnolia, Texas. When the family arrived home, a man got out a car and shot Mr. Zerate once in the head and again in the abdomen. The man apparently followed them home.

Brandon Preciado and Domestic Abuse

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Brandon Preciado is a young 29- year-old police officer for Long Beach. Sadly, he already has a long list of domestic violence charges lodged against him. Eighteen of them at this time. But I’m concerned he will not pay the way he should for his actions.

Although his wife, Yessenia, told the court of his abusiveness, she is reluctant to testify against him at trial. Yessenia told the court how he used his police department-issued flashlight to threaten her and about his wrapping a belt around her throat. She related how he threatened her with death. "Prepare to die," he allegedly told her. He’d bit her face. And on many occasions’ Brandon would hit her in the face. Yessenia has endured a bloody nose many times, hits with his baton, his fist and a broom and threats with a hammer.

Perciado is due in court March 18 for arraignment. He is on administrative leave from the police department. I am praying he actually goes to trial and Yessenia testifies to the horrors she has endured. Most likely, a good lawyer could get him off otherwise on a plea deal. Brandon has pled not guilty.

I hope Yessenia has heard of and read Susan Murphy Milano’s book ‘Time’s Up’ and takes action to protect herself should Brandon be set free. ( And that is a scary thought) To me, he appears to be a bomb waiting to explode. Yessenia could be in range of the flashback if she doesn’t utilize the help Susan’s book can provide her.

Donald Greenslit and The Death of Stacie DeSantis-Dorego

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From what I can gather the fire department and police were called to a home in Johnston, Rhode Island. Smoke was billowing from a chimney and neighbors were concerned. When the firefighters arrived, they found Donald Greenslit standing in the driveway screaming profanities, saying he didn’t need them, he was just burning wood in his fireplace. Firefighters put out his fire but what they found wasn’t just wood burning. They discovered the remains of a dismembered female wrapped in cloth and burnt. The deceased was found to be 39-year-old Stacie DeSantis-Dorego mother of Greenslit’s two small children Jake, 5; Lily, 3 and another daughter Mackenzie, age 14. The children were at home when Greenslit allegedly killed and dismembered then attempted to destroy her body but thankfully didn’t witness the events that led to her death. The police also discovered Donald wasn’t supposed to be at the home. He’d committed a couple DV incidents against Stacie and a no contact order had been issued on him. Now Donald is charged with her murder, violating the no contact order and child abuse. Child abuse because he endangered the children with smoke inhalation when he attempted to destroy Stacie’s body by burning it in the fireplace.

Donald Greenslit confessed to killing Stacie but he says it was self-defense because she attacked him. I hope he never sees sunshine without stripes hindering his view from behind bars. This is a case I will keep an eye on so my readers and, me too, will know when it goes to trial. Stacie was a wonderful young lady who was an aspiring writer and loved her children. She deserves justice. Stacie said her children were her soul. I wish I had gotten to know her better. My deepest and most sincere condolences go out to her children, family and friends.

Police Oficer deaths

I’d started 2011 with a piece on police officer deaths. Sadly the year was horrific for LE. More officers were killed in 2011 than 2010. I pray 2012 is a better year for all officers. But too, I pray less, lots less officer related intimate partner crime is committed during this year. Both these, the murders of officers and DV crimes are horrible for LE everywhere. Sadly on New Year Day this year I read of a park Ranger killing in Mt Rainier National Park. Her husband and children get to spend their year with a huge hole in their heart without her to fill it.