In a heartbreaking revelation emerging from the aftermath of a devastating family tragedy in Lakewood, California, authorities and loved ones have uncovered that Roxana Rodriguez, 48, had quietly prepared divorce papers just before her life was tragically cut short. The documents, discovered by her grieving family, showed a woman determined to end a troubled marriage on her own terms—seeking sole custody of her children while waiving any claim to shared assets or financial support.

The incident occurred on a quiet January morning in 2026, when deputies responded to a home on the 5800 block of Lorelei Avenue following reports of gunfire. Inside, they found a scene of unimaginable horror: Roxana Rodriguez shot in the torso in one bedroom, her 17-year-old daughter Sienna Alfaro similarly wounded in another, and 52-year-old Hector Lionel Alfaro, the husband and father, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot in the den. Two firearms were recovered at the scene, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office quickly classified the triple fatality as a murder-suicide.

Sources close to the family indicate that Rodriguez and Alfaro had been living separately for about four months prior to the killings. The separation stemmed from a deeply disturbing discovery Rodriguez made on her husband’s phone, which shattered trust and sparked ongoing arguments and emotional turmoil. Despite the strain, Rodriguez reportedly prioritized her children’s well-being above all else. In the draft divorce filing, she explicitly requested primary custody rights for the kids and made no demands for property division, alimony, or other financial entitlements—a detail that has stunned those who knew her as a devoted mother unwilling to prolong conflict over material things.

The couple shared multiple children, including an older daughter who survived the incident unharmed after escaping the initial violence. A candlelight vigil was held shortly after to honor Rodriguez and Sienna, with community members gathering to mourn the loss and support the surviving siblings through a GoFundMe campaign set up by family friends. Relatives described Rodriguez as a loving, resilient woman who had endured challenges in the relationship but remained focused on protecting her family.

This case highlights the often-hidden dangers within strained domestic situations, where separation can escalate tensions unpredictably. Experts note that such tragedies frequently involve long-simmering control issues or unresolved conflicts, and the presence of firearms in the home amplifies the risk exponentially. While the exact trigger for Alfaro’s actions remains under investigation, the discovery of the untouched divorce papers adds a poignant layer: a woman on the verge of reclaiming her independence and safeguarding her children, only for violence to intervene in the most final way.

The surviving family continues to grapple with profound grief, remembering Roxana not just as a victim, but as a mother whose last documented wish was to secure a safer future for her kids—free from the burdens she chose to leave behind. As investigations conclude and memorials persist, this story serves as a somber reminder of the fragility of life amid domestic strife.