In a tragedy that has left a community reeling and families shattered, the mother of Roxana Rodriguez has shared a gut-wrenching detail that underscores the deadly grip of domestic violence. Just six months ago, Roxana confided in her mother about enduring severe abuse from her husband. She desperately wanted out—she demanded a divorce. But her mother, hoping to protect the children and preserve the family, advised her to hold on, to try harder for their sake.

That well-intentioned plea has now turned into lifelong torment. On a quiet January morning in Lakewood, California, the nightmare became irreversible. Hector Lionel Alfaro, 52, turned a firearm on his 48-year-old wife, Roxana Rodriguez, shooting her fatally in the upper torso while she was in one bedroom. He then moved to another room and killed their 17-year-old daughter, Sienna Alfaro—known affectionately as Lilly—in the same brutal manner. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene from their wounds.

The horror didn’t end there. Alfaro’s 19-year-old daughter, who was asleep in the home, awoke to the sound of gunfire. She confronted the chaos, only to have her father fire multiple shots at her. Miraculously, she escaped unharmed as the bullets missed. In front of her, he then turned the weapon on himself, ending his life in the den. Authorities recovered two firearms from the home, confirming the incident as a devastating murder-suicide rooted in domestic turmoil.

Neighbors and friends describe Roxana as a devoted mother who worked hard to provide for her family. Sienna, a bright teenager full of dreams, was remembered at a recent candlelight vigil where dozens gathered with candles and tears to honor their memories. The vigil highlighted the silent suffering many endure in abusive relationships, with calls for greater awareness and support for victims.

Roxana’s mother now carries the unbearable weight of her advice from six months earlier. What began as an attempt to keep the family intact ended in unimaginable loss. The surviving daughter, who witnessed the unthinkable, faces a future forever scarred by the loss of her mother and younger sister. Community efforts have rallied, including fundraising to support the grieving family as they navigate funeral costs and emotional recovery.

This case serves as a stark reminder of how domestic violence can escalate without warning, even in seemingly ordinary homes. Experts stress that leaving an abusive partner is often the most dangerous time, yet staying can carry fatal risks as well. Roxana sought escape, but the cycle persisted until it claimed two innocent lives.

No one can undo the past, but Roxana’s story—and her mother’s anguished confession—echoes a painful truth: urging someone to “stay for the kids” can sometimes cost everything. The community mourns, hoping their loss sparks change so no other family endures this heartbreak.