October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Late Blanca Estela Espinoza’s Second Anniversary of her Death
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
October has been designated as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the United States by the U.S. Congress since 1989 by Public Law 101-112. U.S. President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Proclamation on September 30, 2015 designating October 2015 as National Domestic Awareness Month. President Obama’s Proclamation notes that one in four women and one in seven men are victims of severe physical injury from an intimate partner caused domestic violence incident in the United States. President Obama notes that during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month everyone should reaffirm that no one should suffer the hurt and hardship that domestic violence causes victims and to protect and defend the basic human right that everyone should be free from violence and abuse.
Unfortunately, October 9th is the second anniversary of former Eagle Passan Blanca Estela Espinoza’s death on October 9, 2013 in a brutal domestic violence incident committed by her husband, Homero Herrera.
Two years have passed since the gruesome murder of Blanca Estela Espinoza, age 49, shocked the twin cities of Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. Espinoza’s family has endured tremendous pain and suffering in dealing with the tragic death of their mother, sister, aunt, and family member. Her family clamors for justice by the legal system as two years have passed and the State of Texas vs. Homero Herrera murder case against Homero Herrera, who is out on bond, has not gone to trial yet.
293rd Judicial District Attorney Roberto Serna stated that he expects the State’s case against Homero Herrera to go to trial or plea within the next months, particularly that 293rd Judicial District Judge Cynthia Muniz has returned to work on the bench.
Espinoza’s life culminated on that very sad day of October 9, 2013 when her life was taken at the hands of a severe domestic violence attack by her husband, Homero Herrera.
On October 9, 2013, the Eagle Pass Police Department responded to an emergency call in which they found 54 year old Homero Herrera wounded and covered in blood in what appeared to be a homicide and attempted suicide case. Eagle Pass Police officers found the unresponsive body of a Blanca Estela Espinoza who had multiple knife wounds all over her body and was pronounced dead at the scene of the domestic violence incident, the couple’s home on Medina Street.
The Herrera couple was discovered unconscious in their bed covered with blood by a 17 year old daughter, who promptly called 911 for assistance. Upon the Eagle Pass Police Department arrival to the scene, Blanca Estela Herrera was found dead with multiple stab wounds to her abdomen, neck, hands, and body, signifying that a struggle had occurred between Blanca and Homero Herrera. A small kitchen knife was found in the bedroom splattered with blood, which Police believe was the instrument used by Homero Herrera to inflict the mortal stab wounds upon his wife, Blanca Herrera.
Homero Herrera was unconscious but with vital signs and was rushed to the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center for emergency medical treatment and was later air lifted to University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas for surgery. Herrera survived his wounds and was later arrested and charged with murder of his wife. Later he posted bond and is out on bail.
Maverick County Justice of the Peace Tere Melendrez arrived at the scene and pronounced Blanca Herrera dead. Judge Tere Melendrez ordered an autopsy be performed on Blanca Estela Herrera.
Eagle Pass Police Department records revealed that there were many domestic violence calls from this same address and parties prior to this tragic incident on October 9, 2013.
Blanca Estela Herrera was a retired school teacher from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico and was residing in Eagle Pass. She was well-known and liked in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, where many of her family, friends, and former co-workers were deeply saddened and troubled by the tragic news of her death.
The murder and attempted suicide stemmed from a domestic violence dispute. The Eagle Pass Police Department was called to the grisly scene of the murder at 213 Medina Street near the intersection of Rio Grande and Medina Streets in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Currently, this criminal case is being tried before the 293rd Judicial District Court in Maverick County with District Judge Cynthia Muniz and is expected to move forward to trial or plea in the immediate future after a several continuances of the case during the past nine months with the most recent court hearing held on May 11, 2015.
Espinoza’s family demand justice be done and a trial be held immediately to bring closure to their pain and hurt, and so that Blanca Estela Espinoza may rest in peace.
Hermelinda Perez, a family member of Blanca Estela Espinoza, has stated that Espinoza’s relatives are still inconsolable over the tragic death of their loved one and that they can’t understand why it has taken so long for the case to proceed to trial.
Perez stated that another very concerning fact is that Herrera is out free on bond while the case remains pending, causing fear and unnecessary trauma to the family.
Perez stated that currently Espinoza’s daughter is continuing to suffer heavily from the trauma and from fear and disdain from the long time it has taken the legal system to bring the Defendant to trial and so that justice may be done.
Perez has stated that on October 9, 2015 they will be having a manifestation at 9:00 AM at the Maverick County Courthouse in honor of their departed loved one and to demand that the pending criminal proceeding against the accused immediately to trial. The public and all those in support of ending domestic violence in the community are invited to join the Espinoza Family in their solemn manifestation in memory of Blanca Estela Espinoza and to bring awareness to National Domestic Violence Month this October 2015.
