HEMPSTEAD, NY – A vigil was held on Long Island Friday for a mother who police say was killed by the child’s father in front of her 2-year-old son. Her family and support group are now raising awareness about domestic violence.
Brenda Alfaro, 29, was killed Oct. 5 in her Hempstead home. Police say 43-year-old Jose Funes-Zabala, the father of her son with whom she no longer had a relationship, stabbed her more than 30 times.
It happened just one day after a protective order expired.
“She had conversations with him and he promised that he would change. And she really thought that he would change, that he was a different man,” said Bethzaida Perez, domestic violence liaison for the nonprofit Circulo De La Hispanidad. .
A vigil was held for Brenda Alfaro on Long Island
With candles in their hands and tears in their eyes, dozens gathered on Friday evening to commemorate Alfaro.
The young mother from El Salvador was in a domestic violence support group. Officials say Funes-Zabala also abused their son when he was just a few months old.
“She was full of life, a wonderful mother… We need justice for this baby because he didn’t deserve to lose his mother and go through what he went through,” said Rebecca Flores, a relative of the victim.
“She was a loving person. Very quiet, very shy. And I’m so heartbroken that this happened to her,” Perez said.
Advocates encourage victims of domestic violence to speak out
Officials say if you or someone you know is experiencing any form of domestic violence, you should report it.
‘Get in touch. Please contact us. Call the police. Don’t stay quiet,” Perez said.
“We are here with our police to make sure that when people call and need help, we respond, but the key is to say something,” Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs said.
According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women are affected by intimate partner violence. Still, advocates say cases of domestic violence are underreported.
“It could be fear because a lot of them are undocumented, it could also be for that reason and they’re afraid that if they say anything they’ll be deported,” Perez said.
Perez said there’s another reason why some mothers don’t report domestic violence because of their children.
“Because they don’t want the children to suffer,” she said.
Domestic Violence Resources
Survivors and victims of domestic violence can find help 24/7 by calling the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline at (800) 942-6906texting (844) 997-2121 or chat online here. For more resources, please visit the website of the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.
You can also reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-7233text START to 88788 or chat online here.
