Crime & Safety
UPDATE: Memorial Fund Created for Lucero and Abel Gutierrez
The Gutierrez family is asking for donations to go toward funeral services for 11-year-old Lucero and her brother Abel, who were involved in a murder suicide Wednesday.
Updated at 2:31 p.m. Saturday—A bank account has been created at the Gilroy branch of the Santa Clara Bank and Trust, located at 8000 Santa Teresa Blvd., to help the Gutierrez family pay for Lucero and Abel's funeral costs. Those wishing to make donations to the account, which has been named the "Lucero Luna & Abel Gutierrez Memorial Fund," can contact the bank at (408) 848-2161 or visit the branch.
A memorial fund is being created for Lucero and Abel Gutierrez, the victim and suspect in Wednesday's murder suicide.
Rachael Castro, a neighborhood developer with South County Housing who handles social services for tenants, is working with one of the Gutierrez family members to create an account in hopes that individuals will contribute funds toward the siblings' funeral costs.
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"We are going to have everybody and anybody give because the family is in dire financially need," Castro said.
The account should be created and open by Saturday morning, said Castro, who added that the family member she’s working with is very grateful for all the support she's receiving.
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South County Housing owns and manages The Redwoods apartment complex where Lucero and Abel lived. Castro also helped organize Thursday night's candlelight vigil, where she says residents continue to mourn the loss of Lucy and worry for her mother, Martha, who has been .
"People are in shock and are grieving," she said. "They didn't think something bad like this would happen. They have nothing bad to say about any of the family members, including Abel. They realize it was related to post-traumatic stress disorder. They understand and are grieving for their lose, especially of little Lucero."
Castro said counselors will be at The Redwoods community center Saturday morning to help tenants through the grieving process. Tenants from The Redwoods and Monterra Village apartments were notified about the gathering on Thursday, which is closed to the public.
“We’re really just trying to get to the people who are really affected, and its more so for the children,” she said.
Family members are currently working on organizing a memorial service for Lucy and Abel that's anticipated for sometime next week.
“There will be a memorial service possibly next week, it depends on how everything turns out for the family,” she said.
