Latest news with #Barajas'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Missing Mother of 6 Among Bodies Found Dead in Homeless Encampment
Police said the bodies of two people were discovered inside a tent in the Westlake district of Los Angeles on Monday, May 12 The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed one of the victims as Lucrecia Macias Barajas, a mother of six 'It devastated us,' one of Barajas' daughters said about their motherA mother of six children who went missing for several days is among the victims found dead inside a tent at a California homeless encampment, authorities said. The discovery happened on Monday, May 12, at the 1200 block of Huntley Drive near the 110 Freeway in the Westlake district of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Times reported. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed in an email to PEOPLE on Friday, May 16, that one of the deceased victims was Lucrecia Macias Barajas, 46. The medical examiner's office said the other victim was a male in his 30s. He has not yet been identified pending notification of next of kin. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Barajas' daughters told CW affiliate KTLA that their loved one was a mother of six children and an Army veteran. 'My sister, she called to tell us that she found our mom dead,' Amely Becerra, one of Barajas's daughters, told the outlet. 'It devastated us. We didn't understand how it happened.' Barajas was reportedly missing for several days and her family was unable to reach her, per KTLA. They were able to trace Barajas's cell phone signal to the location of the tent. NBC affiliate KNBC shared footage posted on Instagram showing two of Barajas' children breaking down upon discovering their mother's body in the tent, which was reportedly locked from the inside. A GoFundMe was established on behalf of Barajas' family so they could bury their mother next to her father in Nicaragua. 'Those of you who knew Lucre know very well that she would give the food out of her mouth to make sure you had a bite to eat,' the organizer wrote in the description. They added, 'She loved wholeheartedly and was selfless, caring, loving. She left us all too soon and it is a shame to lose such a wonderful human being. Not only because she was our sister but because she was a saint to whoever got to meet her.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Residents who live in the vicinity described the encampment as a drive-through for drugs, KNBC reported, adding that neighbors have contacted the city a number of times about it but to no avail. 'I want people to know she wasn't a homeless drug addict, because that's not true,' Becerra told KTLA. 'Some people are coming to that conclusion and that's not fair. She was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.' On the same day of the discovery of the two bodies, California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a model ordinance for cities and counties 'to immediately address dangerous and unhealthy encampments' and help connect people experiencing homelessness to shelter and services. The ordinance would include banning persistent camping in one location and prohibiting encampments that block free passage on sidewalks. PEOPLE contacted the LAPD and the GoFundMe organizer for additional information on Friday. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 found dead inside tent in Westlake months after fatal fire at same encampment
A man and a woman were found dead inside a tent in Westlake on Monday, months after another person died in an RV fire at the same encampment, authorities said. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the 1200 block of Huntley Drive — near the 110 Freeway and Downtown Los Angeles — around 7:20 p.m. and found two bodies, according to a department spokesperson. The L.A. County medical examiner's office is working to determine how they died. Police are not investigating the deaths as homicides, the spokesperson said. The woman was identified as 46-year-old Lucrecia Macias Barajas, according to a spokesperson for the medical examiner. The man was in his 30s, and his identity is being withheld until authorities can reach his family, the spokesperson said. KTLA News reported that Barajas' family members found her body after they were unable to reach her for several days and tore open her tent, which was locked from the inside. ABC7 News captured video of Animal Services picking up Barajas' dogs from the encampment Monday night. A spokesperson for Animal Services said the department responded to a request from the LAPD to retrieve two dogs from the encampment — a pit-bull mix and a shepherd mix — and took them to North Central Animal Shelter. A man living nearby told KTLA that his dogs had been attacked by dogs living in the encampment, which he said has caused persistent problems in the neighborhood. 'This place has been a danger zone,' the man told the outlet. 'People don't feel safe, and nothing is ever done to clear it for good.' Read more: 24 fires a day: Surge in flames at L.A. homeless encampments a growing crisis On Jan. 7, a person was found dead inside a burned vehicle at the encampment. A second person, a 38-year-old man, was taken to a hospital in the incident, Los Angeles Fire Department Spokesperson Margaret Stewart said. The death rate among people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County increased by 55% between 2019 and 2021, an uptick public health officials have attributed to a surge in fentanyl overdoses. In 2023, 2,508 people experiencing homelessness died in L.A. — which is equivalent to 6.9 deaths a day. Drug and alcohol overdoses were the leading cause of death, accounting for 45% of all fatalities. Encampment fires are also a contributor to deaths among people living on the streets or in vehicles. From 2018 to 2020, the number of fires related to homelessness nearly tripled, accounting for roughly 38% of all fires the department responded to in that time frame, according to a Times analysis. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Mom charged by Napa County D.A. in suspected DUI crash that killed children
The Brief The driver is charged with vehicular manslaughter, child abuse and DUI causing injuries. Bail for the injured driver has been set by a judge at $1.5M. A GoFundMe for the children's funeral expenses has been set up. NAPA, Calif. - The Napa County District Attorney has charged the woman suspected of driving under the influence in a crash that killed her two young children over the weekend. The mom, 31-year-old Yesica Barajas, of Napa, has been charged with two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, a felony count of DUI of alcohol and a drug causing injury and two felony counts of child abuse for the crash that killed her two children. The district attorney noted additional allegations against Barajas due to the seriousness of the charges she faces and the vulnerability of the victims. "Barajas additionally faces allegations that the crimes encompassed serious felonies, great bodily injury, bodily injury to more than one victim, vulnerable victims, that she was in position of trust, and that the crimes constitute an increased level of seriousness from her prior crimes," the Napa County District Attorney said in a statement. Napa County records do show Barajas has a history of traffic violations. The driver's children were identified by the coroner's office on Monday as 10-year-old Damian Montanez and his 9-year-old sister, Aaliyah Montanez. Barajas is recovering from her own injuries related to the crash. She was administratively booked into the Napa County Department of Corrections, according to the D.A.'s office. Once she is released from the hospital, she will be taken to jail. The backstory The crash happened on Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. on southbound Highway 29 at the Imola Avenue off-ramp. A witness told the California Highway Patrol that they saw a black Nissan leave the road and slam into a tree. The witness said the vehicle's airbags went off. An investigator said the driver was speeding. What's next The Napa County deputy district attorney made a court appearance on Tuesday to request the court set Barajas' bail at $2 million. However, a judge provisionally appointed a public defender to represent Barajas and set the bail amount at $1.5 million. Barajas' next court appearance is set for Friday at 8:30 a.m. in Napa County Superior Court. Grieving family A GoFundMe has been set up to help with the children's funeral costs. "Damian & Aaliyah were sweet, loving, full of life kids who will be missed greatly. They touched everyone they met," the GoFundMe read. "They were always helpful and loved camping in Lake Tahoe, where they often went with their grandparents."
