- A vigil was held for a West Jordan family killed in a murder-suicide.
- Jaimar Bravo, her children Georgina and Giuliano, died in the tragic incident.
- Police suspect the father, Geordano Valecillos, killed his family.
WEST JORDAN — Family and friends gathered outside the charred remains of a West Jordan home Tuesday night, singing and mourning the loss of their loved ones.
The home at 6340 W. 8270 South exploded and started burning Friday. Police say a father killed his two children and their mother in a murder-suicide.
Family members identified the victims as Jaimar Bravo, 33, her daughter Georgina Valecillos, 14, and her 8-year-old son Giuliano Valecillos. Bravo's partner and the children's father is Geordano Valecillos.
The family had moved to Utah from Venezuela about two years ago in search of a better life. Police said they had responded to the home once before on a domestic violence call. But according to Bravo's brother, Julio Matos Gil, she was too afraid to report her husband.
"She didn't want to be deported," he said. "She wanted a better future for her kids, for her family and didn't want to put them through trauma."
Matos Gil shared his grief.
"I have a huge pain in my heart and my soul," he said, holding back tears.
"She was a very good sister, very good mother (and a) very good daughter," said Matos Gil. "She was so noble, very friendly (and) very positive. She was the middle child, but she was the one who guided everyone."
Neighbors said they are still in shock.
"This is just horrible. I mean, how could you do that to your own family?" said Elijah Anika, who lives next door.
The family hopes to return the bodies of Bravo and her two children to Venezuela for burial.
Georgina was found outside the house on that day and before she died, she made statements to investigators that pointed "in the direction of believing the father was the person who caused the fire. The evidence collected corroborates those statements," said West Jordan Police Sgt. Andrew Hercules, though he did not go into detail about what statements were made.
Domestic violence resources
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Utah Survivor Services: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
