- The victims in the West Jordan fire that left four dead had come from Venezuela in search of a better life.
- Killed were Jaimar Bravo and her two kids, ages 14 and 8. Geordano Valecillos, who police suspect set the fire, also died.
- Bravo and Valecillos, though they came together from Venezuela, were apparently in the process of separating.
WEST JORDAN — The mother and two children killed in the West Jordan house fire allegedly set by the kids' father had moved to Utah from Venezuela in search of a better life, like many immigrants.
"She wanted a better life for her children, a better education, to help my parents in Venezuela," said Anais Bravo, the sister of Jaimar Bravo, who died with her two children in the fire on Friday. "She wanted stability."
Jaimar Bravo, 33, had uprooted from the South American country and come to Utah two years ago with daughter Georgina Valecillos, 14, son Giuliano Valecillos, 8, and Geordano Valecillos, her partner of 18 years. The relationship between the woman and Valecillos apparently had its share of problems, according to Anais Bravo, and police suspect the elder Valecillos started last week's deadly blaze and have dubbed the incident an apparent triple murder-suicide.
Many details have yet to be revealed as the investigation continues, and even Anais Bravo — who traveled to Utah from her home in Long Branch, New Jersey, on hearing of her sister's death — doesn't have all the information. Speaking Thursday, though, she lauded her sister, niece and nephew and said Jaimar Bravo had previously reached out to Utah authorities on at least one occasion to report an instance of domestic violence at the hands of Valecillos.
Jaimar Bravo and Valecillos never married, though they came to Utah together with their two kids and were in the process of separating.
An immigrant, Jaimar Bravo was seeking asylum in the United States along with her two children, according to Anais Bravo. The domestic violence case, she said, apparently stalled after her sister failed to provide authorities with follow-up information they sought.
Emergency crews responded to a report of a fire at 6340 W. 8270 South in West Jordan late Friday night, finding a man, woman and boy dead inside the home. Georgina was found outside the home with critical injuries and later died. Authorities haven't yet named those involved, but Anais Bravo identified them — and her sister, niece and nephew were the focus of a vigil outside their West Jordan home Wednesday evening.
Police have not said whether the family died as a result of the fire or in other ways.
Her sister "was a great person," enjoyed collaborating with others and taking part in her community, Anais Bravo said. "She wanted the best for her kids."
Jaimar Bravo worked at a factory near her home while her two kids attended local schools, her sister said. "They were very happy kids, extroverted, pranksters, intelligent."
Bravo said one of her focuses now is helping raise funds to send the remains of her sister, niece and nephew to Venezuela for burial. The three come from the western Venezuelan state of Zulia.
"Please help us say goodbye to them in a dignified way so they can rest in peace," she said in an online GoFundMe* fundraiser.
Apart from her parents and one sibling in Venezuela, Jaimar Bravo is survived by Anais Bravo and two other siblings in the United States.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
