COLUMBUS — Roxana Gonzalez of Eagle Lake was found not guilty by her peers in the murder of Alfredo Gonzalez of Eagle Lake.
On the morning of Sept. 24, 2022, at about 3 a.m., the Eagle Lake Police Department was dispatched to the 400 block of Clark Street in Eagle Lake about a shooting that occurred. During the investigation, it was discovered that Roxana Gonzalez had shot her husband, Alfredo, once with a handgun, killing him. She was charged with murder.
The 25th District Court of Colorado County jury found Roxana Gonzalez not guilty of murder by means of self-defense. According to testimony, her husband had a history of abuse against Roxana. She never reported the abuse to authorities or her family for fear for her life. Roxana exhibited bruising about her body and was choked to the point of passing out. Surveillance video on the house showed aggressive behavior from Alfredo Gonzalez moments before the attack.
During closing arguments, Roxana Gonzalez’s attorneys, Larry McDougal Sr., and Larry McDougal Jr., told the jury that Roxana Gonzalez said it would be better to be judged by 12 than carried by six.
Family violence happens when there is physical abuse by hitting or with a weapon, sexual abuse by rape or any unwanted sexual contact, emotional abuse with threats or humiliation or financial abuse by controlling a person’s money without their permission.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Hitting, punching, kicking, shoving, choking or slapping.
Using weapons to inflict harm or threaten you.
Controlling what you eat or when you sleep.
Forcing you to do work against your will.
Forcing you to use drugs or alcohol. Stopping you from seeking medical treatment or calling the police.
Signs of Emotional Abuse
Attacking your sense of self-worth.
Insulting you, calling you names, criticizing you, humiliating you.
Acting jealous or possessive, accusing you of being with other partners.
Withholding affection or acknowledgment in order to punish you.
Cheating on you intentionally. Lying to you.
Signs of Psychological Abuse
Threatening to hurt you, your loved ones, your pets, your children, or your possessions.
Controlling the time you spend with others or monitoring where you go.
Controlling what you wear, often with the accusation that you attract too much attention.
Damaging or stealing your belongings.
Blaming you for the abuse, saying that you deserve what happened or that you instigated the problem.
Gaslighting: saying things to make you question your perception of reality, such as “That never happened, you never remember correctly.'
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Forcing or manipulating you to perform sexual acts.
Demanding sex when you’re not willing or able.
Harming you during sex by choking, holding or striking you.
Forcing you to watch pornography. Insulting you in sexual ways. Refusing to use a condom or other method of birth control.
Refusing to let you use birth control. Sabotaging birth control efforts such as poking holes in condoms, swapping out birth control pills, not pulling out, forcibly removing an IUD, etc.
Forcing you to become pregnant. Forcing you to have an abortion or preventing you from getting one, regardless of your wishes.
Signs of Financial Abuse
Preventing you from having access to bank accounts with your money.
Only permitting you to spend from an allowance.
Monitoring how you spend money and deciding what can or cannot buy.
Stealing your money or using your savings without your permission.
Refusing to contribute to shared expenses such as rent, food, childcare, etc.
Domestic violence comes in all sizes and shapes. If you have a feeling that you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please CALL 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. If you’ve witnessed any of these domestic violence warning signs, it’s important to recognize that domestic violence is not normal, and no human being ever deserves to be abused. There is no shame in seeking help or looking for an escape.
You are not responsible for what has happened, but you are responsible for what happens next. You have the power to help yourself.
