Love Doesn't Hurt: Justice for Mayra Ramírez Ávila
- Tamarea
- Jan 19, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 22, 2019
“My daughter was going to graduate, and she was planning to celebrate my grandson’s first birthday.” - Myra’s Mother, Karla Ávila Rivera
I have often been reminded by the universe that life is not a fairy tale. When the blows of reality strike, it’s as if you’re standing in the middle of the ring at the 2015 Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, only they’re not hitting one another; you’re the target. Last year ended with major heartache after losing my aunt and also my uncle around the holidays. They both passed away due to unrelated, nonviolent circumstances and were in their sixties or so when they died. Ironically, this past weekend the death of a near stranger has struck me in an unimaginable way.
On January 12th, 2019, 17 year old Mayra Ramírez Ávila was taken off of life support at the Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte,NC. The decision was made by the doctors when she was presumed brain dead after only 5 days of being monitored and supported. Her boyfriend (father of her 8 month old son) Gerardo Gutiérrez, left her at the hospital when suspicions surrounding her coma were raised due to inconsistencies in his story. The police are dealing with this as a case of domestic violence, however they’re in search of more solid evidence before they can arrest Gerardo. Karla Ávila Rivera is left heartbroken and confused about the circumstances surrounding the case. “The police haven't done anything. He's still free and he says he has nothing to hide. He's got some nerve! I just don't understand why he killed her.”, Karla expressed to me as she recounted the details of the investigation. According to multiple sources, this was not the first time he had beat Mayra. He also has an arrest record that shows a history of violent offenses, including another case where he and Mayra had both been arrested for fighting one another back in May 2017. He is currently seeking full parental custody of their son, and Mayra’s family has all intentions of battling him for legal guardianship.
After speaking with Mayra’s mother, I felt inclined to kickstart a fundraiser to help with the care of Mayra’s infant son. I am currently seeking in-kind donations, such as gift cards, diapers, wipes, infant foods and formula, transportation funding (i.e. gas cards), clothing, toys, as well as monetary donations to help in supporting the family to provide Mayra’s baby boy with all the things he will need. As a product of tragedy, having lost both my mother and father at a very young age, I can only imagine where my life would be if there hadn’t been people around to step in and care for me. I even recall times when relatives had to resort to illegal measures to make sure that I had everything I needed, stealing things as simple as food or feminine products for the month, because there was LITERALLY no other way to get it. I want to enlist the help of our interconnected Charlotte community, as well as anywhere else this message may reach, to make certain that Mayra’s son has everything he needs for daily living and stability. Their family has been hit with very unfortunate circumstances, and they could really use a hand during this difficult time.
Anyone interested in providing in-kind donations to support Mayra’s son should get in touch with me directly using the contact link. Please include details regarding what type of donation you are able to give. To avoid the exchange of addresses and other personal information, supporters will be provided with a P.O. Box to send in donations.
There is also a separate fundraiser (Go Fund Me), which was initiated by Mayra’s family to help with her funeral expenses. The family is continuing to get hit by charges associated with the investigation and hospital fees, so they could really use the help of the community to lay Mayra to rest with a proper burial. I implore anyone who is able to please donate to help the family as they prepare to lay their little angel to rest. Friends and relatives are planning to unite for a candlelight vigil on January 20th. Details for the vigil can be found below. Close friends of the deceased are encouraging everyone in the community to show up to pay their respects. Stand in unity with her loved ones to demand #JusticeForMayra, even if you didn’t know her personally.
Join this movement as we band together to fight the epidemic of domestic violence that has spread like wildfire and has began to claim the lives of our youth. More than half of women who are homicide victims were killed by their significant others. This his to stop; the first step is to hold the culprits accountable and bring them to justice.
* There will be a candle vigil for Mayra Ramírez. Please come all to show support for the family and friends of our little angel.
When: Sunday, January 20
7:30 pm-9:00pm
Location: 1900 East Boulevard
Charlotte, 28203
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