Latest news with #OpenDoorNetwork
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Stabbing victim's cousin will advocate against domestic violence on her behalf
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – The suspect in the shocking stabbing death of an East Bakersfield woman on May 28 was to have made his first court appearance the afternoon of May 30, but it was delayed. That did not dissuade members of the victim's family, who are determined to see some good come out of the alleged domestic violence tragedy. Rafael Estrada, estranged husband of Taylor Danay Dominguez Estrada, was expected to answer charges Friday that he fatally slashed her in front of family members Wednesday night at her mother's house. The family had just returned from a middle school graduation pizza party. Estrada, for reasons not disclosed, was a no-show in court. He remains in custody and has been re-scheduled to appear June 2. But family members were waiting for him in court Friday. So were two representatives of the Open Door Network, an anti-domestic violence organization. They met Taylor Estrada's cousin Nichoal Swenson in front of the courthouse prior to the scheduled hearing. 'The tragedy has happened but I'm not gonna let her story die,' Swenson said. 'This is a domestic violence case. This was her estranged husband. She was getting her life back. I would like anybody who's going through this to realize that this can happen to you.' Laney Fernandez of the Open Door Network said the organization can offer a couple of important services to the grieving family. 'I would hope that if the family would want us to, we'll provide therapy services for the children,' she said. '(We can also) hopefully provide some financial support if we can for grandma. I know she's going to have to take on new responsibilities.' Rafael Estrada, who goes by Ralph, has one child with Taylor Estrada, the youngest of her four. He is represented by a public defender. The defendant is accused of entering his mother-in-law's house after most family members had departed, and cutting his 32-year-old wife's throat in front of witnesses. Taylor Estrada died right there where she fell. A Sheriff's helicopter was in the area and saw 44-year-old Rafael Estrada take off in a white truck. The copter tracked Estrada, and he was stopped after a vehicle pursuit that at one point allegedly had him driving against traffic. He was apprehended in south Bakersfield with the help of a K-9. Estrada is charged with first degree murder, one count of causing injury to an elder adult, and four counts of willful cruelty to a child. 'I will advocate her story,' Swenson said. 'And I hope this helps someone. Because I'm not going to stop. I will be here every day until he goes to prison.' He was convicted in Kern County on domestic abuse charges in 2000 and 2005, and battery on a police officer in 2002. He also previously had DUI and second degree robbery charges dismissed. Between 960,000 and 3 million incidents of domestic violence are reported each year, and those are just the reported cases. It's been estimated that more than ten million people experience domestic violence in the U.S. each year. About 90 percent are women. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Domestic violence strikes again: Estranged husband accused of fatally stabbing woman at daughter's grad party
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – Wednesday was one of those red-letter dates in a young person's life. The last day of school: class promotion, graduation, celebration…a family get-together. It wasn't supposed to go like this…nothing is supposed to go like this. Taylor Danay Dominguez Estrada held a middle school graduation pizza party for her eldest daughter at her mother's house on Monterey Street Wednesday evening. She invited family members but not her estranged husband Rafael Estrada, the father of her youngest boy. He found out about it anyway. Family members declined to go on camera or were unavailable, but they confirmed some of the preliminary details provided by the coroner's office. At about 8:20 p.m., after most of the guests had departed, Rafael Estrada allegedly entered the house, took out a knife, and cut his wife's throat in front of at least one child. 32-year-old Taylor Estrada died right there where she fell. Rafael Estrada took off but was soon apprehended off Taft Highway. Lauren Skidmore of the Open Door Network, a domestic violence awareness and assistance agency, said the issue isn't going anywhere. 'Relationships are hard,' she said. 'It's hard for this person that ends up being the aggressor and it's hard for the victim. Before you become an aggressor and you put yourself in a situation that you could either harm somebody that you have a connection with, that you potentially love, and-or family members, that you should take a step back.' Food, drink and blood drive to come to Compassion Corner June 5 'I hope if you're finding yourself not able to overcome this aggression, and this constant conflict, that you seek help,' said Skidmore. 'There are organizations out there that can assist you with that…can walk you through relationship guidance. That can help you through healthy relationships. Relationships are hard, so while you may end up being the one who's the aggressor, there could be tense moments between both parties that cause you to finally hit that edge point. Before you get there, seek help and seek conversation.' Between 960,000 and three million incidents of domestic violence are reported each year, and those are just the reported cases. It's been estimated that more than 10 million people experience domestic violence in the U.S. each year and about 90% are women. As long as there is jealousy, erratic behavior, illusions of ownership, and mental illness, the possibility of domestic violence will always exist. It's how we deal with it that will make the difference. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shoes for the homeless, year 33: Guarantee Shoes rustles up 8,000 pairs for the needy
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – If you're like most people, you've got too many shoes – colors, fits, and styles that just don't work for you anymore. If you're a typical resident of one of Bakersfield's homeless centers, you very likely don't have enough decent shoes. Maybe none at all. The solution would seem obvious enough. It did for Rosco Rolnick, 33 years ago. That's when the third generation owner of Guarantee Shoe Center launched his Shoes for Our Homeless Shoe Drive. In a third of a century, the downtown Bakersfield institution has collected 120,000 new and used shoes, coordinating with the Open Door Network to distribute footwear to the unhoused and victims of domestic violence. In 2025, the effort collected 8,000 pairs of shoes. Bail granted to driver in fatal Westside Parkway crash That's 16,000 shoes for the math-challenged among us. Collection was a huge undertaking. Now comes the equally daunting task of distribution. Lauren Skidmore of the Open Door Network can explain how it works. 'We are going to distribute this among the entire homeless population,' she said at Tuesday's press conference announcing the collection total. 'We'll make sure that every shelter has access to a quality pair of shoes for each of their clients. We know we have over 1,000 individuals in shelters right now. We're going to make sure they have access to these shoes and then there are 8,000 pairs of shoes that we're receiving today so we're going to be able to store the shoes and keep them throughout the year for new clients that are coming in.' Skidmore's agency serves more than the homeless, noted supporter Nona Darling. 'Not only is it homeless people who need shoes but also survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking,' she said. 'They're all served by the Open Door Network.' Anyone can help, according to Jim Darling, who has helped coordinate the shoe drive for years. 'Everybody has a pair of shoes they bought, that I bought, that you bought, that sit in our closet,' he said. 'We think they're (no longer) cool, they are not comfortable, they don't fit right, they're out of style, whatever it is, but they're good, usable shoes that someone in need would really appreciate.' Rolnick, who's been at the corner of 21st and Chester these many decades, is grateful for the continuing community support. 'It's just heartwarming to know that I can change somebody's life with a decent pair of shoes,' he said. 'Some worn, some new. It's just been incredible.' First you're hearing of this worthy cause? Guarantee Shoe Center is collecting your wearable used shoes year-round. Just drop them at the downtown store at 2101 Chester Ave. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Denim Day raises awareness of ‘victim blaming' during Sexual Assault Awareness Month
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with the last Wednesday of every April being known as Denim Day. It's not just a day to show off your favorite jeans, it's a day to raise awareness about sexual assault, and speak out against victim blaming. But to understand why we have Denim Day now, we first must go back to Italy in 1998, when a high-profile rape trial saw a shocking development, years after the original decision. The conviction was overturned. A list of the largest settlements reached by organizations and victims of sexual abuse The appealed decision was based on the defendant's account that the victim's jeans were so tight he couldn't have removed them himself, implying consent. 'Shortly after that, women showed up to the Italian parliament in jeans,' said Open Door Network CEO Lauren Skidmore. The gesture started a movement that went worldwide, and years later, Los Angeles-based organization Peace Over Violence established Denim Day. Now, according to Peace Over Violence, millions worldwide wear denim on the last Wednesday in April to protest. 'It really is an opportunity for us to stand with victims of sexual assault and try to reduce victim shaming that happens every single day,' said Skidmore. Victims like Carrie Blind, who moved past her pain and now owns a salon in downtown Bakersfield. Like many others, she had her own issues with victim blaming. 'I was sexually assaulted by two, possibly three men at the same time,' she said. 'When it comes to Denim Day and talking about victim blaming, it's very difficult sometimes as a survivor to be taken seriously, because there are accusations of sexual abuse that are made up,' Blind said. 1st Kern County defendant convicted under Prop 36 sentenced 'No one wants to believe that their brother or their friend or their son has the capability of assaulting someone sexually. So absolutely, there's lot of blaming of victims that happens like 'what was she wearing, what did she say, what did she do, how did she allude to the fact that she gave him permission to do something like that?'' And so the denim isn't just a fashion trend. It's a stance. A stance defending those who have suffered enough already. 'For so long I felt so ugly. I felt so terrible about myself that I didn't want to be seen in a community, I didn't want people to know that I had experience what I had experienced,' said Blind. 'Now being able to participate in Denim Days, it makes a difference. It gives all of us survivors an opportunity to stand up and say, 'yes, this happened to me.'' If you are a victim of sexual violence, you're not alone. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network's website at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
