They can be you...or someone you love.

[D.P.]

The apartment complex where Claudia Rhone was murdered on May 3rd, 2006, no longer exists. The Iris Court Apartments were torn down recently to make way for a new development. I drove by there today and thought about how life just marches on. Gone are the balloons, flowers and other memorial offerings by friends and family that sat on the stoop of Claudia Rhone's corner apartment. Gone are the neighbors, all moved away now. And for most, gone is the knowledge of the woman who lived in that corner apartment for sixteen years, and was brutally murdered right on the shared lawn of that complex by her estranged boyfriend. Claudia Rhone, who ironically, died just feet from a memorial tree planted for yet another woman murdered by a former boyfriend in that same courtyard twelve years prior. I thought, how sad that as much as everything seems to change, nothing really does.

Claudia Rhone moved into the Iris Court Apartments sometime in 1990. She has been described by all who knew her as a kind woman with a warm smile. Rhone's boyfriend was Gilberto Pedroso. He had lived with Rhone for seven years, from 1996 to 2003. Pedroso has been described as an alcoholic who got very violent when drunk, and would beat Rhone to the point of hospitalization. When he moved out, Rhone filed a restraining order against him. In 2004, nearly a year after moving out, Pedroso was arrested on accusations of assault and harassment. Nothing came of the arrest. Neighbors have said that Pedroso wouldn't leave Rhone alone and that he could be found some nights loitering on the corner across from Rhone's apartment, just watching.

On May 2, 2006, Gilberto Pedroso, 63, brutally stabbed Claudia Rhone to death in full view of her neighbors on her own lawn. Six hours before Claudia was murdered, she made her first 911 call and told dispatchers that Pedroso intended to kill her. Police came out for the call, but Pedroso had taken off. Two and a half hours later, when Pedroso returned, Rhone made a second call to 911. Police again arrived to find no sign of Pedroso. Claudia Rhone's third and final call to 911 was made two minutes before her death. Listening to the 911 recording, one can hear her screaming frantically and calling for help as she ran out of her apartment unit. One can then hear the sounds of Pedroso stabbing Claudia Rhone to death. She was 54 when she died.

To those who know first hand how domestic violence has affected their lives, or the lives of friends and family, this case is very similar to most of the stories that we hear about. Sadly enough, NOTHING really stands out about this case. Woman breaks up with man. Man is bitter. Man continues to harass woman and she gets a restraining order. Man ignores restraining order, and meets with no real consequences. Man threatens woman over and over. Man finally becomes homicidal and woman makes not one…not two, but three 911 calls…all to no avail. Her neighbors cannot (or will not) do anything to stop the attack. She is murdered in her own front yard.

Another dead woman.

How many times do we read this? How many times does this scenario become a reality for families? How many children mourn their mothers? These women are more than just blurbs on the back pages of the newspaper. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces. They are teachers, doctors, nurses and more. They are "kind people with warm smiles". They can be you…or someone you love.

Earlier in this post, I mentioned that Claudia Rhone died not far from a tree planted for another victim of domestic violence. Her name was Kyra Woods and she was 24 when she was murdered. And the beat goes on.

kgw.com katu.com portlandonline.com

Gilberto Pedroso was convicted of murder on March 13, 2007. He is currently serving a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years. Due to his age, it is most likely he will never walk free again.

http://www.katu.com/news/6489462.html

[Trench Reynolds]

She just rolls her eyes and keeps moving.

[Soobs]

Hehehe, yes, I remember. (How does the lovely Jade put up with this???)

[Trench Reynolds]

Of course you do. I'm always right remember. :)

[Soobs]

D.P., I can't BELIEVE it's been over a year! Time really does march on. Thanks so much for writing this, and I agree with Trench, by the way.

[MamaL]

Thank you for Claudia and Kyra that was beautiful and sincere.

[Trench Reynolds]

And like HSH told me we can never have too many DV bloggers.

[D.P.]

Aww, shucks....thanks, Trench.
::Blushes modestly::

[Trench Reynolds]

Great post DP. We may make a blogger out of you yet. :)