Governor vows to seek ‘long-term solutions’ in wake of latest femicide

Keyshla Rivera Ocasio (INSTAGRAM via Psicologa Lcda. Keyshla Rivera Ocasio)

By The Star Staff

In light of the accumulating cases of femicide, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón on Sunday urged victims to seek help and speak out instead of suffering in silence. She confirmed that the Justice Department, the police and the Department of Education are actively implementing initiatives to address such cases and provide support to prevent further violence.

González Colón’s remarks came in the wake of last Thursday’s stabbing death of a 30-year-old psychologist in Vega Alta at the hands of her longtime partner. The couple were the parents of a young son, who was asleep in their residence at the time of the slaying. It was the island’s 12th reported case of femicide this year.

“The first step is to seek help. When a woman is in a cycle of violence, she cannot remain silent because this is how tragedies happen,” the governor said. “The murders we see are often the result of recurring conflicts. Don’t wait for the second or third incident; ask for help. There is a dedicated anonymous hotline available. Through the justice secretary’s office, women can call for guidance on how to proceed. We are also establishing support networks at home. We should not wait until it’s too late and our children witness such violence.”

González Colón added that the Justice Department and its Office for Women are intensifying their efforts and allocating more resources to address relationship violence cases as they arise. The Puerto Rico Police are also upgrading the facilities where victims of violence are received “to ensure they do not have to report their cases in a barracks, providing a more supportive environment for filing complaints,” she said.

“Additionally, I am looking for long-term solutions,” the governor continued. “Starting this semester in August, a mandatory course on emotion management will be introduced in all higher education institutions in Puerto Rico. This initiative provides our youth with the tools needed to channel emotions related to anger, violence, or attachment issues. This is the first time Puerto Rico has taken such a proactive approach to prevent future violence.”

“By equipping our youth with these skills in schools, we can break the cycle of violence that often perpetuates from one generation to the next,” González Colón said. “Studies show that if someone experiences violence at home, they are likely to repeat it. Therefore, we must stop this cycle early on. This initiative will also encourage youth to interact with their parents and seek help together.”

She emphasized “the importance of reaching out for help” for victims of domestic violence or emotional abuse, and relayed the hotline number for doing so: 722-2977.

“Tragically, the lifeless body of Keyshla Marie Rivera Ocasio, a 30-year-old psychologist dedicated to working with children with special needs, was discovered last week at her home on Orquídea Street in the Ranchos Nativos area of Candelaria,” the governor said in reference to last Thursday’s events in Vega Alta. “The scene was heartbreaking, with a knife found embedded in her heart, signaling a violent end to her life.”

The woman’s partner, Argenis Carrión Santos, a 33-year-old veteran of the Armed Forces, dialed 911 at 3:55 a.m. to report the horrific event, confessing to the slaying in a calm and collected manner, the governor noted in a press release. At the time of the tragic incident, the couple’s year-and-a-half-old son was asleep in a separate room. The child was later taken into temporary custody by the Department of Family Affairs for his safety.

Authorities revealed that Carrión Santos was already waiting for law enforcement officers on the ground floor of the residence, ready to share the details of his actions, which were recorded on the officers’ body cameras. Additionally, he left a handwritten note in the bathroom in which he admitted to the crime and expressed his heartfelt wishes for their son to be cared for by his grandmother.

After committing the femicide, Carrión Santos attempted, unsuccessfully, to take his own life using a second kitchen knife, resulting in self-inflicted injuries to his forearm, wrist and thigh, according to reports. After receiving the necessary medical treatment, he was released from the hospital and booked into the Bayamón Correctional Facility on Saturday night after being unable to pay bail of $1.5 million on three counts of first-degree murder, and possession and use of a knife.

According to the police report, Carrión Santos and Rivera Ocasio had had an argument over alleged infidelity on the part of Carrión Santos. In the incident, Carrión Santos used the kitchen knife to kill Rivera Ocasio.

Judge Juan Portel Maldonado of the Bayamón Court scheduled a preliminary hearing for Aug. 8.