BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — Grief and remembrance filled downtown Bakersfield as families gathered outside the Kern County District Attorney’s Office to honor loved ones lost to violent crime.
The annual Victims’ Rights event recognizes people commemorated through the Victims of Violent Crime Memorial, which holds thousands of names of lives lost in Kern County. Attendees held photos of their loved ones and shared memories of who they were. For some families, their cases have been solved, while others are still waiting.
Cynthia Garcia attended while mourning her daughter, Desiree Paola Noelle Mooney, who she said was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. “It’s still so hard. Not a day goes by that we don’t think about her, that we don’t miss her,” Garcia said. Garcia also remembered her daughter’s personality: “She was a wonderful girl. She was definitely a diva. Very outgoing.”
Desiree and her husband, Max Mooney, were killed last year when an alleged drunk driver crashed into their rideshare.
Jessica Gallardo also spoke about her loss and the desire for accountability. “He was a good son. A grandson. A beloved brother. A dad, a fiancé. A nephew. We miss dearly. And we just want justice,” Gallardo said.
For Irene Gutierrez, the event was another reminder of a case that has stretched on for decades. Gutierrez said she is still searching for justice in the murder of her best friend, Tina Blunt. She said Blunt was abducted and later found dead, and that nearly three decades later the case remains unsolved. “27 years later, still unsolved, and they have no idea what or who did it,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said attending the event helps ensure her friend is not forgotten. “She still is loved, and she may not be here every single day, but, you know, we’re still gonna remember her,” she said.
Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said the event is meant to bring comfort to families. “We have found that when people come together, they share in common: Hurt and pain, and the support that they receive, that we hope will help them feel better,” Zimmer said…