Francisco Mateo Guevara Lopez, 32, of Coachella, California, was found dead at his home on August 7, 2022, the result of a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Deputies responded to reports of a shooting and investigators treated the death as suspicious. Authorities determined the death resulted from domestic violence and identified his wife, Cindy Gicela Parra Hernandez, as the primary suspect.

Court testimony described a volatile relationship with frequent arguments and jealousy. On the night of the shooting the couple argued; testimony says Francisco confronted Cindy with a handgun kept in their bedroom, she took control of the weapon, and in a struggle Francisco was shot. Cindy gave conflicting accounts, at one point suggesting Francisco shot himself after she took the gun, at another saying she pointed the gun and he dared her to pull the trigger, and she ultimately admitted to shooting him in the forehead. After the shooting she called 911 and placed the handgun under Francisco’s hand in an apparent attempt to stage the scene.

The killing raises questions about escalation in abusive relationships and what interventions were or were not available beforehand. Did anyone in the Coachella community know about the couple’s fights and have information that could help investigators?