Myriam Abraham, 30, of Escondido, California, was shot in the neck and died on November 1, 2004, after being found in the apartment she shared with her boyfriend, Raul Rojo Garcia. A neighbor, Gene Alvarez, heard a commotion, discovered Garcia attempting to stop the bleeding, and emergency services transported Myriam to hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Garcia, a former Marine marksman who was present at the scene, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. At trial the prosecution introduced testimony about Garcia’s history of domestic violence, witness accounts including a toxicologist and one of Myriam’s sisters, and evidence of the intentional and personal discharge of a firearm. The jury convicted Garcia of second-degree murder and he received a sentence of 40 years to life with a firearm enhancement; an appeal raising issues about prior-act evidence and prosecutorial conduct was rejected.

Anyone who knew Myriam or saw activity at the apartment around November 1, 2004, is asked to share what they remember.