In July 2019, 29-year-old Rossibeth Flores-Rodriguez moved to Des Moines from Honduras with her two young children seeking a fresh start. On July 16, 2019, Flores-Rodriguez, her 11-year-old daughter Grecia Daniela Alvarado-Flores, and her 5-year-old son Ever Jose Mejia-Flores were found shot to death in the home they shared with Marvin Oswaldo Escobar-Orellana and his family.

Authorities charged 31-year-old Escobar-Orellana, also known as Marvin Esquivel Lopez, with three counts of first-degree murder. Investigators described a volatile living situation; Flores-Rodriguez and her children had been living with Escobar-Orellana and his family for about five months. Escobar-Orellana gave differing accounts to police, including one claim that Flores-Rodriguez had killed her children and that he shot her in self-defense. Witness testimony and forensic evidence contradicted that version. Escobar-Orellana’s wife testified she saw him shoot Flores-Rodriguez twice in the head after an argument, then go to the basement and fatally shoot the two children. The autopsy showed Flores-Rodriguez had two gunshot wounds to the head, including a point-blank wound, and a defensive wound on her hand; each child had been shot twice in the head at close range.

Does anyone have information about the household or those involved that could shed light on what led to this violence?