A smile before the tears

Since her mother was slain a week ago, Silvia Gonzalez has encountered kindness from nearly every person she has come across.

A family has taken her under their wing. The church community that her mother was so active in has raised nearly $1,000 for the funeral. The nurses who cared for Silvia at University Medical Center gave her Christmas gifts, including clothes and a Nintendo DS hand-held gaming system.

It's enough to bring a small smile to the shy 12-year-old's face. But one that lasts for just a second.

"I'm thankful to God," the sixth-grader said Wednesday, "and for a family to care for me and my brother."

Then she remembers the horrors that brought such kindness into her life, and she tries to fight back tears.

Victor Orlando Cruz-Garcia, 29, has been charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon and two counts of attempted murder. He is accused of hacking to death Silvia's mother, 46-year-old Beatrice Alvarez, with a machete and injuring Silvia and her brother, 27-year-old Sergio Casterjon, on Dec. 20.

Cruz-Garcia is expected to plead not guilty to the charges, his court-appointed defender said Wednesday morning. He has a preliminary hearing set for Jan. 8.

Prosecutors said they expect to call four to six witnesses.

Silvia, who received 24 stitches to close a U-shaped stab wound to her head, said she was doing her homework that night when Cruz-Garcia, who had been drinking and arguing with his girlfriend, Maria Erlinda Ulloa, flew into a rage. Cruz-Garcia and Ulloa lived with Silvia's family in a small apartment near Bonanza Road and Eastern Avenue.

After leaving and then forcing his way back into the apartment, Cruz-Garcia went to his bedroom to get his machete, Silvia said. Ulloa, realizing something was wrong, fled the apartment, according to police.

Silvia said Ulloa didn't warn her mother, who had rescued the couple from homelessness months before by allowing them to move into the apartment, about what was in store.

Cruz-Garcia, from his room, began taunting Casterjon. "He was telling my brother to come into the room, calling like an evil person," Silvia said.

When Casterjon didn't go into the bedroom, Cruz-Garcia emerged and buried the machete in Alvarez's skull, Silvia said.

As Casterjon leaped to a phone, Cruz-Garcia swung the machete at him, cutting off one of Casterjon's fingers. When Casterjon grabbed a broomstick to try to fight him off, Cruz-Garcia slashed repeatedly with the machete at Casterjon's arm, nearly severing it, Silvia said.

Silvia said she tried to flee, but not before receiving a blow to her face from the knife.

She ran to a neighbor, who Silvia said refused to help; the neighbor told her to leave, complaining about blood dripping on the carpet.

Another neighbor called police, Silvia said.

Police say Cruz-Garcia continued to slash at Alvarez, eventually killing her. He fled and was arrested the next day at another apartment complex.

Casterjon's arm and finger were reattached, and he remained at UMC in good condition Wednesday.

Silvia was released from the hospital Monday, when Emelda Hernandez, a mother of four, took the girl into her home. "She's a part of the church, so she's a part of the family," Hernandez said, holding Silvia's hand.

Behind them, a "welcome home" banner and balloons hung on the wall.

Hernandez said she'll take care of Silvia until Casterjon gets out of the hospital.

Despite her humble circumstances, Alvarez volunteered at Asamblea Apostolica church on Owens Avenue near Nellis Boulevard and sometimes gave food to other members, Hernandez said.

Hernandez and church Pastor Socorro Rios continued to ask for donations to help pay for hospital bills and funeral services for Alvarez.

Hernandez has placed donation boxes at the Asap Mail & Copy Center on Nellis Boulevard at Stewart Avenue and the Anna's Linen on Nellis Boulevard just south of Charleston Boulevard. She said she plans on placing more boxes at other local businesses.

Review-Journal writer Lisa Kim Bach contributed to this report.

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0440.