Article: Mother of woman killed in murder-suicide speaks out

Updated: May 13, 2010 2:21 AM EDT

Natalie Gilkerson

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) - The mother of woman killed in a murder-suicide is speaking out as alarming trend sweeps through the valley.

Metro says domestic violence homicides are up so far this year, and if current patterns stay on cue, they could potentially respond to almost 60,000 domestic violence calls in 2010.

38-year-old Natalie Gilkerson may have not had a chance to call for help when she was attacked this past Saturday near Sandhill and Twain. Her mother says this wasn't the first time her daughter's life was on the line.

"He had physically abused her. She did express to me that she was afraid to be at the house by herself. I told her to make sure to lock the doors and the windows and don't let anyone in," said Rena Velez, Gilkerson's mother.

Gilkerson's body was found inside the house in 3800 block of Catamaran Circle. She died as a result of a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Police closed in on her ex-boyfriend, 47-year-old Nestor Santos Pineda, in the garage of the home. Police say he shot himself in the head right in right of them, taking his own life.

"If he wanted to leave this earth, why didn't he just take himself. He didn't have to take my daughter with him," Velez went on to say.

Velez believes her daughter was too afraid to ever report any physical abuse to the authorities, fearing an outcome that happened anyway.

Now she has a message to other women who might feel cornered in that same position.

"You don't give them second chances. You call the cops on them. If they put their hands on you, you put them in jail, and you keep doing it until they get the message that they're not going to get away with it," said Velez.

Funeral services for Natalie Gilkerson are set for Thursday morning at Desert Memorial.

Her death marks the 14th domestic related homicide so far this year. Metro says that number means that domestic murders are accounting for 25 percent of homicides in their jurisdiction.

Police emphasize that if domestic violence victims are not willing to prosecute, there's only so much they can do. Victim advocates say fear and financial dependency are two of the biggest reasons that victims don't take a legal stand.

There are a number of community resources available across the valley for victims of domestic violence. Here are some listed on Las Vegas Metro Police's web site. Click on the links to visit their site.

Domestic Violence Handbook

Family Violence Prevention Fund

National Coalition on Domestic Violence

Violence Against Women Act

Safe Nest

Shade Tree