More than 100 people who knew Jessica Tinoco packed the pier in Port Hueneme, one of her favorite hangouts, on Monday night to pay respects to the 34-year-old mother of five.
Tinoco tragically lost her life on Friday evening when her live-in boyfriend, 34-year-old Raymond Rivas of Simi Valley, allegedly stabbed her in front of her children, according to police.
“I try to put myself in their shoes and it’s just horrible, horrible to know they were there and had to witness their own mother go like that,” Nicole De La Cerda, Tinoco’s sister, told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo at the Monday vigil.
The Simi Valley Police Department said it was Tinoco’s daughter who made the call at 6:04 p.m. to report her mother was being stabbed.
When first responders arrived, they rushed Tinoco to the hospital with stab wounds to her face, chest and abdomen, but she did not survive.
“She just had a pure soul,” said family friend Rayleen Morales. “I feel like that was her biggest flaw ‘cuz she just wanted to help and I feel like she felt she could help this guy, and that was her flaw.”
Officers arrested Rivas at the residence without incident and booked him on suspicion of murder, according to police.
Tinoco’s family says she had been dating Rivas for about nine months, but there were no obvious signs of trouble.
“It’s horrible that’s why it needs to be spoken of,” said De La Cerda. “Things like this happen.”
Loved ones hope to spread awareness of domestic violence and prevent other families from experiencing such a tragedy.
“That’s another thing we want to put out there if you know someone or have an idea going it needs to be spoken of,” Tinoco’s sister continued. “Remind them that they’re loved.”
Tinoco’s friends and family wore purple to show solidarity on Monday night, in remembrance of their lost one.
“She just loved the kids, always wanted to be with the kids,” said Morales. “She was a wonderful mother, that was her pride, joy, her passion was to be a mom to all five kids.”
For anyone wishing to help, a GoFundMe was created to help raise funds for Tinoco’s five children and family: www.gofundme.com/f/join-us-in-supporting-jessicas-family.