Fresno prosecutors say abusive relationship led to woman’s murder. Ex-boyfriend on trial
Yanina Olivarez, a 32-year-old single mother from Tulare, had a goal of becoming a correctional officer.
She studied hard and did well on the written portion of the state test. She had to work on clearing the final hurdle — the physical portion of the test.
But Yanina Olivarez didn’t live to see her career goals come to fruition. “They told her to go to the gym and get stronger,” said her younger brother, Armando Olivarez. “But she never got that chance.”
A petite woman who weighed about 100 pounds, Yanina Olivarez was severely beaten inside her Fresno apartment early Jan. 19, 2019. She died at the hospital 15 hours later. Police arrested her live-in boyfriend, Brandon Moreno, 32, and charged him with murder. His trial began Monday.
Moreno has pleaded not guilty and denies the charges.
On the witness stand Wednesday and in interviews, a friend and relatives described the secretive, yet violent relationship Olivarez had with Moreno — a man with a dangerous past.
Her brother Armando Olivarez said his sister, who was working as a substitute teacher, was sometimes attracted to men with rougher edges. And Moreno had his share of trouble. He was convicted of domestic violence in 2013 and of robbery in 2017.
Those closest to Yanina Olivarez would later find out her new boyfriend was controlling, highly suspicious and abusive.
Chelsea Garcia testified Yanina Olivarez would often tell her not to text her because Moreno would monitor her phone to see who she was calling or texting.
“He even took her phone away three or four times,” Garcia said
As their relationship continued, Yanina Olivarez became more depressed and unhappy. Her relatives and friends also began to see signs of abuse.
About two weeks before her death, Armando Olivarez noticed his sister was wearing her hair differently, brushed over to one side. He soon realized she was hiding a bald patch.
Garcia said Yanina Olivarez told her Moreno pulled her hair after becoming angry at her and her 7-year-old son over his eating habits.
“He grabbed her by her hair and dragged her from the bedroom and into the kitchen,” Garcia said. “And (her son) saw this.”
Garcia began to cry as she told the jury about one of the last text messages she received from her friend.
“She told me she was scared and if anything were to happen to her, to look after her son,” Garcia said.
Maria Gonzalez Olivarez said her sister struggled with finding happiness in a relationship. “She would tell me that all she wanted was to have a husband, a child and a house,” Maria Olivarez said.
If convicted, Moreno could be sentenced to 64 years to life.
Moreno’s defense attorney is Emily Takao and Elana Smith is the prosecutor. The trial continues Thursday.
This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 5:08 PM.
