Battered and beaten, Ingleside woman finds hope in neighbors

Domestic Violence Survivor Receives Support for Sustainable Housing

Editor’s note: Some readers may find some of the images and details in this story disturbing. It’s a true account of domestic violence in our community.

Introduction

Courtney Shane of Ingleside had never met Eulalia Guerrero Potter, known to most as ‘Lali’. But after the 60-year-old woman was brutally beaten and assaulted, allegedly during a fit of domestic violence with her male roommate January 11th, Shane received a phone call from one of Potter’s neighbors, Sylvia Adame, wife of Mayor Oscar Adame. That conversation set the wheels in motion to get ‘Lali’ some immediate aid and assistance, including temporary housing. But an online fund Shane created to raise money necessary for the intervention (https://www.spotfund.com/story/edd8eca1-05d7-46f3-941f-edd70fca36ae?source=s&share_location=c&fbclid=IwAR0UCsC82FrhUK7LicWrPDHLN72ICj3-07G1JreiRCwIR9pWCWxfx-H2RAw&SFID=mk5jdsc&referral_id=0cb06f2e-94e7-42dc-82dc-8e8fed0f3e8a) never reached its full goal, and what funds were collected are almost gone and Potter fears she will soon be homeless.

Background

Potter’s attack occurred inside a rented home on Ave. E in Ingleside. With a long track record of being a hired caretaker for the elderly and disabled throughout the area, Potter had just come home from a long, hard day of work. She fixed herself a sandwich and was preparing to lay her head down in the early afternoon to sleep when the unexpected occurred.

Her roommate, Aaron Lee Pena, 60, reportedly stormed into the kitchen in a fit of rage. What set him off, Potter still doesn’t know. She was aware that he was a heavy drinker, beer cans often littering their shared, tiny quarters. Ironically, ‘Lali’ had known Aaron since her childhood. They went to the same schools together in Rockport.

Aaron “needed help” Lali shared, suggesting his deficits in life were more financial than psychiatric, so the pair – she said – agreed to split living costs in two. Aaron would pay rent, his main income drawn from a job he reportedly had with Kiewit Offshore Services. Lali, who earned considerably less, would pay for utilities and food. She also handled most of the cleaning, trying to keep their place in order.

“He’s an ex-convict,” said Lali, revealing Aaron had served time in 2018 on a DWI (driving while intoxicated) charge. Still, she added, she was unaware that he had any violent streak.

The Attack

“We never argued,” Lali said, the sequence of events last month catching her off guard.

“Just after Christmas, his behavior changed.” Lali admitted Aaron seemed different following the 2023 holiday season, still uncertain to this day the reason why.

Before she was assaulted, Potter remembered Aaron would have occasional and loud arguments with someone he spoke to on his cellphone, Pena inconsiderate enough to use the speakerphone option so Lali had no choice but to hear the back-and-forth exchanges.

Something else was proving disturbing, too. The property’s landlord started calling Lali asking why rent was late? Potter confronted Pena, since it was his responsibility, but an answer was not forthcoming and she knew she couldn’t pay the $1,050 monthly cost on her own, lucky if she even earns that much pay in the same amount of time.

“I tried not to be scared in front of him,” Potter said, describing Pena’s screaming, eyes bulging in anger the afternoon she was assaulted.

“My heart was pounding,” she added.

“He attacked me,” Potter began crying as the horrific memory suddenly rushed to the forefront again. “He punched me in the eye, my glasses went flying,” tears began rolling down her cheeks, she gasped repeatedly trying to regain her composure.

“He grabbed me by my throat. I couldn’t breathe,” Potter continued, pausing to recover.

Just as she felt she was going to pass out and lose consciousness, Potter’s fight-or-flight instinct took over and she found enough strength to kick Pena, debilitating him long enough to flee the premises. Bloodied and dazed, she made it to a neighbor who called 9-1-1 for help.

“I gotta get up. I gotta get up!” Potter could hear herself saying in her mind. She either left the house right then and there or believed she would be murdered.

Community Support

“Dearest Friends, Hopefully you have all watched my post earlier today about the lady who was beaten almost to death. We’ve gotten her a room where she can get much needed sleep and without fear. She goes back to work tomorrow, but by evening where will she sleep without living in fear. She’s gone through an exceedingly horrific event. To have to move forward in life after something as devastating as that and (must) continue to look over your shoulder, is paralyzing,” Shane wrote, accompanying a Facebook post which included a link to the Spot Fund drive.

“Now, (Lali) has to rebuild her finances, find a place to live that she can afford and feels safe. It takes money. She did seek financial assistance but didn’t qualify (our system failed her). She does work, in fact she works in a profession that helps a lot of our community. Starting over when you were already living meekly is a daunting task, especially while recuperating emotionally and physically. The donations will be for a deposit

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
• SDG 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
• SDG 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 1.3.1: Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable.
• Indicator 3.1.1: Maternal mortality ratio.
• Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age group.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: stexasnews.com

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