The death of the 6 people found dead in their home seems to have been a tragic accident. A neighbor was curious that he hadn’t seem them out and about throughout the day, so he went inside a little after five o’clock. Customary as it is among close neighbors, they seem to have swapped keys, and with such he entered the home. When he saw the bodies he immediately backed out and called the authorities.

It is said their death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning. When the authorities went into the house, they found everyone settled in, as if they have all gone to sleep, everyone in the comfort of their own beds. Mr. Gonzalez lay in his bed; in another room lay the two teenage boys. In the additional room, the stepfather had taken a sheet, and was laying on the floor; his wife and the youngest son lay on the bed, as they had when they’d gone to sleep. He had worked an extra shift, had arrived home late, and went to sleep. They found the stepfather’s car was in the closed garage, with the key in the ignition, turned to the on position. The gas tank was empty. They believe he arrived home, and perhaps out of exhaustion, he left the car on, and went to sleep. Near where the car was is a vent, which authorities believe is was circle the lethal doses of carbon monoxide inside the home. I’m not sure how they measure the level of the gas, but in the news they mentioned that 10 is a lethal level –the level inside the house upon entering was 60.

They were a family of five, 3 boys, mother and stepfather, that moved recently from Puerto Rico, and were temporarily living with their Uncle and Aunt (the Gonzalez). They youngest boy went to school at Camelot, same school my son goes to. He didn’t know the child, but he mentioned that the school faculty had a meeting early in the morning, and that he saw the teachers were crying when the meeting was over.

She was to be flown in from Puerto Rico (last night) with the help of that neighbor and his family. I understand he has been taking care of everything until she arrived, and even then all throughout funeral arrangements and all.

I remember speaking with Nayda, the mother of the three boys, one day after school when I was sharing with her and a few other moms an Avon brochure. I remember saying to her I wouldn’t forget her name, because mine is Zaida (they are pronounced the same, “nigh-dah / sigh-dah”, save for the ‘N’, or the more common pronunciation when in English “nay-dah / zay-dah”), and we have one of the same last names in common, Colón. No, I certainly won’t forget her name.

Yesterday evening, I sat outside as the sun settled, with so many thoughts going through my head. What would it be like for Luz to return home, a home which once was filled with all that youthful energy and laughter… now to a home somber, silent, empty? The mornings in which I sat outside, walked around the lake, sat to talk with the horses, I’d see her, watering her plants, those she keeps in planters right outside her sliding doors. I’d wave hi… now I think it would’ve been nice if I’d stopped and taken some time to sit with her in those mornings, on her cream plastic chairs… it would mean so much more to her now when I go visit her, and offer my condolences. I sat out until Mrs. Gonzalez arrived last night to her home, a home now forever changed. At her doorstep lay lit candles, flowers, cards and a balloon -a neighborhood reaching out as only one can in such time of grief.