HAYWARD (KRON) — Family and friends of Stacey Aguilar are getting ready to gather at her funeral Monday evening.
The 22-year-old was murdered, and her body was left in a canyon in Fremont.
Now, her boyfriend and his friend have been arrested in the case. On Monday, her father spoke with KRON’s Terisa Estacio, as the two suspects were to appear in court to enter a plea.
It was a rough morning for Aguilar’s father. In court Monday, he had hoped to see Esmid Pedraza, who is accused of killing his daughter along with his accomplice Donato Perez, but both were a no-show.
Aguilar’s father spoke only some English, but in Spanish, he elaborated on his family’s pain. He said he wants whoever is responsible for his daughter’s death to be punished.
Fighting back tears, Aguilar’s aunt spoke with KRON about how the family is in deep mourning.
“I’m angry. She’s my niece. She was my niece. I hope everything goes fast …,” Aguilar’s aunt Patricia Diasdado said.
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This past weekend, family and friends held a car wash to help raise money to pay for funeral costs.
Mr. Aguilar is in the Bay Area on a 5-day humanitarian visa. He said he wants to bring his daughter’s remains to Mexico.
His wife was not able to make it. He also said he last saw his daughter at a spring parade, and she was the sweetest of all his children.
Prosecutors ann court documents said that Pedraza, Stacey’s boyfriend, fatally shot her at a house party. Then with Perez, Pedraza left her body on Morrison Canyon Road.
Although Monday’s hearing was continued, Mr. Aguilar said he will be back in court later this week to hopefully see those accused in Stacey’s murder.