Twenty-four years ago on this day, a jealous and abusive man took his shotgun and shot his wife, Therese Crisostomo, inside their Dededo home near Santa Barbara Church. He then shot and killed their daughter, Erica Aquino, too.
Ms. Crisostomo was in a toxic and abusive relationship with her husband, just as so many women on Guam struggle through every single day. Erica, who would be 31 years old today if her father had not cowardly taken her life, is like so many children, who are the victims of their parents’s disputes.
Erica’s House was created in her memory as a place, where separated and divorced parents can drop off and pick up their children without ever seeing each other. The organization, undoubtedly, has saved countless lives and prevented countless incidences of domestic violence.
In tribute to Erica and her mother, we as a society have to keep a promise among ourselves to speak up… to make it our business… and to tell abusers – loud and in a voice that dominates and humiliates them – to go and **** themselves.
5 Comments
Kelley
09/29/2021 at 2:36 PM
God Bless and Thank you for Erica’s House to help me and my son. Never will forget the greatness it has provided. Thank You.
David Lubofsky
09/29/2021 at 2:51 PM
❤️🙏🙏♥️
Verna Chargualaf Mendiola
10/03/2022 at 2:28 PM
This makes me so mad and sad after all these years. I pray for both Therese and Erica.💜🙏🏽
Jessica Ervin
05/29/2023 at 1:06 PM
Erica, you were one of my closest friends …although we were only 7 and 8 lol. One of my fondest memories was when you came over for a cookout and we got to spend the entire afternoon together. Love you girl❤️
C Kennedy
02/21/2025 at 1:58 PM
I went to school with her in San Vicente Elementary and Middle School. I moved away to Tokyo for university and met up with a Guam paramedic stationed here at Zama because of 9/11. I mentioned a few of the people I went to school with and he said, “Oh it was so sad. Sorry about your friend.” I simply couldn’t believe it. She was always the one in class who would make us laugh. She and Dorothy Lizama were the dynamic duo. I just can’t believe any of it. She deserved way better.