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Anaheim opens
refuge to help
victims of child,
domestic abuse
Jenifer B. Mckim
September 20, 2006 at 3:00 a.m.
Local News, News

IN MEMORY: Anaheim City Councilwoman

Lorri Galloway visits the grave of Samantha
Rose Gutierrez at Anaheim Cemetery on
Tuesday afternoon.

Lorri Galloway knelt by the small grave site

Tuesday that she has visited repeatedly since
baby Samantha Rose Gutierrez starved to death
in 2002.

The Anaheim City Council member pulled

weeds, wiped the stone clean and cried for the
little girl who, for her, became a symbol of a
broken child welfare system.

This visit was different. She’s hopeful. Samantha

did not die in vain.

Today, Galloway will join a group of city and

county officials and child advocates to celebrate
the opening of the Anaheim Family Justice
Center, a refuge for victims of domestic, child
and elder abuse that authorities hope will
prevent deaths like Samantha’s.

“She died so others might live,” said Galloway,

also executive director of the Eli Home for
Abused Children. “I think this center will totally
and absolutely change the way that victims of
child abuse and domestic abuse get helped.”

The agency, to be run by the Anaheim Police

Department, brings together police, child
welfare workers, attorneys and advocates to
provide a better safety net for victims by making
sure agencies communicate. Victims can get
help at one location.

An official inaugural event is set for next month.

Today, the group will witness the unveiling of a
sculpture of Samantha, to be placed in the
lobby.

“I truly believe the Anaheim Family Justice

Center is going to save lives,” said Mayor Pro
Tem Richard Chavez, also instrumental in
pushing forward the center.

The celebration comes days after an Orange

County Register investigation detailed the death
of another child, Darian Robinson, who was
returned to his mother by the child welfare
system despite a series of warnings he was in
danger. Months later, he was killed by his
mother. Child welfare workers say there wasn’t
enough evidence to stay involved in his case.

The story prompted calls and e-mails from

readers asking what they could do.

Galloway said the Anaheim center is one answer

she hopes will be a model for other cities.

“We shouldn’t forget these cases,” Galloway

said. “This is not a perfect solution, but an
amazing start.”

A similar center in San Diego opened nearly four

years ago, focusing on domestic violence,
Anaheim Police Chief John Welter said. Other
centers are being set up around the country,
Welter said.

Police helping to set up the two-story, 20,000-

square-foot center Tuesday said they boosted
their own staff for the effort.

“This is the most rewarding thing I’ve done in

20 years,” said police Sgt. Mark Irwin, showing
off a children’s waiting room decorated by
Disney. “We don’t want people to have to go to
10 different agencies to get help.”

For Galloway, Samantha was impetus for the

center.

An autopsy called her death homicide by

starvation. She also was bruised and
hemorrhaging. Her mother, Jacqueline Starr
Gutierrez, is serving an eight-year prison
sentence for neglect.

The Orange County grand jury reported that

Samantha’s death could have been prevented by
better communication and more diligent
investigation by those responsible for
safeguarding her. Police, social services and
medical personnel all had seen her multiple
times. County officials largely disagreed,
blaming instead doctors who didn’t report signs
of abuse.

Galloway ran for City Council after Samantha’s

death, campaigning on issues of social services
and affordable housing.

When she first learned about Samantha’s death

all she could think was, “Why?” Now she has an
answer.

“At the time she died, I was enveloped with grief

thinking how could this happen,” Galloway said.
“There is justice for Samantha and so many
children who have died needlessly.”

Contact the writer: 714-796-2295 or

jmckim@ocregister.com

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