A Sacramento family says justice feels closer after a man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and fleeing to Mexico with their two young children appeared in court for the first time Friday.
40-year-old Cameron Lee appeared in Sacramento County court wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles on his wrists. Family members of 28-year-old Angelica Bravo filled the gallery for Lee’s arraignment.
Prosecutors accuse Lee of killing Angelica Bravo, who was his partner at the time, before fleeing to Mexico with their children.
Angelica Bravo’s brother, Gil Bravo, said the family had waited nearly two years for the day to come.
“We honestly kept praying and hoping that it would come,” Gil Bravo said. “We all were hoping and praying. It is very unexpected. With the help of God and everybody reposting again, talking about it, and keeping the story alive, it helped us get to where we are today.”
Sacramento Police found Angelica Bravo dead nearly two years ago. Prosecutors said Lee fled the country with the couple’s two young children after the killing.
“We’ve all been through too much these past two years,” Gil Bravo said.
Authorities located Lee and the children on Sunday in a town on the coast of Mexico, ending what prosecutors described as nearly two years on the run. The children, now 4 and 5 years old, have since been reunited with Angelica Bravo’s family.
“We all missed them so much. We missed two years of their life, watching them grow,” Gil Bravo said. “So, now, we’re just trying to re-live those memories of them, and you know, just give them their best life. The best rest of their life.”
During Friday’s arraignment, Lee did not enter a plea. A judge appointed a public defender to represent him.
“It was very rough seeing him in there after two years,” Gil Bravo said. “The fact that they finally got him, it’s a sigh of relief for us, honestly. It definitely feels good knowing that he’s behind bars now.”
The next court date is scheduled for July 23 for further proceedings. Family members said they plan to attend.
“We just honestly want justice,” Gil Bravo said. “We know what should happen and our family knows what should happen, and we just hope that the justice system knows that he gets what he deserves.”
The family said its focus is now on raising the two children while continuing to follow the court case. In a statement, Angelica Bravo’s mother, Dawn Bodea, says the children are now safe.
“We are completely overjoyed and grateful to have our grandchildren back safe and sound. They are doing really well, all things considered. We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the love, prayers, messages of support and generosity of our community. Thank you to everyone who helped us by sharing posts, pushing our story out there and keeping the focus on our missing grandchildren,” Bodea said. “I’m feeling incredibly blessed right now. God is so good!”
Watch more from ABC10: Camron Lee arrested in Mexico, Angelica Bravo’s children returned