October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and advocates are seeing a concerning rise in domestic violence cases, even as violent crime numbers continue to drop. The family of Angelica Bravo, a Sacramento mother, is still searching for answers more than a year after her death. Bravo was found dead inside her ex-boyfriend’s home on July 8, 2024, and her children remain missing.More than a year later, Dawn Bodea, Bravo’s mother, is still fighting for answers. “The hardest part is just knowing that there’s no justice yet,” said Bodea.Sacramento Police are searching for their father, Cameron Lee, who is a suspect in her murder.Bravo is remembered as a driven, passionate, and loving mother. “She adored her kids and wanted to give them everything,” said Bodea. However, behind her smile was a silent struggle. Giana Escobar, Bravo’s cousin, said it started after she began dating Lee.”She would open up and tell me, oh, you know, he’s a little controlling,” said Escobar. “He doesn’t even really want me to go to work.” Her mother said fear kept her silent. “Calling the police or addressing it in any way was just going to make it 100 times worse for her and the kids,” Bodea said.Joyce Bilyeu, with the Sacramento Regional Family Center, said domestic violence is usually about power and control.“It’s not about staying or leaving. A lot of times it’s about living or dying,” Bilyeu said. “It’s not easy. The more violent the relationship is, the harder it is to get out.”Bilyeu said locally, they’re seeing more high-risk cases.Bravo’s family said she was trying to leave the relationship in the months leading up to her death, moving into her own apartment and starting fresh. “I was just the most proud that she had taken that step to get away,” Bodea said. However, two weeks before her death, Bravo stopped answering the phone for days. On July 8, she was supposed to meet up with her family. “Her last text was, ‘I’m going to the north,’ which meant she was going to his house. ‘I have to pick something up. I’ll be back,’ and then that was it,” Escobar said. Bravo never showed up, and hours later, her mother received the call no mother ever wants to get. “I lost it because I knew what happened right away,” Bodea said.Adding to the family’s heartbreak, Bravo’s children, Athena and Mateo, were nowhere to be found. “The shock of the kids being taken, too, just like, blew my mind,” Escobar said. Nine months later, Sacramento police named Lee as a suspect in her murder and issued an arrest warrant. The search for her two children continues. “They’re growing up, you know, without us,” Bodea said. The family doesn’t lose hope of one day holding them close again and seeing justice come for Angelica. “She did not deserve to die like she was just starting to make a life for herself and her children and really finding some peace in her life,” Bodea said.Bravo’s family hopes her story can save lives. “It’s important for me to just come forward and be that voice for her and not only that, but a voice to people that may be in similar situations to her,” her mother said. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Sacramento Police Department. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text ‘START’ to 88788.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and advocates are seeing a concerning rise in domestic violence cases, even as violent crime numbers continue to drop.
The family of Angelica Bravo, a Sacramento mother, is still searching for answers more than a year after her death.
Bravo was found dead inside her ex-boyfriend’s home on July 8, 2024, and her children remain missing.
More than a year later, Dawn Bodea, Bravo’s mother, is still fighting for answers.
“The hardest part is just knowing that there’s no justice yet,” said Bodea.
Sacramento Police are searching for their father, Cameron Lee, who is a suspect in her murder.
Bravo is remembered as a driven, passionate, and loving mother.
“She adored her kids and wanted to give them everything,” said Bodea.
However, behind her smile was a silent struggle. Giana Escobar, Bravo’s cousin, said it started after she began dating Lee.
“She would open up and tell me, oh, you know, he’s a little controlling,” said Escobar. “He doesn’t even really want me to go to work.”
Her mother said fear kept her silent.
“Calling the police or addressing it in any way was just going to make it 100 times worse for her and the kids,” Bodea said.
Joyce Bilyeu, with the Sacramento Regional Family Center, said domestic violence is usually about power and control.
“It’s not about staying or leaving. A lot of times it’s about living or dying,” Bilyeu said. “It’s not easy. The more violent the relationship is, the harder it is to get out.”
Bilyeu said locally, they’re seeing more high-risk cases.
Bravo’s family said she was trying to leave the relationship in the months leading up to her death, moving into her own apartment and starting fresh.
“I was just the most proud that she had taken that step to get away,” Bodea said.
However, two weeks before her death, Bravo stopped answering the phone for days.
On July 8, she was supposed to meet up with her family.
“Her last text was, ‘I’m going to the north,’ which meant she was going to his house. ‘I have to pick something up. I’ll be back,’ and then that was it,” Escobar said.
Bravo never showed up, and hours later, her mother received the call no mother ever wants to get.
“I lost it because I knew what happened right away,” Bodea said.
Adding to the family’s heartbreak, Bravo’s children, Athena and Mateo, were nowhere to be found.
“The shock of the kids being taken, too, just like, blew my mind,” Escobar said.
Nine months later, Sacramento police named Lee as a suspect in her murder and issued an arrest warrant.
The search for her two children continues.
“They’re growing up, you know, without us,” Bodea said.
The family doesn’t lose hope of one day holding them close again and seeing justice come for Angelica.
“She did not deserve to die like she was just starting to make a life for herself and her children and really finding some peace in her life,” Bodea said.
Bravo’s family hopes her story can save lives.
“It’s important for me to just come forward and be that voice for her and not only that, but a voice to people that may be in similar situations to her,” her mother said.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Sacramento Police Department.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text ‘START’ to 88788.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel