Living In Fear
Millions of people encounter violence every day. No matter where you go, or where you are you can never be sure how safe you are. Nowadays you can not even feel truly safe or be completely sure that the person you are with is trustworthy and not trying to harm you.
Violence is an issue that has been happening for millions of years, with no change or sign of improvement. Not only has violence not changed or improved, but it has only gotten worse. At this time even heading home is dangerous and the sad reality is that many of the times many people do not make it home. Now a CTA women dies after getting stabbed to death in a bus station. For this reason numerous people live in fear of what can happen to them because they have seen and some even experience the violence of the streets and the people in them.
One More Victim Of Violence
Taking the bus to head home can be more than just a simple walk to the CTA station, it can turn into a deathly nightmare. This is exactly what happened to a woman named Samantha Maldonado. In one night her life took a dark and terrifying turn and sadly it ended with her life. She first hand experienced the betrayal of an ex-loved one and the violence that lives in the streets. Samantha Maldonado was only 26 years old, she was born in Ecuador and had only lived in the United States for less than a year. Unfortunately, her life, hopes, and dreams were cut short in the most brutal and cruel way.
What Happened to This Women
The brutal attack that took Maldonado’s life, happened early Saturday morning at about 1:26 a.m. She was headed home from a bar near Wabash and Adams. After exchanging some words with her attacker, Alejandro Arellano, which is said to be Maldonado’s ex-boyfriend. This two were both seen running out from the bar they were at, near closing time.
After leaving the bar Samantha then arrived at a CTA station, with Alejandro close behind her. Prosecutors say Samantha went up onto the platform of this CTA station and tried to hide behind some equipment box left outside. After hiding, she tried boarding the upcoming train but failed being abruptly pushed away from the train by Arellano.
Afterward, Samantha tried walking away from her ex-boyfriend. But in her attempt to walk away is when Alejandro attacked her and stabbed her. Arellano stabbed Maldonado numerous times in her chest and in other places around her upper body. Although she was wounded she still found the strength to pull away from her attacker and stumble down the CTA stairs. Seconds after Alejandro was seen leaving the crime scene. Boarding the upcoming train and heading home, with his shirt still bloody from the attack.
Bloody and in pain Samantha managed to speak her last words, mentioning Alejandro Arellano as the one who stabbed her on the CTA platform. She was then taken to the closest hospital where she, unfortunately, lost her life. With the information provided, Alejandro was arrested 14 hours after the attack. Now Alejandro Arellano, 31, is facing first-degree murder charges. He was identified by the victim Samantha moments before passing away.
A Heartbreaking Tragedy
Samantha’s death not only left many people with a fear of what could happen to them, if this violence continues, but it also left many people in pain and mourning her death. Especially Maldonado’s family and friends who loved her unconditionally and were unfortunately put in the middle of this situation. As First Deputy Eric Carter stated in an interview, “Although this offender is in custody, there’s still a family at the center of this who is grieving the loss of a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her.”
The most heartbreaking and painful reminder of this tragedy is knowing Samantha Maldonado came to the United States looking for a better future and more opportunities in her life. It is incredibly regrettable how she has pushed away from opportunities in the most awful way possible.
Written by Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
ABC 7: Man Charged with stabbing ex-girlfriend to death on CTA platform; victim ID’d attacker, police say
FOX 32 Chicago: New details released after women stabbed to death on CTA platform in the Loop
WGN9: Women fatally stabbed on CTA platform ID’d attacker before she dies: police
Inset Image courtesy of Tex Texin Flickr Page – Creative Common License
Featured Image courtesy of Jackman Chiu Flickr Page – Creative Common License
