Posted on 07/16/2023 9:52:51 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Christine Chavez, a California single mother, has been living on the street for some time, and now she’s dead, killed accidentally by a lawnmower while sleeping in a grassy area.
A homeless mother sleeping in a California park was killed last week after she was run over by a lawnmower — and investigators left “chunks” of her body strewn across the grass, her family claims.
Christine Chavez, 27, was lying in the tall grass of Beard Brook Park in Modesto around noon on July 8 when an employee riding a John Deere tractor with a pull-behind mower swept the area.
The unidentified worker said he didn’t see the sleeping woman until he “noticed a body in the grass he had already made a pass through,” Modesto police said.
The employee called 911, but Chavez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her family, understandably, is grieving and upset:
Chavez’s father, Christopher, said he was able to pocket pieces of his daughter’s bones, skull and teeth in the days after her death.
The woman’s family believes the careless handling of her remains might be because she was one of the city’s thousands of homeless residents.
Chavez, who has a 9-year-old daughter, had been transient for the last three or four years and often slept at the park, which was officially acquired by nearby E&J Gallo Winery the day before the tragic death, according to the Modesto Bee.
And, of course, the deceased woman’s family wants “justice”:
Chavez’s family is now calling for justice in their loved one’s death and for stronger city ordinances that protect homeless people.
“She didn’t deserve that for that reason, for being homeless,” said her older brother Randy Chavez, 33, of Arizona. “My sister was loved. The only thing she wanted was to be free.”
“We want ordinances to change so it doesn’t happen again. Regardless if they are homeless they are still people and should be treated the same as any other people.”
There’s a dearth of information on the family, and that’s appropriate; they were not living on the streets, and they do have a right to personal privacy. But even so, they have now projected themselves into public view, and so some questions arise:
It’s important to note that she wasn’t killed “for being homeless,” as her brother said. She was killed in a sad, tragic accident because she fell asleep in an area of high grass and weeds that was, by the way, private property.
The Modesto Bee has some more details on the incident, and there’s one key piece of information:
Gallo spokeswoman Krista Noonan released a written statement about the incident and said the company would have no further comment. “Gallo acquired the Beard Brook Park property in Modesto on Friday, July 7, 2023. On Saturday, July 8, 2023, a landscaping contractor was hired to perform weed abatement and fire prevention services. There was an accident at approximately 12:00 p.m. involving the contractor’s tractor and an individual who was not visible and laying in a tall, weeded area. The contractor immediately contacted the Modesto Police Department via 911, and upon arrival, MPD Officers declared the individual was deceased.”
This wasn’t a person with a push mower. If you’re not familiar with this kind of equipment, what was likely used is a utility tractor with a big “bush hog” mower with large, sharp blades. These mowers are generally mounted on the rear of the tractor; they are intended for tall, tightly packed grass and weeds and even woody brush. They are also pretty noisy, and operators are generally wearing hearing protection when working.
As the tractor precedes the mower, if the grass was tall enough, it’s unlikely the operator would have known anything was amiss until he could see the mowed area on his next pass — which, apparently, is precisely what happened.
Ms. Chavez’s death is sad and tragic. Her family is suffering and deserves sympathy, as does the driver of the tractor/mower, who has to be feeling terrible about the whole thing as well. But honestly, the only ordinance change that could have prevented this would be a ban on homeless camping or sleeping on private property.
But the question remains: When Christine Chavez was living on the streets, where was her family?
Sue the ACLU, homeless girl’s grifter parents.
Where’s all the rich hollyweird actors with seaside mansions rushing forward to help?
Bahahahaha when pigs fly
Much of the time, homeless people keep themselves uncontactable. Many families would love to reach out, but they can’t because they know where to reach out to.
Some if the homeless have dysfunctional families that they’re better iff away from.
Most are addicts with criminal backgrounds/prison and the like. ...and of that mindset. Dont want anyone to tell them how to live OR take responsibility for themselves without their drugs. The problem isn’t homelessness....the problem is the Addict.
What happened to the woman was, of course, a horrible tragedy, but I also have sympathy for that guy working the mower that day. He’s likely feeling devastated.
But she was in the wrong place to begin with.
The fact that the approaching industrial John Deer lawnmower didn't wake her up is an induction that she was out cold, most likely from drugs, or alcohol, or both.
Some people are beyond help and will listen to no one. Not substance abuse counselors or family.
Exactly.
Enabled by the Left, as we saw in last week's Grant's Pass ruling by Obama-Clinton commie stooges.
Mowing an overgrown pasture I mowed over most of a deer carcass that a bear had left there, didn’t see it, but definitely heard it. I feel more sorry for the guy on the tractor - he will live with this forever.
“If your property is zoned for single-family you can legally build:
One attached ADU
One detached ADU
And one JADU
That is three additional units total if the following requirements are met:”
https://maxablespace.com/accessory-dwelling-unit-california-10-things-you-need-to-know/
Many of the families simply get fed up with them - often rightly so. Drinking, drugs and prostitution, for male and females, will always end up being homeless. Then homelessness grows to be ‘a lifestyle itself’ they tolerate and often prefer over being accountable....though few would admit this as the free handouts would cease.
Many. A common thread I found with many was a precipitating violent event that got the ball rolling. Suicide, or murder of a loved one-sometimes by another loved one. The guy I referenced above found his mom murdered. He’d talk about that, and being raised by an uncle. They traveled. He said he sometimes hid in stores until after closing and would let his uncle in. They’d take whatever they wanted.
The Grants Pass case was about camping on public property.
Perhaps that was why Modesto sold off the park to Gallo.
Like all the rest of the *homeless*.
Yes. We had a nephew whose Dad was mowing field grass with blades high.. He saw his dad and went running to see him. Was being cared for by hard of hearing grandmother. She didn’t see him leave the house. He got to the mower just as his Dad shifted it into reverse.....
None of the family members will ever get over it. His father never lived it down of Course.
Some families end up so disgusted that they cut the drug addict out of the family, no more contact. Drug addicts will leech off their families and steal from their families. Many families eventually say: "Enough!".
And her own family who knew of her situation, did not take her in because....?
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