Friends Rally Support For Slain Cheshire Woman’s Family

CHESHIRE, CT — Friends are rallying around the family of a Cheshire woman who was killed in a domestic violence incident last week. Monica Dominguez died Sunday — four days after being critically injured in a domestic violence dispute with her husband, 31-year-old Emanuel Dominguez-VillaGomez, at their home on Mountain Road in Cheshire.

A GoFundMe page was launched this week by Diana Montes to raise funds to send Dominguez’s body to Portugal for a funeral in her hometown. Some of the proceeds will also go to Dominguez’s children — an 11-year-old boy and a 22-month-old girl.

Montes wrote on the page that Dominguez was taken to the hospital after the assault and placed on life support and “fought as much as she could.” She was taken off life support on Sept. 15 after “being resuscitated three times.”

“Monica was not only a beautiful person but a great mother and great friend to many,” Montes wrote on the GoFundMe page. “She left behind two kids an 11-year-old son and a 22-month-old daughter. Her parents are from Portugal and are asking for help to transfer Monica back to her home town where they will lay her body to rest. Some of the proceeds will also be for her kids. Any amount donated will be greatly appreciated.

“I hope those who knew Monica knew what a beautiful soul she had. We will miss her smile and laughter, but we will continue to keep her memory alive and continue to be her voice!”

Dominguez-VillaGomez, who police said also sustained knife lacerations in the domestic dispute, was taken to the hospital and arrested after being released. He was charged with first-degree assault, risk of injury, reckless endangerment and unlawful restraint. He is being held on a $1 million bond and more charges are expected after Dominguez’s death.

More than $5,600 has been raised by nearly 60 people within the first day of the GoFundMe campaign. (UPDATE: More than $9,100 has been raised by 107 people as of Sunday night)

For more information, or to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page here.

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