Maria Haydee Roque, a 34-year-old mother of two, was tragically shot and killed on the steps outside her West Side Chicago home on December 13, 2023. The incident was witnessed by her 8-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son. Roque's death was the culmination of a series of violent and intimidating acts perpetrated by her former boyfriend, Kenneth Brown.
In the weeks leading up to her death, Roque had taken extensive measures to protect herself from Brown.
She obtained a protection order against him and filed multiple police reports documenting each instance of harassment and intimidation. These reports included evidence such as photos, threatening text messages, and video footage. Her first police report, filed on Halloween 2023, detailed an assault where she was thrown to the ground and pinned down. Subsequent reports included incidents of a slashed car tire on November 8, harassing calls and texts on November 11 and 12, and a rock thrown through her front window on November 13.
Despite her persistent efforts to seek help, the system failed to provide her with adequate protection. The police suspended all but one of her cases, leaving her vulnerable. Roque's twin brother, Andres Roque, also had a harrowing encounter with Brown after defending his sister, which resulted in a physical altercation and no subsequent action from the police. On her birthday, November 24, Roque's car was set on fire, an incident captured on video footage that showed a person starting the fire and walking away. However, even with this evidence, the police suspended the case.
The protective order that Roque obtained was not served or enforced. The Cook County Sheriff's Department attempted to serve Brown with the court papers twice but were unsuccessful. This lack of enforcement meant that Brown was not held accountable for his violations, leaving Roque without the protection she desperately needed.
The failure of the system to intervene effectively in Roque's case has been highlighted by advocates for domestic violence survivors. Benna Crawford, managing director at Legal Aid Chicago, noted that Roque's case, like many others, demonstrates the multiple points where opportunities to intervene were missed. The case underscores the systemic issues that often leave domestic violence victims unprotected and vulnerable to further harm.
