In the winter of 2016, a heart-wrenching tragedy befell a family in Albuquerque, New Mexico, forever marking the date of December 5th with sorrow. On that day, six-year-old Hispanic female Olivia Renee Liv Mascareñas, a first-grade student at Manzano Mesa Elementary School, was killed in a violent attack inside her own home. Olivia was not the sole victim of this horrific event; her older brother, nine-year-old Ian, and younger brother, five-year-old Elijah, also lost their lives in the brutal
assault.
The person responsible for this devastating act was George Daniel Wechsler, the 45-year-old ex-boyfriend of the children's mother, Cheryl Mascareñas. In the time leading up to the incident, Cheryl had ended her brief relationship with Wechsler and had requested that he cease contacting her. Despite her pleas, Wechsler attempted to visit the home under the guise of bringing Christmas presents for the children, a request that Cheryl denied.
On that fateful Monday, Wechsler forced his way into the family's home and opened fire. Evidence suggests that Cheryl fought courageously in an attempt to protect her children and usher them to safety. Tragically, her efforts were in vain. Olivia, along with her brothers Ian and Elijah, were fatally shot. Cheryl herself sustained injuries but ultimately survived the attack. Following the assault on the family, Wechsler turned the gun on himself, ending his own life at the scene.
In the aftermath of the murder-suicide, the community was left to grapple with the senseless loss of three young lives. As the perpetrator died by his own hand, no arrests were made in connection with the deaths of Olivia and her brothers. Wechsler had a prior history that included a no-contest plea to misdemeanor stalking and assault against a family member in 2003. Just a month before the shooting, he had been hospitalized for a mental evaluation after threatening suicide. The devastating event left an indelible mark on the Albuquerque community, a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of domestic violence.
