The Mexican government and Colorado victim-compensation funds will cover the full cost of repatriating the remains of Luz Maria Franco-Fierros – the woman who was dragged to her death last week – back to her hometown of Chilpancingo, the capital city of the Mexican state of Guerrero.
“It’s a very tough moment for a Mexican family and for Mexico as a whole,” said Juan Marcos Gutierrez, Mexican consul general in Denver. “It’s always sad when someone is murdered, but with the characteristics of this case, it is something everyone regrets.”
Both Franco-Fierros and the suspect in her death, Jose Luis Rubi-Nava, are illegal immigrants from Mexico. Rubi-Nava, 36, of Toluca, Mexico, has met with a representative of the consulate, who advised him of the American judicial system and his options for defense counsel. Rubi-Nava asked the consulate to notify his family of his situation.
State victim compensation costs are covered by surcharges levied on people who plead guilty or are convicted, and the money is put into a fund to assist with medical, therapeutic or burial expenses. The victim’s immigration status is not a factor in eligibility for compensation, says Patty Moschner, victim assistant coordinator for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
“Victim compensation is not tax dollars,” she said.
Funeraria Latina East will handle the preparation of Luz Maria Franco-Fierros’ body as soon as it is released from the Douglas County Coroner’s Office.
The mortuary is also handling the body of the man shot and killed by a co-worker Wednesday. That victim’s name has not been released.
In Franco-Fierros’ case, as with other murder victims, the funeral home cosmetically reconstructs the face to save the family the shock of seeing a loved one so disfigured. Franco-Fierros was dragged behind a vehicle for a mile, leaving her face unrecognizable. The cosmetologists at Funeraria Latina will use a photograph to do a wax reconstruction of her face.
Staff writer Katharine Bernuth can be reached at 303-954-1752 or at kbernuth@denverpost.com.
