ANDERSON, Ind. —
Gloria Llanas, 27, and Oralia Contreas, 36, were “two peas in a pod,” family described.
The women worked together, often dressed alike and spent nearly all their time together.
The sisters even died together.
Gloria’s estranged husband, Gregorio Llanas, 27, shot the two women and then himself in the early morning hours of March 2, 2003. The two Anderson women were among about 75 people leaving a dance party hosted for the Hispanic community at Fall Creek House at County Roads 200 East and 600 South.
Responding Madison County Sheriff’s deputies said multiple shots ran out sometime after midnight as people were filing from the party. Gloria died at the scene just before 1 a.m.; her sister died later that morning at an Anderson hospital. Gregoria Llanas died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A fourth victim was released two days later from an Indianapolis hospital after being treated for gunshot wounds to his right arm and leg.
“Gloria was full of life,” said Maria Llamas, the women‘s sister-in-law. “Gloria was kind of playful and a little ornery.”
Gloria and Llanas had two daughters — Jessica and Mirella, 7 and 5 respectively at the time of their parents’ deaths. The girls went to live with relatives.
Maria said the family was shocked that Llanas shot the two women, although they said he had been struggling with his separation since December and the pending divorce. The two had been a “good couple” despite problems. They’d known each other since they were 15.
But in December, Llanas was charged with domestic battery, criminal confinement, battery with a deadly weapon and felony domestic battery against Gloria and their oldest daughter Jessica — the reason that, family say, Gloria left him.
In that incident, Llanas reportedly punched Gloria in the face twice threatening to kill the whole family, attempted to suffocate her with a blanket and then tried to choke her with his hands. During the struggle, Jessica called 911 telling police her father was trying to kill her mother and Llanas, according to police reports, hit the phone against the child’s head before hanging up the phone.
“She (Gloria) told him if he ever laid a hand on her she wouldn’t go back with him,” Maria recalled.
Gloria worked in housekeeping at the Ramada Inn.
“They were good people, they were very sisterly,” said Oralia’s husband, Silvestre Contreas, of the two inseparable women.
Faces of Domestic Violence
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Gloria Llanas
Discussion
Gloria Llanas: 'Full of life'
Woman, sister killed by estranged husband
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Who can stop domestic violence? You
The elimination of abuse in relationships — with time, cooperation and commitment — is possible, said Colleen Yeakle, coordinator of the Indiana Coalition of Domestic Violence’s (ICADV) prevention initiative.
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Legislation comes a long way, but more change needed
Each year the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence sets its legislative priorities based on year-round discussions with its members and legislators to see what needs are out there and what is going on in the field.
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Children affected by abuse too
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‘It was life-altering’
Casey Huffman should have taken her son Camdon to his first day of kindergarten this year. She should be picking out a Halloween costume for him. She should be thinking about how to help him achieve his hopes and dreams. Instead, Casey mourns over his all-too-early death.
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Domestic violence prevention is possible, expert says
Gender stereotypes are just one thing that Todd Cawthorn and five other speakers, during a 90-minute panel discussion Tuesday night, talked about that create an environment where domestic violence is accepted.
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Teens can be victims of domestic violence, too
Dating violence has been seen locally in relationships as young as sixth grade, Alternatives Inc. prevention specialist Todd Cawthorn said.
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Justice for victims
While a protective order is an important piece of the legal puzzle that domestic violence victims have to solve, Judge Stephen Clase stresses to each that it is, after all, “just a piece of paper.” “They won’t stop a knife or a bullet,” he said. “I tell them they need to be on guard at all times.”
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