2015-01-24 Olivas

Homicide of Joanna Elizabeth Salinas Olivas

Joanna Elizabeth Salinas Olivas, 23, died on January 24, 2015, after being strangled by her husband, Luis Alberto Olivas, 24, in Amarillo, Texas. The case was initially classified as an aggravated assault but was upgraded to a homicide after the victim died later that day.^[1]

Incident

On early Saturday morning, January 24, 2015, Amarillo police responded to a domestic assault call in the 2600 block of Northwest 15th Avenue. Joanna Olivas was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. She was later taken off life support and died the same day.

Preliminary autopsy results, completed on Tuesday in Lubbock, indicated she died from strangulation.

Arrest

Luis Alberto Olivas was arrested and booked into Potter County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault. Following his wife's death, the Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit updated the case to a homicide investigation.

Family Response

The suspect's family expressed shock at the situation. "He was a calm person. If you were to see them together, they looked happy," said Rubie Hernandez, a family member of Luis Olivas. However, she noted that Joanna and Luis's nine-year relationship was dysfunctional.

His family said they had been in contact with the victim's family, and they were fighting for custody of the four children they left behind.

Hernandez advised others in unhealthy relationships to leave before it's too late. "If you're not happy, just leave. It's better to be here than 6' under."

Community Response

Family Support Services noted that abuse calls are more common than people realize. "It's happening here in our city. We've had seven deaths in the past year," said Jackie Bolden of Family Support Services.

Bolden advised people to look for warning signs like a violent temper and controlling or possessive attitudes. "You can feel tension in the relationship and sense that fear. You're in a dangerous situation," she said.

Joanna's cousin set up a GoFundMe donation page to help with funeral costs and support the victim's four children.

Family Support Services also noted that anyone can walk in without an appointment to their facility or call their 24-hour crisis hotline at (806) 374-5433.

Investigation

The case was under investigation by the Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit. Anyone with information about the case was asked to call the Special Crimes Unit at (806) 378-9468.