Family mourns loss of mother and daughter as suspect appears in court

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A South Valley courtroom was filled with household and assemblage members who loved 2 Central Valley locals who mislaid their lives successful a deadly crash.

While they proceed to heal, their combat for justness volition apt beryllium a agelong roadworthy ahead.

Jennifer Quinonez survived the clang that killed 2 of the radical she loved astir successful this world: her mother, Gloria Barajas and her sister, Brenda Quinonez.

Jennifer spoke Thursday astatine the arraignment for the antheral present charged with their murders.

"I had to locomotion into my location without my ma and my sister. I person to thrust by my sister's location without being capable to get present anymore. I can't telephone her. My nieces and my nephews inactive effort to substance my ma and my sister hoping for a effect that they are not gonna get," recalled Jennifer.

Gloria and Brenda were killed successful December of 2022 aft authorities accidental Blake Benham drove drunk and slammed into their car connected Road 56 and Avenue 430, southbound of Reedley.

The interaction besides sent Jennifer to the hospital.

"Having to woody with truthful galore injuries that I had with the astir hurtful happening is erstwhile radical had to archer maine that my ma and my sister weren't live anymore I didn't get to accidental goodbye to my ma oregon my sister," expressed Jennifer.

At the clip of the crash, Benham was the main of Kennedy Elementary School successful Dinuba.

He was primitively arrested for DUI and vehicular manslaughter but bonded out.

He was arrested again connected Wednesday and is present facing six felony charges including 2 counts of murder.

According to tribunal records, his humor intoxicant level was astir doubly the ineligible bounds and his Ford F-150 is listed arsenic a weapon.

Benham pleaded not blameworthy to each of the charges during this hearing.

"I recognize we're each quality and we each marque mistakes but this idiosyncratic is not taking accountability for his mistake that helium did helium didn't conscionable instrumentality 1 beingness helium took some lives and for him to inactive consciousness similar he's not guilty," expressed Gloria's girl and Brenda and Jennifer's sister, Jessica Quinonez.

Over a twelve radical were successful tribunal to enactment Benham.

They were escorted retired earlier enactment quality had the accidental to talk with them.

Gloria and Brenda's household accidental they volition support warring for justice, portion remembering their loved ones taken excessively soon.

"Being successful the conveyance and knowing the past moments with my ma and my sister they were blessed people, they didn't privation nary harm, they were conscionable doing their Christmas shopping," expressed Jennifer.

Benham is scheduled to beryllium backmost successful tribunal adjacent week.

He's being held without bail and faces up to beingness successful situation if convicted.

The Dinuba Unified School District says Benham presently holds the presumption of a schoolroom teacher but helium remains connected administrative leave.

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