By Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Spring Valley, CA - Family and friends of gathered in the Saint Sophia church in suburban San Diego to mourn the tragic death of 28 year-old Avitha Rafael. The victim’s family had requested for privacy during the service.

Family friend Bob Nye who works with Rafael’s father Alvin said: “It hit everyone at Caltrans, where we work, very hard.”

Police say Rafael was stabbed to death outside her Spring Valley home last Friday by Krisanto Jopanda, with whom she has a child.

Police found Jopanda in a ravine, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound later that evening. Jopanda had a troubled past. A few weeks before the apparent murder-suicide, he had been arrested for robbery. Rafael had filed a restraining order against him earlier this month.

Police are wrapping up their investigation, since they are no longer seeking suspects. They say they may never know a motive behind this murder suicide.

Rafael and Jopanda leave behind a ten year-old son Damien, who reportedly witnessed his mother’s murder and made the 911 call. He is now in the custody of Rafael’s parents.

Damien’s teachers and classmates have been the boy cards and giving him time off to mourn.

A memorial fund has been set up for Damien through the San Diego County credit union.

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