I'm posting this for the benefit of all you talented sleuthers. This was published recently in a local LDS lifestyle newspaper in San Diego, CA, a place Raven lived as a youth. This newspaper is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There will be differing opinions about this, so please feel free to express! There have been several who thought Raven's family was exploiting this tragedy by setting up a fund in Utah. I personally think doing this was completely innocent in design. People do this in lieu of sending flowers quite frequently. Remember, they had been out of work and on hard times. Yes, they were putting the pieces back together, but things were still tight. I'm sure Raven's family understood this. From this article, it appears that his family in Arizona set up the fund, NOT his mother in Utah. Remember that Raven lived most of his childhood in Utah, so the bulk of any donations would most likely come from people who knew him there.
Granted, we all think Raven did this horrible thing, but I think the fund was set up in good faith by family members who genuinely care about the welfare of Kaiden. Remember, Janet is the one who died, not Kaiden. That's why the fund is set up in HER name, for HER memory. Though Raven may be guilty, his family shouldn't automatically be assumed guilty by association. This may have been an innocent act of kindness. Regardless, please post your thoughts...
The San Diego Seagull
July 2005 Vol. 25, No. 2
Wife of former San Diegan is murdered in her home in Durham, North Carolina
Raven Abaroa, age 25, is a former member of several wards in the San Diego area. Most recently he lived in the Grossmont Ward, Santee Stake, before moving to Utah with his family in 1993.
About five years ago he married Janet Christiansen in the Washington, D.C. Temple. They settled in Durham, North Carolina.
Raven arrived home on April 26 after playing in a soccer game. He found his six-month-old son Kaiden asleep in his bed where he had left him and soon after discovered his wife Janet, also 25, stabbed to death in an office in their home. Police are still investigating the crime.
The Abaroas met while playing soccer at Southern Virginia University, where Janet was an All-American in soccer. She helped lead her team to back-to-back National Small College Athletic Association championship victories in 1998 and 1999. She was a member of the Presidents Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA.
Raven is the son of Karyn Abaroa-Bolton and the grandson of Robbie Abaroa. Robbie is a long-time resident of the San Diego area and currently in the Chula Vista Stake 2nd Ward.
Funeral services were held for Janet on May 7 at the LDS State Center in Buena Vista, Virginia and burial was in Pennsylvania. A memorial service was later held in her hometown of Annandale, Virginia.
Robbie said Church members and the Relief Societies of each area were extremely thoughtful and caring in helping the family, providing food and help in numerous ways.
Kaiden is now being cared for by his father and other relatives.
A memorial fund set up for Kaiden
A cousin of Ravens, Deena Peterson Thorpe and her husband Jeff, of Mesa, Arizona felt they wanted to do something more helpful and enduring for the family. Deena said, "When we first heard about Janets death, our family felt that we needed to do something more than just send a sympathy card."
After deliberations and some fundraising efforts by the Thorpes, a memorial fund was set up for Kaiden.
Anyone wishing to make a donation may mail to:
Janet Abaroa Memorial Fund
I.B.E.W. Federal Credit Union
2405 West 1987 South
Salt Lake City, UT 94104
Deenas husband Jeff explained to the Seagull how the memorial fund began.
"My wife and I talked about what would be appropriate and decided that I would ask my boss if I could start a collection from co-workers and friends at the hospital to send to a memorial fund. My boss felt that it was a wonderful idea, so I started talking to as many people as I could.
"Our daughters, Lexus, 9, Bethan, 6, and Sidney, 4, saw what I was doing at work and approached me one day and asked if they could have a lemonade stand and send the proceeds to the memorial fund. We made the arrangements for the lemonade stand and took the girls around the neighborhood to talk to people about their fundraiser.
"We made fliers for them to hand out and had a picture of Janet, Raven and Kaiden so the girls could explain why they were doing the lemonade stand. Some people gave them donations right there on the spot. The one thing the girls always said as they explained the familys tragedy was but the little baby was okay.
"By the time Saturday came around we had decided that the girls would sell lemonade, cherry lemonade, lemon slushies, cherry-lemon slushies and triple chocolate brownies (which were a huge hit). We had large signs to get peoples attention and set up the table and money booth in the shade of our tree on the front lawn.
"The girls had set a goal of earning $20 to send for the fund. When all was said and done, the girls had made $230 in just four hours. From my collection at work I managed to get $980 from many very wonderful and generous people, some giving more than I knew they really could afford.
"When I would point out that a few dollars would be sufficient, the response was usually that what goes around comes around and that God would bless them for blessing others. This has been a wonderful experience for my family and has taught our girls the blessing of selflessness."
Note: Deena Thorpe is the daughter of Richard and Eva Peterson of San Diego North Stake 10th Ward. For questions or comments, Robbie Abaroa may be reached at: rabaroa@sbcglobal.net. END OF ARTICLE
Though I probably don't have to say it, let's not send any mail to the grandfather.
Granted, we all think Raven did this horrible thing, but I think the fund was set up in good faith by family members who genuinely care about the welfare of Kaiden. Remember, Janet is the one who died, not Kaiden. That's why the fund is set up in HER name, for HER memory. Though Raven may be guilty, his family shouldn't automatically be assumed guilty by association. This may have been an innocent act of kindness. Regardless, please post your thoughts...
The San Diego Seagull
July 2005 Vol. 25, No. 2
Wife of former San Diegan is murdered in her home in Durham, North Carolina
Raven Abaroa, age 25, is a former member of several wards in the San Diego area. Most recently he lived in the Grossmont Ward, Santee Stake, before moving to Utah with his family in 1993.
About five years ago he married Janet Christiansen in the Washington, D.C. Temple. They settled in Durham, North Carolina.
Raven arrived home on April 26 after playing in a soccer game. He found his six-month-old son Kaiden asleep in his bed where he had left him and soon after discovered his wife Janet, also 25, stabbed to death in an office in their home. Police are still investigating the crime.
The Abaroas met while playing soccer at Southern Virginia University, where Janet was an All-American in soccer. She helped lead her team to back-to-back National Small College Athletic Association championship victories in 1998 and 1999. She was a member of the Presidents Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA.
Raven is the son of Karyn Abaroa-Bolton and the grandson of Robbie Abaroa. Robbie is a long-time resident of the San Diego area and currently in the Chula Vista Stake 2nd Ward.
Funeral services were held for Janet on May 7 at the LDS State Center in Buena Vista, Virginia and burial was in Pennsylvania. A memorial service was later held in her hometown of Annandale, Virginia.
Robbie said Church members and the Relief Societies of each area were extremely thoughtful and caring in helping the family, providing food and help in numerous ways.
Kaiden is now being cared for by his father and other relatives.
A memorial fund set up for Kaiden
A cousin of Ravens, Deena Peterson Thorpe and her husband Jeff, of Mesa, Arizona felt they wanted to do something more helpful and enduring for the family. Deena said, "When we first heard about Janets death, our family felt that we needed to do something more than just send a sympathy card."
After deliberations and some fundraising efforts by the Thorpes, a memorial fund was set up for Kaiden.
Anyone wishing to make a donation may mail to:
Janet Abaroa Memorial Fund
I.B.E.W. Federal Credit Union
2405 West 1987 South
Salt Lake City, UT 94104
Deenas husband Jeff explained to the Seagull how the memorial fund began.
"My wife and I talked about what would be appropriate and decided that I would ask my boss if I could start a collection from co-workers and friends at the hospital to send to a memorial fund. My boss felt that it was a wonderful idea, so I started talking to as many people as I could.
"Our daughters, Lexus, 9, Bethan, 6, and Sidney, 4, saw what I was doing at work and approached me one day and asked if they could have a lemonade stand and send the proceeds to the memorial fund. We made the arrangements for the lemonade stand and took the girls around the neighborhood to talk to people about their fundraiser.
"We made fliers for them to hand out and had a picture of Janet, Raven and Kaiden so the girls could explain why they were doing the lemonade stand. Some people gave them donations right there on the spot. The one thing the girls always said as they explained the familys tragedy was but the little baby was okay.
"By the time Saturday came around we had decided that the girls would sell lemonade, cherry lemonade, lemon slushies, cherry-lemon slushies and triple chocolate brownies (which were a huge hit). We had large signs to get peoples attention and set up the table and money booth in the shade of our tree on the front lawn.
"The girls had set a goal of earning $20 to send for the fund. When all was said and done, the girls had made $230 in just four hours. From my collection at work I managed to get $980 from many very wonderful and generous people, some giving more than I knew they really could afford.
"When I would point out that a few dollars would be sufficient, the response was usually that what goes around comes around and that God would bless them for blessing others. This has been a wonderful experience for my family and has taught our girls the blessing of selflessness."
Note: Deena Thorpe is the daughter of Richard and Eva Peterson of San Diego North Stake 10th Ward. For questions or comments, Robbie Abaroa may be reached at: rabaroa@sbcglobal.net. END OF ARTICLE
Though I probably don't have to say it, let's not send any mail to the grandfather.