A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded after a brutal murder in Las Vegas. Nydia Lopez-Garcia, a North Texas woman, was killed while on vacation with her three children.

The children, still reeling from the events, have been unable to return home to Mesquite, Texas.

Murder in Las Vegas

Last month Lopez-Garcia was vacationing in Las Vegas staying at the MGM Grand. Her ex-partner, Fernando Gomez, aged 42, now faces charges for her murder. 

Lopez-Garcia's sister, Candace Garza described the events: "Her ex followed her here... or was here... I'm uncertain on that, but he found her and murdered her. The children were in a different hotel room. My sister fought to get back to the children. It was a brutal murder resulting from domestic violence."

Child Protective Services (CPS) assumed custody of the children. And Garza immediately took a flight to Las Vegas, hoping to bring them back home. 

"They were released to me, but we're not allowed to leave Clark County until the jurisdiction details get sorted out between Las Vegas and Dallas," Garza explained. 

Unfortunately, Gomez still retains parental rights over the two youngest children, leaving the family in a perplexing situation.

Candace explained that "The judges in Las Vegas need to communicate with the judges in Texas, and they have to transfer jurisdiction. It seems that the legal system is ill-equipped to handle such complex scenarios."

Legal quagmire

For over two weeks, Garza has been unable to work, causing a financial strain. 

She is burdened with expenses, including bills, her sister's bills, hotel costs, and even the funeral expenses. "This is, without a doubt, the most difficult and challenging situation I've ever faced," Garza admitted, grappling with the loss of her sister and the anguish of caring for her orphaned nieces and nephews.

Garza explained that it could take up to two months before they receive permission to return home, adding to their mounting anguish. "They're not even allowed to go to their mother's funeral," she revealed, expressing the urgency to bring them back in time for the ceremony. "We're trying to delay her funeral so we can get them home to attend, and time is running out. 

They're grieving with just one person instead of a family supporting them, surrounding them with love."

In their time of need, Garza and the children rely on the generosity of others. Donations from her employer, Imagine360, as well as support from friends and family, have provided temporary relief.

The family has set up a GoFundMe campaign with contributions earmarked to help aid them navigate the legal process and bring the children home.

However, Garza acknowledges that this assistance is not sustainable in the long term. 

She fervently hopes that the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident will expedite the process of resolving jurisdictional issues and allow the children to return home swiftly. The emotional well-being of these young survivors is at risk. And they need to come home soon.