Pastor Caring For Children Of Murdered Grandmother Speaks Out
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE(CBSMiami) - A Southwest Miami-Dade pastor says he is committed to helping three teenagers whose adoptive grandmother was murdered last weekend.
"We are here for these kids," said the Rev. Treavor Pound of the Redland Church of the Nazarene.
Pound told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "They are part of our Church. They are part of our church family. This is who we are. We are well connected. We love these kids very much. We love them very much."
Police said their grandmother, Sonia Santiesteban, 66, was stabbed to death inside her mobile home during an argument with her daughter, Yudenia Rodriguez.
When Santiesteban's 15-year-old granddaughter tried to call 911, Police said Rodriguez slapped the girl and grabbed the phone and then got a knife and stabbed her mother multiple times.
"In light of everything that happened, how are the children doing?" asked D'Oench.
"They are doing very well," said Pound. "They are doing very well."
He said Santiesteban and her grandchildren were just in church for services on the same Sunday that Santiesteban lost her life.
"It is very sad what happened to her," said Pound. He said she was devoted to her grandchildren, adding "she will be missed."
A judge gave Pound temporary custody of the children after a hearing on Monday. He said he was setting up a trust fund for them.
Ultimately, the Department of Children and Families will determine where the children will be placed and if they will be kept together.
Their mother and the father of the 15-year-old girl and the father of the 13-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy are all out of the picture for different reasons.
Santiesteban's son is the biological father of the 15-year-old boy.
"We want to do everything we can to keep them safe," said Pound. "And we want to show them all the love that they need."
He said there were no answers that he could give the children to explain what happened to their grandmother. "We just need to love and support them and be there for them," he said.
Sonia Santiesteban adopted the three children three years ago and wanted to give them the best life she could. CBS4 News partner, El Nuevo Herald, featured the family in the newspaper's "Wish Book."
The children were active in Pastor Pound's church.
Yudenia Rodriguez appeared in court Monday, handcuffed because jail officials said she was aggressive and seated because she said she was in pain.
"Mrs. Rodriguez you're charged with killing your mother," said the judge who denied bond and asked for a psychological evaluation. Rodriguez is charged with 2nd degree murder and child abuse.
Neighbors said Rodriguez had arrived at her mother's home over the weekend. Some neighbors said they heard Rodriguez and Santiesteban fighting.
According to arresting documents, Rodriguez lived with her mother and the argument started when her mother asked her to move out. However, multiple neighbors said Rodriguez did not live with her mother, but would visit from time to time. Neighbors said Rodriguez arrived over the weekend.
Neighbor Margarita Redonda said, "They're really good kids but they've been through a lot."
