The bodies of 30-year-old Antonio Alvarez and his wife, 31-year-old Amanda Alvarez-Calo, were found this week in a car in Chicago after an apparent murder-suicide. Police say Alvarez, an Illinois state trooper who was off-duty at the time, shot Alvarez-Calo some time before their bodies were found on January 24. Her relatives said Alvarez-Calo was determined to leave him but hadn't done so before their deaths.
A witness discovered the bodies inside a car in the 11000 block of South Avenue E about 1:40 p.m.
Illinois State Police declared the couple dead at the scene of apparent gunshot wounds to the head, the Daily Mail reported. The car they were in was not issued by the department, and a gun was discovered at the scene.
Police identified the pair as Alvarez, a three-year veteran of the police force, and his wife, a teacher at Matthew Gallistel Learning Academy.
The couple left behind two children, 1-year-old Myla and 4-year-old Eli.
Alvarez-Calo’s death has been ruled a homicide, the Chicago Sun-Times noted. She was active in her community and worked in several afterschool programs, community gardens, and the violence prevention group Safe Kids Chicago, her godmother, Alderman Susan Sadlowski-Garza, told the newspaper.
“She was the most amazing young woman,” Sadlowski-Garza said. “Her laugh was infectious.”
“Amanda had so many friends, everyone loved to be around her. I can’t even tell you. It’s just so tragic... This was her mom’s only daughter,” she added.
“She helped mentor kids on the wrong path,” her godmother continued. “Everyone loved Amanda.”
Kimberly Nelson, principal of the school where Alvarez-Calo taught, also released a statement expressing her condolences.
“Our thoughts are with Ms. Alvarez’s family during this difficult time,” the statement reads. “We are so saddened by this loss and will do everything we can to help you and your child during this extremely difficult time.”
Sadlowski-Garza said her two children, Kate and Tyler, had been friends with Alvarez-Calo since they were in the third grade.
They were like the “The Three Musketeers,” Sadlowski-Garza told the Sun-Times. In fact, the two siblings even created a GoFundMe campaign to help support Alvarez-Calo’s surviving children that has raised more than $96,000.
“If you knew Amanda, you knew she was an absolute joy to be around,” the siblings wrote. “Her smile was infectious and her unmistakable laugh radiated in every room she walked into. She was loved by many and adored by classmates, friends and coworkers alike. “
The siblings vowed to use the money to help fund Myla and Eli’s “education, health, and welfare” as they get older.
“We hope this fund becomes a lasting tribute to a loving mother, daughter, sister and friend,” they wrote.
Source: cafemom.com
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