A Durango woman who turned on the gas, sealed up her house and went to bed with her two children inside graduated Thursday from a behavioral health court designed to rehabilitate criminal defendants.
Grisel Xahuentitla-Flores, 32, was arrested July 29, 2013, on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder. She pleaded guilty May 1, 2014, to attempted criminal mischief, a felony, and child abuse, a misdemeanor, in a plea agreement with the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. She was released from jail the same day and ordered to enter the behavioral health court, which is overseen by La Plata County Judge Martha Minot.
On Thursday, Minot congratulated Xahuentitla-Flores and asked the courtroom to applaud her. The judge also presented Xahuentitla-Flores with a homemade strawberry cake – something she does for people who successfully complete a problem-solving court.
Xahuentitla-Flores was “in a really low place” two years ago when she entered behavior court, Minot said, but since then she used tools provided to her to overcome personal challenges. “You can put this behind you with all the lessons learned,” Minot said.
Xahuentitla-Flores, with a beaming smile, thanked the judge, her family and her new husband. After Thursday’s court hearing, she said her recovery has been all about her daughters, who didn’t suffer any long-term health effects as a result of the episode.
“Everything has turned out in a positive way, so far, thanks to my daughters,” she said. “They have suffered way too much about these problems. They never deserved this. That’s why I am working so hard about my case and my goals, because they are my main priority.”
Before going to bed the night of July 28, 2013, Xahuentitla-Flores tucked in her two daughters, then ages 3 and 9. She closed the windows, placed towels under the doors, unplugged the electronics and turned on the gas stove. She wrote in Spanish three suicide letters – one to her family, one to her husband and one stating what to do with her possessions.
The next morning, a man walking by reported a strong odor of gas emanating from the house in the east 200 block of 14th Street, near Max’s Big Burgers. The passer-by also observed towels wedged under the doors of the single-story two-bedroom, one-bathroom house.
Police knocked on the door and asked Xahuentitla-Flores and her two children to step outside. All three wore pajamas.
Xahuentitla-Flores, who told police she sometimes suffers from depression, said her husband was arrested two days earlier for domestic violence, and she wasn’t sure how to provide for her daughters. She withdrew the remaining $140 from her bank account and took her girls to Farmington to see a movie, eat ice cream and to play in the park.
On the way home, she bought NyQuil to help herself and her daughters sleep through the night.
She wanted them to “have the best day ever” before she “went to sleep and never woke up again,” according to an incident report that contains statements she made at Mercy Regional Medical Center.
Instead, she woke up the next morning believing God had given her a second chance. Feeling the effects of a headache, she opened a door and windows to ventilate the house.
On Thursday, Xahuentitla-Flores declined to discuss custody issues related to her children.
But she thanked Judge Minot for allowing her to participate in behavioral court.
“She believed in me, first of all, whatever the case was,” Xahuentitla-Flores said. “If she didn’t want to work with me, it would be another story. But she trusted me without knowing me. That’s why I really appreciate all of her support.”
Xahuentitla-Flores encouraged anyone struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide to seek help, because there are numerous resources and individuals who are willing to help, especially in Durango.
“We shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help,” she said.
shane@durangoherald.com
Suicide resources
Help for people having suicidal thoughts or loved ones who fear a person is considering killing themselves can be found from these sources:
In La Plata County: Visit www.sucap.org and click on Suicide Prevention for a list of trained gatekeepers.
Axis Health Systems: 24-hour hotline at 247-5245.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-TALK (8255).
Crossroads Center: 403-0180.
Boys & Girls Club Hotline: (800) 448-3000.
Safe2Tell: (866) 542-7233.
Colorado Crisis Support Line: (844) 493-8255. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to adults or youths about any crisis.
Second Wind Fund: 946-9586. The fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization doesn’t take direct calls but requires a referral by a school counselor or mental health professional.
Fort Lewis College Counseling Center: 247-7212.
A website for adult men contemplating suicide, who often are unwilling to seek help, is available at www.mantherapy.org.
