Relatives Trying to Keep Orphans in One Family

A custody hearing for the six Anaheim children orphaned when their father shot their mother and then killed himself was postponed for three weeks Thursday amid indications that relatives of each parent are interested in keeping the youngsters.

The hearing was delayed until March 11. Authorities said some family members who have expressed interest in having custody of the children--who range in age from 5 to 13--are not yet ready to present their case in Orange County Juvenile Court and to be screened by social workers.

In the meantime, the children will remain at Orangewood, the county’s shelter for abused and abandoned children in Orange.

They lost their parents Feb. 12 when their father, Jesus B. Carrillo, 43, entered the Anaheim apartment of his estranged wife, Bertha Cuevas Carrillo, 30, and fatally shot her. He then killed himself. Their eldest son, Jesus, 13, discovered their bodies in a closet when he came home from school.

A paternal uncle who has come to Orange County from Mexico said outside court Thursday that if he gains custody, he plans to keep the children united “and, if possible, in California.”

Jose Ramon Carrillo, who said he is a manager for a Guadalajara, Mexico, electronics manufacturer, spoke Thursday to a reporter about his brother’s actions and the family’s reaction.

“It was horrible, just horrible. I can’t imagine why he did it. They were the actions of a crazy man,” Carrillo said.

He said that if he won custody of the children, he would ask a cousin, Miguel Aceves of Huntington Park, who works for a boat manufacturer, to become their guardians so they can remain in California.

The uncle is not the only relative expected to seek custody of the children, who, in addition to Jesus, are Esau, 9, Denny, 8, Tommy, 6, and twins Vivian and Eileen, 5.

A brother of the children’s mother has contacted the county public guardian’s office and indicated that he also intends to seek custody, a Juvenile Court source said.

In fact, the deaths have resulted in strained relations between both families that could lead to a bitter custody battle, according to the source.

“There are tensions between the two families right now,” the source said.

No decision on the children’s custody will be made prior to the March 11 hearing. In the interim, social workers are expected to screen those persons seeking to gain custody of the children.

“I asked the children if they wanted to go live in Mexico, but Jesus said they wanted to stay here,” said Jose Ramon Carrillo. “They know how to speak English, and the customs of this country, and were already enrolled in schools here.

“The most important thing that we want is for them to remain together. Whatever it takes, we’ll do it.”

Although Carrillo’s cousin Aceves is married, owns a home and has four children, ages 6 to 20, “he said he would do it,” Carrillo said.

Friends and Carrillo family members have expressed their intentions to help by adopting one or two of the children but not all six, the uncle said.

“If Miguel (Aceves) needs money, he’ll get it. I’ll see to it. If those children are unhappy for any reason or something isn’t right, I’ll return and take them back with me.

“Many in my family would like to have the children, but not all can keep all six. But I like Miguel.”

The uncle has visited the apartment in Anaheim and spoke to neighbors there who told him that members of his brother’s family were very reserved and kept to themselves.

“I learned that Bertha had asked her neighbors to call police in case he showed up while she was away. It was obvious that she was afraid of him.”

A spokeswoman for a women’s shelter last week described Bertha Cuevas Carrillo as a battered wife.

She had attempted to escape from her husband on many occasions, said Susan Leibel, director of the Women’s Transitional Living Center in north Orange County.

She initially sought a “safe shelter,” Leibel said, and was admitted into the center’s 45-day program after she complained about being beaten by her husband.

Neighbors said she held two jobs to pay her family’s expenses.

“We know she was a hard worker and a loving mother,” Carrillo said Thursday.

But Carrillo was at a loss to explain his brother’s actions.

“We don’t have an answer. He didn’t tell us anything about the problems he was having with his marriage or other difficulties. I don’t think anyone knew about those things. No one knew.

“I only wish I had a chance to come and visit and see him. You know, look at him face to face, peer into his eyes,” he said, pointing two fingers toward his own eyes.

“If I had, I would have put him in some kind of program to help him. What happened was crazy, bizarre.

“Why did he do it? There are things that only he knew--what was happening in his own mind--and unfortunately he will take those to his grave.”

A trust fund has been established on behalf of the Carrillo children by Orangewood Foundation, a nonprofit fund-raising arm of the county children’s emergency shelter.

The trust was begun with an initial gift of $1,000 from the foundation. Donations can be sent to the foundation, 3400 Irvine Ave., Suite 108, Newport Beach 92660.