Family establishes foundation after death of mother and children

CINCINNATI — It’s been nearly two years since a mother and her three children died in a series of horrific events. Now a surviving family member is trying to prevent the same thing from happening to another family.

Kathlene Grider has to hold back tears as she thinks about what happened to her family.

“You know, sometimes I ask myself, ‘How do I do this?'” Grider said. “I just leave everything to God, like, ‘God help me, help me, help me,'” she said.

Her sister Darlene, her niece Iyla and two nephews, Rodrigo and Eric, died in two separate murders.

“The first time was when Iyla’s life was taken. It was actually me – that’s when my sister came to our family and came to me,” Grider said.

She said her sister came to her to tell her about the abusive relationship that led to the death of 6-year-old Iyla. She said Iyla’s father killed Iyla and himself.

Six months later, it was her sister Darlene and her nephews.

“Her life was taken by my nephew, who also took his own life and that of his brother. So that leaves only me,” Grider said.

She had to finish something she and Darlene said they had started before the murders: a foundation to raise awareness of domestic violence.

“There is the domestic violence community, the people who work at the shelter. They can help you plan and help you get out of the shelter safely. And that was something that me and my sister weren’t aware of,” Grider said.

So two years after her family died in Cincinnati, she made it her mission to prevent that from happening to another family.

“Right now I’m participating in Mom Walk events. My heart is for women and children right now. My sister suffered for 20 years and our family didn’t know about it,” Grider said.

She said she started the walks to show her support and help victims of domestic violence, as part of a group she calls the DAR LA Foundation.

“You know, as a community, we can all come together and do our small part to raise awareness, show each other love and show people that they are not alone,” Grider said.

The next DAR LA Foundation walking tour is scheduled for October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know needs help and would like more information about the DAR LA Foundation, click here.