DENVER — Editor's note: This article contains subject matter that may be disturbing to some readers.
An Indigenous woman in Denver says she is recovering after a violent attack by her husband which she believes could have been prevented with better access to domestic violence resources, especially for her community.
More than a week after the incident, Alexandra James Banuelos’ face remains covered in bruises of dark purple, green, and yellow hues. Her left eye is completely swollen shut.
“The last thing that I remember was him grabbing my hair and wrapping it around his fingers…punching me while holding me in place,” Alexandra said.
Her escape left a bald patch on her scalp, a physical testament to her desperate attempt to survive. On May 6, after informing her husband, Brandon Banuelos, she wanted a divorce, she says he punished her for it.
A lot of her memory is hazy, but one thought was clear in her mind: “I was thinking I was gonna die,” she said.
Alexandra was hospitalized due to her injuries, which included numerous broken bones in her face and her eye completely dislodged from its socket which required surgery to repair.
This wasn't the first time Alexandra says she faced violence from Banuelos. Following his arrest for allegedly assaulting her on Feb. 14, she filed a protection order against him. Banuelos' criminal record shows multiple arrests for assault and domestic violence, including a protection order from another woman.
The Denver Police Department said an arrest warrant was issued on May 8, but no one has been arrested. Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 or metrodenvercrimestoppers.com.
Alexandra does not know where her husband is, but she knows she needs to leave Colorado.
“I'm terrified that he's gonna come back and finish the job that he was about to do. I feel like if he were to find me that he would kill me,” said Alexandra.
Alexandra considers herself fortunate to have survived.
“My family, we are Indigenous. Some of my family members have gone missing, some have been murdered. Their cases are still unsolved, and they are still missing to this day. I didn’t want to be another statistic,” she said.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. Alexandra emphasizes that resources for her community are not accessible enough — a reality she has faced personally.
“I've been trying to escape this marriage since February 14, and there's no help for us,” Alexandra said.
Doctors have told her she might need facial reconstruction. Alexandra says she now takes 20-30 pills per day to manage her injuries on top of her pre-existing autoimmune disease. Look For Me, a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives non-profit, raised funds to help Alexandra and her 13-year-old daughter find a place to live temporarily.
Alexandra says she needs help. She has created a GoFundMe to raise money for her medical costs and moving expenses, which has already raised thousands.
“People are banding together to send me funds so that I don't have to rely on a broken system,” she said with gratitude.
Below is a list of resources for victims and survivors experiencing domestic violence.
- Crisis Center (303)-688-1094 /Crisis Line (303)-688-8484
- Family Tree (303)422-2133 / Crisis Line (303)-420-6752
- Gateway Domestic Violence Services (303)-343-1856/ Crisis Line (303)-343-1851
- SafeHouse Denver (303)-318-9959/ Crisis Line (303)-318-9989
- Rose Andom Center (720)-337-4400
- Project SafeGuard and Legal Advocacy
- Servicios de la Raza (303)-458-5851
- The Initiative (303)-839-5510
- National Domestic Violence Hotline 1(800)-799-7233/ TTY 1(800)-787-3324
- DOVE TTY/Voice (303)-831-7932/ Crisis Line (303)-831-7874.
Specific to Indigenous people:
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