SAN ANTONIO — A daughter made a horrific discovery after she found her mother stabbed to death. Police say it was at the hands of her husband.
It unfolded on the south side of San Antonio, at a home off Division near South Flores. Investigators say the husband tried to take his own life, but he survived.
Loved ones knew something was wrong Tuesday when several hours had passed without a word from 41-year-old Stephanie Cruz Mendoza.
Family called police to do a welfare check at the home where Mendoza's husband lived.
They soon learned their biggest fear became a reality.
Now, Stephanie's family is raising funds to plan her funeral.
Stephanie's daughter, Alexis Luna, will turn 25 years old next week. She said birthdays were always an important time for them to celebrate together.
"My mom was my best friend," said Luna. "When my mom loved, she loved hard. She gave all her love."
The two grabbed lunch Tuesday, hours before Stephanie died.
"We went to lunch. She didn't mention she was going to go over there [to her husband's house]. I would have told her not to," Luna explained.
She says Stephanie was living separately from her husband, 52-year-old James Mendoza. They'd been married for about 10 years.
"He was abusive, physically, verbally, mentally. A narcissist. My mother nursed him back to health when he had COVID. He died three times. She stayed by his bed side being his nurse," said Luna.
Luna says the controlling behavior by James prevented family or friends from spending time with Stephanie.
"She was paying everything for him too," she explained. "She was supporting him."
Stephanie's mother, Guadalupe Escobedo, said divorce was on the table between Stephanie and James. The paperwork was about to be filed.
"He was domineering, possessive," said Escobedo. "I just don't know what he told her to convince her to come."
"She was finally saying she was happy," Luna added.
Shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday, after no one answered the door for police at James's home, Alexis broke in the house through a doggie door. She couldn't use a key because the locks had been changed.
"[Officers] said they had no probable cause to go inside. That's when one of my mom's friends was like, 'What if she's thrown on the floor in there?'" said Luna. "[The officer] said I could legally break in, so I did."
She said when she walked inside, all the lights were turned off. She could hear Stephanie's two dogs, Chuy and Kylo Ren, crying.
"When I looked down, my mom was laying there covered in blood. I just dropped to my knees and I was screaming, 'Mom! Mom!'" Luna painfully recalled. "I saw the knives on the floor."
Stephanie was stabbed several times and died at the scene. Her dog Chuy was laying on top of her, protecting her.
Police say James tried to kill himself by cutting his wrists and chest, but he survived. He was taken to the hospital and will be charged with murder.
"He was hiding in the back room," said Luna. "He's a monster."
Escobedo said Animal Care Services took Stephanie's dogs to care for them until family members pick them up Thursday. She says Chuy's hind legs were broken.
"They think [James] broke Chuy's back legs. [Chuy] couldn't walk," said Escobedo. "He had hit the dog before."
An arrest affidavit details a close call between Stephanie and James nearly a month ago. On July 10, police say, James pulled a gun on Stephanie because he was upset she'd left the house for several days. She returned to get some of her clothes. The affidavit also said James threatened to kill himself.
When James realized Stephanie used her Apple Watch to call 911, he fired the gun and fled. Stephanie was able to escape unharmed.
Stephanie was a softball athlete who traveled the world winning multiple championship rings. She was known as a great teammate and an even better friend. She was also a hard worker, known for putting in long hours at the U.S. Postal Service office where she worked her way up from a letter carrier to a supervisor.
Stephanie leaves behind two children.
If you'd like to donate to help the family with funeral expenses, click here.
In the meantime, Luna and Escobedo want anyone feeling trapped in a domestic violence situation to know that assistance is out there.
The City of San Antonio has compiled a list of steps victims can take to talk to a professional, leave an abusive relationship safely, apply for a protective order, get notified when someone is released from jail, create a safety plan, find emergency housing and seek legal services.
You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which is open 24/7, at 800-799-7233. You can also text BEGIN to 88788. More than 200 languages are accommodated through interpretation service.