GRANT COUNTY, Wash. — It has been more than three and a half years since a Grant County mother of three was murdered. Investigators believe Yanira Cedillos was sexually assaulted and killed by her estranged boyfriend, Juan Gastelum. He has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. The judicial process is ongoing. “Every three months in court, we have not missed a single court (hearing) there is always one of us there, or we join (when the hearing is online,)” Yanira’s sister Lanny Abundiz said. “Every single time (we are back in court) it’s reopening the wound. Any progress we make, any type of healing…it just sends us right back.” The entire tragedy began in March of 2022 with a night out with friends for Yanira. She was celebrating her 30th birthday. Even though the couple was no longer together, family members believe Gastelum gave her a ride home. Detectives believe he then killed her. It took several weeks for her body to be recovered. Lanny says it has been devastating for their family. “It’s really tough…we’re all struggling,” she said. “My mom didn’t really know the details of the case until last month.” Details that have been too much for many family members to bear. Detectives believe she was sexually assaulted with photos and videos allegedly taken during her attack. For weeks, Yanira was missing, even though family and law enforcement both believed she was the victim of a murder. Her decomposing body was eventually found in rural Walla Walla county. “The way he buried her…like a dog that buries a bone…it was like, if I can’t have you, nobody can,” Lanny said. The family says disturbing details of what happened have continued to trickle out as the wheels of justice slowly move forward. It’s a lot to take, and read as new paperwork is filed. But Lanny finds it important to learn all she can. “I felt someone needed to know what happened to her, someone in the family needed to have answers so we knew what we were fighting for,” she said. And what that is, is a bright future stolen from all of them, especially her babies. “They are the ones who will go through every day missing her every single moment, the moments that really matter,” she said. Yanira was in the process of bettering her life, when it was taken. “That’s the most dangerous time,” Lanny said. “She had moved out, gotten a new apartment. Multiple times she had broken it off, but this time she had taken the steps…she was working on a restraining order too we found tucked under a mat in her car.” And looking back, it’s what she didn’t say that bothers them most. “She stopped talking about him,” Lanny said. “She stopped talking about what was going on.” A warning sign that she didn’t even realize was at the time. She’s sharing her story and her grief in hopes that just maybe it could prevent another family from the same. She has this message for anyone who may feel unsafe in a relationship. “Get help. Protect yourself. You matter more.” Gastelum entered a plea of not guilty to charges for 2nd degree rape and a 2nd degree murder. He remains in the Grant County Jail. The next court date is set for November. October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. There are resources available nationwide. The national hotline, with reps available 24/7 is 1-800-799-7233. More resources can be found here: https://endtheviolencespokane.org/https://ywcaspokane.org/https://www.thehotline.org/https://icdv.idaho.gov/victims/we-can-help/
