[TX] Mother, Med Student, Cop's wife - Makasha - murdered in husband's selfish last act

Kasha's Facebook photo

...Mrs. Colonvega was studying to become a doctor. Mr. Colonvega worked for the Irving Police Department... Police said 34-year-old Makasha Colonvega was shot multiple times; her husband was shot once... A Fort Worth Police Department report listed Makasha Colonvega as the only victim... Shawana Matthews is a friend of the family. She told CBS 11 News that the couple was experiencing problems...
...Makasha Colonvega, 34, who was a licensed chiropractor and was five months away from becoming a doctor of osteopathic medicine... Makasha Colonvega’s colleagues at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center described her as "one of the best and brightest," said Bruce Dubin, associate dean of academic affairs...

...Dennis Shingleton, an assistant dean [at [the University of North Texas Health Science Center] said she was enrolled at the center's Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and she was on track to graduate in May. She had already completed rotations in surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics and was in a primary care rotation when she died, Shingleton said. "She was in the final stretch -- the last lap," Shingleton said. "She was a very bright student who was held in high regard -- just extraordinary. I mean, she was Phi Peta Kappa"...

IRVING OFFICER DEAD IN APPARENT MURDER-SUICIDE
Carol Cavazos
cbs11tv.com, CBS 11 News
Dec 7, 2008
[Excerpts] Two bodies, one male and one female, were discovered inside a Fort Worth home on Sunday morning. It is believed that the two were shot late Saturday night in a murder-suicide. The home is located in the 5300 block of Mineral Creek Drive... The 8-year-old kids, one boy and one girl, woke up Sunday morning looking for their parents. When they were unable to be found, the kids woke up their aunt. The aunt found the parents dead in a back closet. The 36-year-old man, identified as Pablo Colonvega, died of a single gunshot wound. His 34-year-old wife, Makasha Colonvega, had multiple gunshot wounds. Police believe that the husband killed his wife before turning the gun on himself. Nobody reported hearing the gunshots... Shawana Matthews is a friend of the family. She told CBS 11 News that the couple was experiencing problems. "I'm just very shocked for something like this to happen," she said. "It's really sad. I feel really bad for their families and kids." The couple's twins are now staying with friends of the family. [Full article here]

Mekasha mentioned divorce

IRVING POLICE OFFICER, WIFE FOUND SHOT TO DEATH
myfoxdfw.com
Sunday, 07 Dec 2008
Last Edited: Monday, 08 Dec 2008
[Excerpts] ...Police said Makasha Colonvega had been shot several times with a revolver. Pablo Colonvega had been on military leave since May 17, 2007, but was on active duty status, according to Lt. Richard Gilmette, Irving Police Department. He had been with the Irving Police Department since May 2005. Colonvega received two commendations from the department. His wife was a medical school student. "The news of Sunday's events has brought great sadness to our hearts for such a tragic and senseless loss," said Lt. Gilmette. "Our most sincere thoughts and sympathy go out to the families of the Colonvegas, and we ask that you join us in keeping them in our prayers"... [Full article here]

FORT WORTH COUPLE FOUND DEAD IN SUSPECTED MURDER-SUICIDE
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX
By Andrew Chavez
Dec. 8, 2008
[Excerpts] An Irving police officer and his wife, a medical school student, were found dead early Sunday morning in what reports indicate was an apparent murder-suicide. The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office identified the couple as Pablo Colonvega, 36, and Makasha Colonvega, 34... A Fort Worth Police Department report listed Makasha Colonvega as the only victim. Police forwarded questions to the Irving Police Department, which released a statement that a homicide investigation involving an Irving officer was ongoing. Irving police forwarded additional questions to Fort Worth police... Three 13-year-old girls — Courtney Wilson, Halie Gomez and Lacey Skelton — said their sleepover at a home in the 5000 block of River Rock Boulevard, about 800 yards from the crime scene, was interrupted by the sound of two gunshots at about 4:30 a.m. "We ran inside screaming right when we heard them," Skelton said... Pablo Colonvega was called up to serve in Iraq in March 2007, according to Irving City Council meeting minutes. Makasha Colonvega’s colleagues at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center described her as "one of the best and brightest," said Bruce Dubin, associate dean of academic affairs. "She would’ve had a brilliant career ahead of her," Dubin said. Makasha Colonvega was scheduled to graduate in May. She was second in her class of about 130 and had a grade-point average of 94, Dubin said. "That’s quite an accomplishment, especially with two kids," Dubin said. He said that she was well-respected by her classmates and that instructors at the college and classmates were calling Sunday to ask about the Colonvegas’ two children. Dubin said she was serious about her studies, but always personable... "Basically she was a young woman with her whole life and a wonderful future ahead of her... This is going to be devastating for the students — both in her class and at the other classes in the medical school," he said. "We’re involved in each others’ lives, and this is a real tragedy that will take its toll"... [Full article here]

One of their twins may have seen the slain parents.

RULING: DECORATED IRVING POLICE OFFICER TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
By BILL MILLER
wmiller@star-telegram.com
Dec. 08, 2008
[Excerpts] Suicide has been ruled in the death of an Irving police officer whose body was found with that of his wife early Sunday in their Fort Worth home, officials said. Pablo Colonvega, 36, died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner's office. The office on Monday morning had not yet listed a cause of death for his wife, Makasha Colonvega, 34, who was had been a licensed chiropractor and was five months away from becoming a doctor of osteopathic medicine, according to reports... Officers who went through police training with Colonvega were being offered counseling to help them grieve the loss of their colleague... Dennis Shingleton, an assistant dean [at [the University of North Texas Health Science Center] said she was enrolled at the center's Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and she was on track to graduate in May. She had already completed rotations in surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics and was in a primary care rotation when she died, Shingleton said. "She was in the final stretch -- the last lap," Shingleton said. "She was a very bright student who was held in high regard -- just extraordinary. I mean, she was Phi Peta Kappa." Makasha Colonvega had graduated with a bachelor's of science in psychology from the University of Alaska at Anchorage, Shingleton said... Meanwhile, students and faculty were discussing how to set up a benefit fund for the Colonvegas' children. [Full article here]

IRVING POLICE OFFICER, WIFE FOUND DEAD
WFAA-TV
By David Schechter dschechter@wfaa.com
December 8, 2008
[Excerpts] ..."When I got here, they were in back of the ambulance," said Shawana Matthews, a family, referring to the Colonvega's 8-year-old twin children. "They were just smiling like nothing was wrong, like they had not a worry on their mind." Police said 34-year-old Makasha Colonvega was shot multiple times; her husband was shot once. Neighbors said the family appeared to be happy prior to the tragedy. "... They were dancing in the garage," said Courtney Hoskins, a neighbor, while describing a recent sighting of the couple. "He was teaching her. They had their music on in there and they were dancing. And their kids ride their bikes and play with our kids"... [Full article here]

SOME OF MAKASHA'S PROFESSIONAL PUBLISHED WORK:
Scientific Commons:
Makasha Colonvega
http://en.scientificcommons.org/makasha_colonvega

• Assessment of balance and risk for falls in a sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older (2006)
• Abstract Background Falls are a major health concern for older adults and their impact is a significant public health problem. The chief modifiable risk factors for falls in community-dwellers are...
• Assessment of balance and risk for falls in a sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older
• Assessment of balance and risk for falls in a sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older

To Pablo's family - I am not trying to villianize him. He was tormented. Suicide is always sad, but the last act of Pablo was in thinking only of himself. Not Makasha, not the children, not Makasha's friends and family, and not you. God's mercy or wrath are not ours to determine. Anger, forgiveness, disbelief, grief - are what's left to those who loved them.

I wish that both Makasha and Pablo were still here to work out their problems or find another way to walk away from them - but not nearly as much as friends and family do.

My [real] prayers are for both families, their colleagues, friends - and everyone devastated by what cannot be changed now.

It is done.
Now it is about the children.

[POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED PERPETRATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW ENFORCEMENT MURDER SUICIDE]