PATERSON, N.J. — Two years after the tragic death of 18-year-old Robert Cuadra, his mother Ivernis Santiago still feels the pain every time she visits her mother’s home on Godwin Avenue. Cuadra, a high school honor student with a college scholarship, was caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting while bringing groceries to his grandmother’s house. “It’s very traumatizing when I go there,” Santiago said.
Friday marks the two-year anniversary of Cuadra’s death, but the initial outpouring of support from officials, educators, and community leaders has faded away. Santiago feels as though her son is slowly disappearing from public memory. “Little by little, my son is disappearing,” she said. “I’ve got to pretend that I’m normal. But I’m struggling every day. I don’t want to go to work. I don’t want to live.”
Santiago has been tirelessly attending court proceedings for the three young men charged with her son’s murder, but she feels frustrated by the lack of progress in the case. The defense attorneys are grappling with a range of issues, from disputed interrogation tactics to waiting for DNA test results. Meanwhile, the accused men have been offered plea bargains that Santiago feels are not a just resolution for her son’s death.
The grieving mother expressed her frustration over the lack of progress in the investigation. “I don’t understand why they can’t find the killer,” she said, noting that home security cameras captured the shooting on video, as well as the arrival and departure of the cars involved in the incident. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment on the identity of the shooter and the possibility of a plea bargain for the accused men, while the Paterson Police Department also declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
Despite her efforts to seek justice for her son, Santiago suffered another tragedy a year and six days after Cuadra’s killing. Her cousin died from a drive-by shooting in Paterson’s 2nd Ward, adding to the pain and trauma she has experienced.
The emotional toll of Cuadra’s death extends beyond Santiago, affecting her three younger sons who miss their older brother dearly. As she continues to seek justice for Cuadra, Santiago remains determined to honor her son’s memory and fight for a resolution that aligns with the depth of her loss.