Mother of 4 dies after allegedly being shot by husband
The 19-year-old mother of four children who was shot near Desert Hot Springs last week has died after being removed from life-support at the hospital, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Jeanette Evangelina Reyes was shot in an unincorporated neighborhood of Desert Hot Springs in the 16100 block of Via Quedo, northeast of Palm Drive and Dillon Road, around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6.
Her mother said Jeanette was pronounced brain dead last week, but her heart was still beating and she couldn’t find in in herself to pull the plug. She said she was praying for a miracle that never arrived and the family decided to remove Jeanette from life-support on Monday.
She leaves behind three baby boys and a stepson, according to her mother.
Jeanette’s husband, 25-year-old James Daniel Fidler lll, is suspected of killing her. He turned himself in to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Station in Palm Desert about 20 hours after the shooting took place. A six-hour manhunt took place near Frank Sinatra Drive and Vista Dunes in Rancho Mirage shortly before he surrendered to authorities.
Fidler was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio for attempted murder, domestic abuse, and four counts of child cruelty. The District Attorney’s Office amended the original complaint of attempted murder to murder, now that the victim has died.
Fidler pleaded not guilty at a felony settlement conference on Thursday morning.
On Tuesday, Jeanette’s mother posted on Facebook, ” I strongly believe that God had a special reason for my daughter’s beautiful life to be taken so young. Her father and I requested that her internal organs be donated so that our beautiful daughter Jeanette Evangelina Reyes could live on and save another precious life. Last night my daughters heart went to rest and she did save a precious life. I THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR PRAYERS.”
Jeanette’s family started a GoFund me account to help pay for funeral expenses and assist her four boys she leaves behind.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will bring you updated information as the case moves forward in court.
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