As Angelica Bravo’s family grieves her death, 4-year-old Athena Lee and 2-year-old Mateo Lee remain missing along with their father.

According to the Sacramento Police Department, police and fire personnel found 28-year-old Angelica Bravo dead July 8 in a North Sacramento, Calif. home, which she previously shared with her ex-partner, Camron Lee. Lee, however, along with their two children Athena and Mateo, have been missing since then.

More than a month later, the family continues to grieve Bravo’s death, trying to cope by keeping busy with her memorial service, which they held Aug. 13. They continue to await news of her children’s whereabouts.

“It has been the hardest thing we have ever faced in our entire lives. Our entire family and extended family is devastated by Angelica’s loss and the disappearance of our grandchildren,” Dawn Bodea, Bravo’s mother said in an e-mail interview with the Nichi Bei News.

Bodea said she wants to keep the story in the public’s eye in hopes of bringing her grandchildren home. She described Athena as the “spitting image” of Bravo when she was 4 years old, adding that she joked with her daughter that Athena was Bravo’s “Mini Me.” She described Mateo as “a little baller,” who started dribbling a basketball before he was two years old. She added that he could “run and dribble the ball better than most people I know,” despite only being 2 years old.

“Both kids love dinosaurs and building things and doing things with their hands. They love arts and crafts, playing in the water and being messy,” she added.

According to Sacramento police, the investigation remains active and detectives are working with federal, state and local law enforcement partners to locate the two missing children. An Aug. 13 KCRA report also said police had found the 2023 Honda Passport Lee was believed to be driving abandoned in Ensenada, Mexico and that Lee may have dropped off the two children somewhere in Southern California. Neither Camron Lee, nor the two children have been located since Bravo’s death.

According to her obituary, Bravo was a beautician, and graduate of the Mixed Institute of Cosmetology & Barber based in Sacramento, where she also worked as an instructor. Beyond her professional work, she was also a foodie and had a knack for throwing elaborate last-minute parties, according to her mother.

“Angelica was a force to be reckoned with,” Bodea said of her Gosei daughter.

Bravo was of Japanese, Mexican and Irish descent.

“I could always count on her for ‘real talk.’ She didn’t sugar coat things.”

Helen Sakaishi, her grandmother, meanwhile remembered how Bravo attended the Buddhist Church of Sacramento’s Obon every year.

“It was so fun to have Angelica and her children join me for Obon every summer. She loved getting dressed in the yukata along with her little ones,” Sakaishi told the Nichi Bei News in an e-mail interview. She added that her granddaughter loved Sakaishi’s inari sushi and mini onigiri, noting Bravo once noticed the difference between her personal recipe and pre-seasoned inari.

The Sacramento Bee, however, reported that Bravo had been in an abusive relationship with Lee and had recently moved away from him with her children to live on their own in South Sacramento. Police have not named Lee as a suspect in Bravo’s death, and the Bee reported that the results of her autopsy may not be released for months to rule whether her death was a homicide or not. The police’s priority remains in locating and bringing Athena and Mateo home.

Sacramento-based My Sister’s House, which works with underserved women and children who have survived domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, declined to comment on Bravo’s case specifically, but shared tips for how family and friends can help someone if they know their loved one is experiencing domestic violence.

“First, let your loved one know that domestic violence can happen to anybody. No one deserves to be abused and abuse is not their fault — they are not alone.

“Family and friends can also help victims of domestic violence with creating a safety plan. Creating a safety plan is extremely important in ensuring that a victim is prepared in case of an emergency. Make sure your loved one has an emergency bag ready and in a safe place – items to consider include: Photo ID/driver’s license, cell phone/charger, bank card/credit cards, money/cash, medications/prescriptions, immigration papers, clothes, toiletries + diapers.

“If children are involved, make sure they know to call the police/911 when there is danger and/ or to go to a safe place (friend, neighbor, relative’s home).”

While the family searches for Athena and Mateo, and grieves Bravo, her eldest daughter Nathalia, 12, is staying with Bodea and her husband, who are now her legal guardians. Bodea said Bravo’s eldest daughter loves soccer and basketball and shares her mother’s “fiery personality.” Nathalia is a half-sister to Athena and Mateo.

“Nathalia is handling this with incredible strength and resilience. She is devastated and broken, as one can expect from losing her entire immediate family overnight, but she is still able to go to school, enjoy time with friends and family, and find solace in the things that make her happy,” Bodea said. “She has a long road to healing and a lot of love and support from her whole family, extended family and friends.”

“My great-grandchildren, Athena and Mateo, truly brought me great joy and happiness,” Sakaishi said. “I think of them every single day. I truly hope that they are safe and will be reunited with Nathalia, their big sister, and the rest of the family as soon as possible.”

The Sacramento Police Department encourages any witnesses with information regarding this investigation to contact the dispatch center at (916) 808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000. Anonymous tips can also be submitted using the free “P3 Tips” smartphone app.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, advise them to reach out to an organization that supports survivors like My Sister’s House or similar organizations. My Sister’s House 24/7 multilingual helpline at (916) 428-3271 or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788.

 

What are the signs of domestic violence?

Physical and sexual assaults, or threats to commit them, are the most apparent forms of domestic abuse and violence and are usually the actions that allow others to become aware of the problem. Emotional and financial assaults are less apparent, but are also forms of domestic violence, according to My Sister’s House.

The following are additional signs or questions to ask someone who may be experience domestic violence according to the organization.

“Does your partner…”
Insult and humiliate you?
Prevent you from working?
Deny you access to bank accounts, credit cards, cars, etc.?
Put down your accomplishments?
Keep you from family and friends?
Use intimidation or threats to gain compliance?
Tell you that you are nothing without them?
Treat you roughly — grab, push, pinch, shove or hit you?
Blame you for how they feel or act?
Pressure you sexually for things you aren’t ready for?
Make you feel like there is “no way out” of the relationship?
Try to keep you from leaving after a fight or leave you somewhere after a fight to “teach you a lesson”?