'I really felt like I was going to die'
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CORNELIUS, Ore. – Melinda Gunzenhauser was covered in gasoline and fearing for her life.
“I really felt like I was going to die,” she said. “Because if he had got ahold of one match or lighter, it would’ve been gone.”
The Cornelius mother said her boyfriend, Amaury Lopez, poured gasoline on her and himself after she told him she wanted to separate on Saturday.
“He went into the bedroom and started pouring gas all over himself, saying he’s going to kill himself,” said Gunzenhauser. “That’s when I told the kids we needed to leave. So they ran outside and I gave my daughter my phone when I realized I didn’t have my keys.”
Gunzenhauser said her two young daughters got outside safely, but when she went back in to get her keys Lopez poured gas on her and tried to pull her into the bedroom.
“He dumped it over my head so it’s all in my hair,” she said. “My hair still smells like gasoline.”
Her shirt ripped during the struggle, releasing her from Lopez's grasp. Gunzenhauser ran out of the house.
Her 8-year-old daughter heard the struggle and called 9-1-1 while her mother was still inside. Gunzenhauser said her daughter did not know their address, but a neighbor who was passing by on the street helped her give the address to the dispatcher.
“I let her know that she saved mommy’s life and she’s very brave and a good kid,” said Gunzenhauser.
Lopez (right) barricaded himself inside the home after Gunzenhauser escaped, police said. Police took him into custody after a standoff that lasted nearly five hours.
There was so much gasoline in the house that police and firefighters evacuated neighboring homes.
Lopez is in a hospital and will be taken to jail when he’s released. He faces charges of attempted murder, assault, kidnapping and domestic violence, police said.
KATU News has learned that Lopez's ex-wife filed a restraining order against him.
“I was thinking my kids are going to have to listen to me scream and die,” said Gunzenhauser. “I had to get out for them.”
If you or someone you know is having trouble with domestic violence, you can call the 24-hour national domestic violence hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
It make little difference where a person is from, or even if male or female, when they commit these types of acts they should be put away for a very long time.
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And the spouse stays many times because of fear. Fear of reprisal, of losing their children or many very real concerns. Many times these abusers are also good talkers who can convince others that it is the police, judges and whoever that is not them who has the problem.
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Besides that this Lady had seen the light. Her mistake was telling him she was leaving. She should have gotten in her car with her girls and just drove away.
Sad, sad situation. Two girls which I am guessing are not his. It's unfortunate that people put themselves into these situations. I hope, for her sake and her kids, she realizes that these types or relationships are not normal. I would hate to see her two children end up in the same type of situation. Learn what you live.
What really struck me was an 8 year old who does not know her own address. Had they just moved there? The article doesn't cover that.
@Owt_Raged she was actually in a relationship like this before she was in this one.
 @Owt_Raged Not knowing an address is a common thing, when adrenaline is running high. Remember the girl that was in the pantry when she called 911 when burglars came into her house? She couldn't remember, but the 911 operator was great about steering her to where a bill was so she could see and say the address.Â
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I give the girl the benefit of the doubt, and kudos to the neighbor passing by who helped.Â
 @washcomom My concern was that the Mom herself verified that the girl did not know her own address. I understand forgetting in the heat of the moment, but not knowing it at all bothered me. At the age of 4 my kids could recite their address and phone number and we moved a lot when they were young.
But still as I said, my greatest concern was the poor choices being passed on to the girls. If kids see dysfunctional as "normal" they are bound to repeat it.
The best thing a parent can do for their kids is to NOT let them remain in such a toxic situation.
I am glad that she was able to get away,and that her kids are safe as well. I am amazed that so many people blame her,and that so many people put the blame on the color of his skin.Men,and women.too of any color,can be controlling,and abusive. Its not about Love-its about the power and control.I have taken care of many abused women.Its easy,for people to judge and say just leave.Some of them have left,and have suffered the consequences. Some have gone back,because whoever they left.went after other family members,or friends! Please do not blame her.Until you have walked in her shoes-you really do have no idea!
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 @musiclover May I ask what it is, if not racist?Â
Lopez faces charges of attempted murder, assault, kidnapping and domestic violence, police said. And, I bet, if they run an ICE check, they will also find that he in in this country illegally as well.
"Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas."
Does it make her a lesbian if she didn't -realize- she wasn't dating a real man?
If I'm reading many of these comments correctly, I guess I should believe that white people can do no wrong and never wind up incarcerated or in trouble. Yea, that's it. The <insert non-white race here> is to blame for all our woes. <shaking my head>
 @OSUx2 <shaking my head> Don't shake it too hard-wouldn't want to lose a brain cell.
Meh, it wouldn't hurt me to lose one or two. I'd still have a million more than those who choose to abuse humankind with their ignorant racism on here.
 @OSUx2 Might want to ask for a recount there. It sounds like that figure was provided by the blathering morons who come up with Obama's 'jobs created' figures.
Here he is a few years ago:
http://florida.arrests.org/Arrests/Amaury_Lopez_5498446/
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 @hankhandsome Pretty sure that's not the same guy.
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Time for Lopez to head back to Mexico?
 @jpk Where exactly in the article did it say he was from Mexico? Or is it just an assumption made by you because obviously that is where ALL hispanics are from right??  Such ignorance
 @MLopez  @jpk Spain? Mehico? Central America? South America? Where else?
 @boned  @MLopez  @jpk Try the United States? Many Latinos are American by birth and many families are generations long. Remember, Texas once belonged to Mexico.
 @boned  @MLopez  @jpk Guatamala, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica... funny, though, he looks like a black dude. Assuming he's Mexican because his name is Lopez is one of the dumbest-hick redneck-ignorant things I've heard in quite awhile.
They should tattoo a big L on his forehead before they release him from prison as a warning sign to his future ladies...
 @cautiousone They shouldn't release him from prison. He tried to dump gasoline on a woman and set her on fire with her children in the house.
But, but, but I wub him and he will change!! Sorry, with control freaks this it only gets worse. The sad part is that he will convince her he is a changed man and still wub's her and promises to do better and she will eventually take him back. In 29.5 years as a cop I never really figured it out, but some folks on this thread obviously have...
 @boned WHY aren't you trashing the abuser, exclusively, here? Wow. Stop trashing this woman. She needs all the support she can get right now, has done nothing to earn yours or anyone's scorn, and she is condemning him/what he did. The abuser is the one to scorn here. What you are ignoring is that thousands and thousands of domestic violence survivors permanently leave their abuser every day/every week and go on to have safer lives and changed lives. Just because you have seen one pattern does not mean it is the predominant pattern or the situation here. You only see from your narrow perspective. We just don't *hear* (whether in the media or from the police) about the success stories because they are not news, but they DO happen: ALL. THE. TIME. If you really want to see this kind of crime stopped, then support the successes and support the right steps survivors take.
@whirledworld @boned actually he is my ex husnad i know her and she knew what was up BEFORE she got with him. no condoning what he did but there are other factors involved that the news has left out. i know the real story
@whirledworld @boned i know both of these people. in fact he is my ex-husband and she knew exactly what she was doing by getting with him. plus he didnt intentionally pour gas on her she pushed him cause he was tyring to kill himself and he spilled it all over her. its a bad situation because all the fingers point to him but he needs help and i hope people get that
 @whirledworld  @boned Not to mention she was leaving him and that was what triggered the attempted murder/suicide.  And cops well most of them are a little narrow minded they can't help it.  With all the crap they see everyday that would make me a little narrow minded to.
 @whirledworld Good job...
@whirledworld @boned I agree that this is one loser of a male. However, SHE picked him, SHE brought him into the home with her children. She hopefully will learn from this situation and be more selective when choosing a boyfriend. She should forget about men for now and just focus on raising her kids. Some women, some, tend to attract abusers and losers.Â
She was very very lucky...this time. Hopefully she will have someone assist her in her next relationship. One woman in McMinnville was not so lucky, he lit the match!
This woman needs to hug her kids for helping out. If shoe could not see the situation coming...why was she wanting to separate from him?
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People like him need to take themselves out of circulation. Permanently
he was just trying to add fuel to their fire hot, loving relationship
It's situations like this that makes me thankful I'm ugly. I've had one boyfriend in my life and that's enough for me. If men like to do nothing but control women, we are all better off single.
 @JLO ???? Actually, it's women with low self esteem that fall victim to these type of men. Please don't insult yourself with such a subjective label. Ugly is as ugly does and ultimately has little to do with physical appearance.Â
 @JLO That's like saying I dated a woman who was into being controlled, so all women like to be dominated.
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@hankhandsome Do we know his immigration status? You should have said that's what happens when you date a loser.
@hankhandsome
Wow, that's a very ignorant comment. I've worked in the criminal justice system and in dv. There are plenty of horrendous domestic violence crimes committed by LEGAL men and women (lots of them were white too) that would make your skin crawl; domestic violence is about power and control, not your citizenship status. Leaving an abusive partner is the MOST dangerous time for the victim (I guess âsurvivorâ is the PC term). Nonetheless, the abuser will use as much of their power as possible to keep their partner from leaving, and in this case, attempt murder. This does not mean you should stay in an abusive relationship. Please find support from family, friends, law enforcement, your church, ect to help you make a plan to leave. Remember this â the abuser is NEVER going to change unless they want to make the change themselves.
 @hankhandsome how the hell can you tell from looking at this man that he is an illegal??? You're one racist moron!!!
"Diversity" has ruined this country.
@2easy2berightback You have an ignorant comment for just about everything, don't you?
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 @HarryJuku WHY aren't you trashing the abuser, exclusively, here? Wow. Stop trashing this woman. Just stop it. It's uncalled for and mean. You don't even know her! She needs all the support she can get right now, has done nothing to earn yours or anyone's scorn, and she is condemning him/what he did. The abuser is the one to scorn here. Some people don't know even what they are in until it suddenly gets weird. Some people grew up in DV and thus, have a hard time at first recognizing the red flags.
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 @HarryJuku  @whirledworld Most of peoples problems they bring on themselves......then they cry and complain when things go wrong.
Reality check - stupidity needs to be acknowledged, and enlightened!!
Sooooo..... you hook-up with a Lopez (probably catholic) and expect what?
This Lopez is a naturalized citizen or ???? Â
Really, he is a good man who was having a hard day not being able to produce another (vulgar slang) 'for rent woman': Â or was your story (sob, sob, I'm so sad) news?
@None i know this because im his ex wife btw
@None hes is a legal citizen, born and raised in New York and he is dominican, not mexican. Â
 @None Wiow. Does your mom know you're that much of a d-bag or is she one too?
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On the 4th of July, a white woman named Amy and her two perfectly-white children were murdered by her white, Oregonian husband and father. Your point is what? That only illegal aliens and Catholics commit domestic violence? That makes you ignorant, uneducated, foolish, clueless and wildly, miserably incorrect. What in hell does that FEEL like? Do you crave attention THAT badly?
 @None Hey none - sounds like you've got personal experience. Loser.
 @None Are you cruel by nature, or does that just come out at a forum where you can remain invisible? What you said is despicable.
 @FireEyes Realist by nature.  Experienced in life. Despicable in your view.  Invisible as are you.  Meet for a coffee?  I bet not.
 @None I am invisible here, however, I don't use the forum to be mean. Also, why would I ever want to meet you for coffee. #1... This is not a dating site. #2... I already can see a part of you I don't like. #3... I have friends and family. I don't need to get picked up at a forum.
 @None  @FireEyes I don't mind meeting people for coffee who talk smack on the internet but they never show up. Your experience at Klan meetings and white power rallies isn't really that interesting either.
 @None  @FireEyes Experienced in a weird lane of life, sounds like. Sorry to hear that your judgement has been so seriously impaired by your sourness. And what is your problem with Catholics? Bigotry: it must be what you eat for breakfast.