Josephine County, Oregon – She allegedly did the deed with a hammer. Wendy Maldonado, 35, stands accused of murdering her husband Aaron Maldonado, 36. Is this an open and shut case of murder? Or are there other ingredients in this mix that mitigate the circumstances of Aaron’s death.
The Observer has received information that Wendy and others were abused at the hands of Aaron Maldonado. So, what if it can be shown that Aaron practiced consistent violence upon his wife of 18 years and she lived in abject terror of being mentally and physically abused.
If this proves to be the case then the term murder slips away and the term self-defense comes in play. Using deadly force to defend your life in Oregon is a legitimate response to a physical attack. If Wendy Maldonado was in fear of her life then she had a legal and justifiable right to use a hammer to protect and extend her own life against any aggressor. That includes a husband, family member, or stranger.
Josephine County District Attorney Stephen Campbell must consider these facts very carefully and not be seduced by the opportunity to gain fame and public exposure at the expense of Wendy Maldonado. Prosecutors have been known to do this. The grand jury and District Attorney Stephen Campbell need to approach this case with common sense and realize the public will not be favorable to incarcerating a long term abused women, if in fact she was abused, at $28,500 a year in an Oregon penal institution for an act of possible self-defense.
