A news report about Adopho Garcia-Nunez from 2004:
A local artist known for his commentaries on Cuban-American relations was charged Monday with breaking into an ex-girlfriend’s home and holding her at knifepoint.
In a hearing in Douglas County District Court, prosecutors charged 42-year-old Adolfo Garcia-Nunez, known as Fito Garche, with one count each of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping. All are felonies.
Assistant Dist. Atty. Dave Zabel said in court that Garche and his 29-year-old ex-girlfriend had an encounter Saturday night at a local nightclub. When she returned early Sunday morning to her home in North Lawrence, he was waiting inside for her with a knife and was under the influence of alcohol, said Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman.
According to a police report, he choked her, struck her and cut her on the arm with the knife. She notified police after she was able to get away from the scene, Ward said.
Zabel said in court that the woman and Garche had been in a two- or three-year relationship that she cut off in May. Zabel asked for a high bond, saying Garche could be a danger to the victim if released from jail.
Zabel also said Garche was on felony diversion in Douglas County after being charged earlier this year with making a false writing.
A news report about Adolpho Garcia-Nunez [aka Fito Garche] from 2006:
Fito Garche looks at the past 2 1/2 years, a rocky time in his life, as a test of faith.
The painter’s then-girlfriend broke off a relationship in May 2004. He fell into depression and, in September of that year, broke into the ex-girlfriend’s home and, police said, cut her with a knife and tried to choke her.
He was convicted of aggravated assault and aggravated battery, then spent time in prison until he was paroled in August.
“I had an opportunity to talk and discuss and to know other people who have committed great errors in their lives and paid for it,” Garche says through a translator. “But it showed me they had hope. The most important thing they had was the desire to be productive members of society.”
Garche is looking to revive his art career starting Friday, when he opens a show at Bridge Street Gallery, 315 N. Second St., next to the Gaslight Tavern. The show, titled “Free Dawn,” runs through Oct. 27.
His art always has centered on his Christian faith. Now, it’s about testing faith.
“I lost my faith,” he says. “Right now, at this time, I feel I’ve found it again.”
Ah. His attempt on the life of his “ex-girlfriend” was a rocky time in his life, a test of his faith. Well, he failed the test. On July 3, Garcia-Nunez took the life of his latest “ex-girlfriend”, Jana Mackey:
Garcia-Nunez — a Lawrence artist who also went by the name Fito Garche — was suspected in the death of the student, Jana Lynne Mackey. Mackey was a second-year law student at KU from Hays.
Friday night, Lawrence police had issued an arrest warrant charging Garcia-Nunez with second-degree murder.
Mackey’s body was found late Thursday night in a home at 409 Mich., where Garcia-Nunez lived. Mackey and Garcia-Nunez had recently broken off a relationship.
Garcia-Nunez later killed himself, by hanging, in his prison cell.
Miss Mackey earned an undergraduate degree in women’s studies in 2004. She later worked as a lobbyist for the National Organization for Women for three years, and then returned to Kansas University, where she completed her first year in the School of Law. She was a volunteer advocate for the Ga Du Gi Safe Center, and was a singer and actress. She was a member of the Public Interest Law Society, Women in Law, Kansas Equality Coalition, Kansas National Organization for Women, KU Commission on the Status of Women, KU Student Senate and Delta Force.
The death of any woman (or person) is a great loss to any family and any community. I find the loss of a young woman who was so dedicated and who was working so hard to assist women and change the world for us just heart breaking. I hope I will have more to say about this once I’ve worked my way through the heart break a little more and have had some time for reflection.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please contribute to:
Jana Mackey Support for Public Advocacy Fund
c/o Dean of Law
Green Hall
1535 W. 15th St.
Lawrence, KS 66045
mirabile dictu 