ORLANDO, Fla. – More than a year after Gissell Almonte tragically lost her life in a wrong-way crash, her family continues to grapple with the loss and the lack of justice.
Almonte’s husband, José, said his wife brought vibrant energy to their family.
“She just made everyone better around her; she made everyone smile,” José said.
Gissell Almonte died last year when a 24-year-old driver, Valerio Domingo, was under the influence and drove the wrong way on Balcombe Road in Orlando, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
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José was in the passenger seat, and the couple was just two minutes from home when their car was struck, collided with a tree, and overturned.
“We just saw lights come towards us, and fast,” José said.
The tree that their car hit still stands, scarred but healing. However, the Almonte family is struggling to find the same peace.
“It looks like it’s healing, and like it’s been getting better, but I feel like we haven’t been able to get better over time,” José said.
The family’s pain is compounded by the fact that the suspect, Domingo, bonded out of jail and then disappeared. He has been missing for nearly a year, leaving the family without closure.
“I don’t know what type of life he’s living, but I know what type of life my wife is living — which is none. So any type of life, good or bad, he gets to see the sun,” José said.
Gissell’s brother, Samuel Pascal, shares the family’s frustration with the justice system.
“I’m still frustrated with our justice system. I feel like they really failed us,” Pascal said. “If somebody were to kill someone in a DUI and they’re allowed to bail… that shouldn’t be allowed.”
Pascal said his sister was everything to him.
“If my sister was in front of me right now, I would say I love her, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t there to protect her. I’m just trying my best,” he said.
The family continues to plead with the community for any information that could lead to Domingo’s capture.
José has a message for the suspect.
“If you have any humanity left inside of you, just do the right thing,” he said.
The Almonte family hopes that one day they will find justice and peace. If anyone has information, they are urged to contact local law enforcement.
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