VICTIMS OF EVIL
Iran refugee, Giant kin among 14 slain
THERE WAS an Iranian refugee who fled persecution, a cousin of a New York Giants safety, a married father of six, a health worker committed to “making a difference” and a woman who was shopping for a wedding dress.
All were among the 14 people slaughtered in San Bernardino, Calif., at a holiday party Wednesday.
One horrific day later, loved ones struggled to make sense of the tragedy, barely able to believe the victims were really gone.
“I have no feelings right now,” a numb Dolores Cabrera, mother of the massacre’s youngest victim, 26-year-old Aurora Godoy, told the Daily News. “I just lost my only daughter.”
Benneta Betbadal, 46, was born in Iran and fled to America when she was 18 to “escape Islamic extremism and the persecution of Christians that followed the Iranian Revolution,” her family said in a statement.
The mother of three worked for the county health department that was celebrating at a holiday shindig.
“There is no reason for evilness,” her husband, Arlen Verdehyou, told the San Bernardino Sun. “You just have to be strong for each other.”
Many of the victims worked alongside killer Syed Farook at the San Bernardino County Health Department.
Juan Carlos Espinoza was one of them, his daughter, 25-year-old Jerusalem Espinoza, said. The 50-year-old came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was in his 20s.
“He was an honest, fair and hardworking man,” the grieving woman said.
Victim Tin Nguyen, 31, was remembered as an avid hiker “with a contagious smile.”
“She was a very peaceful person,” said Jimmy Wguyen, one of Nguyen’s many cousins. “She was a true goody two-shoes. A real innocent.”
Nguyen had gone shopping just a few days earlier for a wedding dress, according to family.
Giants safety Nat Berhe tweeted that his cousin Isaac Amanios, 60, was one of those killed at the Inland Regional Center.
I immediately freaked out, tried to call him, text him ... Nobody had heard from Daniel.
“Just got word that one of my cousins was among the 14 killed yesterday, I’m so sick right now,” tweeted Berhe, who has been on injured reserve all season.
Berhe railed against the recent spate of mass shootings. “We have to stop this senseless violence,” he tweeted.
Another victim, Robert Adams, 40, was “beloved by everybody,” his father, Harry, told The News on Thursday night. He cherished his 20-month old daughter, Savannah.
“She was the center of his life,” the senior Adams said.
Michael Wetzel, a supervising environmental health specialist, was also gunned down in the attack. His wife, Renee, sent a frantic message to friends in the chaotic aftermath of the shooting.
“Please pray. My husband was in a meeting and a shooter came in,” it read, according to a YouCaring page seeking to raise money for his family.
About eight hours later, Renee Wetzel learned her husband had been killed.
The Wetzels had one child together. Michael was also helping to raise his wife’s two other children.
Sierra Clayborn, 27, an environmental health specialist, was also killed.
On her LinkedIn page, Clayborn described her job as “making a difference daily by protecting people where they live, work and play.”
Another victim of the senseless slaughter was Daniel Kaufman, 42, who operated a coffee shop at the San Bernardino facility for people with developmental disabilities.
A gregarious free spirit, Kaufman had worked there for about five years. His boyfriend, Ryan Reyes, spent Wednesday night searching for his beau after the shop manager failed to come home.
“I immediately freaked out, tried to call him, text him,” Reyes told NBC4. “Nobody had heard from Daniel.” Hundreds gathered Thursday night at the San Miguel Stadium to mourn the victims of the mass shooting.
Jane Troy, who retired from the health department a year ago, cried as she and others lit candles.
“I know — knew — most of the victims,” Troy said. “They were hardworking, family loving, gentle people who didn’t deserve to be killed like this.”
With Tori Richards and Marty Graham
I’ve lost so many friends and co-workers. Leilah Kelsey, supervisor of county health department RIP Baby sis I love you more than you ever knew. Tamishia Clayborn, sister of Sierra Clayborn (above) I have to tell my babies that their dad is no longer here. Renee Wetzel, wife of Michael Wetzel (right)
I will always remember Damian as caring . . . jovial. Juan Perez, co-worker of Damian Meins (far left inset)