A 43-year-old woman who killed a pregnant woman in a DUI crash has pled guilty to second-degree murder, a plea the murder victim’s husband said can finally give the family closure and the ability to move on from the tragic death of his wife. Their preborn daughter miraculously survived.
In August of 2020, James and Yesenia Alvarez were walking together on the sidewalk of Katella Avenue near Bayless Street in Garden Grove, California. Yesenia was eight months pregnant at the time. Courtney Fritz Pandolfi lost control of her Jeep, jumping over the curb and crashing through a metal newspaper stand before slamming into Yesenia.
James attempted to give her CPR until paramedics could take her to the hospital, but Yesenia could not be saved. Miraculously, doctors were able to save the life of the couple’s baby girl, Adalyn.
Before her death, the Alvarezes posed for a maternity photoshoot with Yesenia glowing in a pink gown; afterward, James recreated the photo shoot in the same location with Adalyn, also wearing a pink dress. It quickly went viral.
“I want my daughter to have the best life. And anything I can do to fulfill that, I’m going to do it,” he told NBC4 at the time. “As soon as I held her, everything just washed away. It was just her and I in that moment. Seeing her there and calling for her name and her like opening her eyes looking for me, that meant so much to me because that’s what we did together, my wife and I. I’m up for the challenge. I know I don’t have my wife with me to help me, but I know she’s here spiritually. She’s giving me the strength to do that.”
He has since continued the tradition with a photo shoot every year.
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Pandolfi was set to stand trial for killing Yesenia, but finally agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder, as well as DUI-related charges and driving with a suspended license. She has had multiple past DUI convictions. She is facing 15 years to life in prison, and cried as Alvarez addressed her in the courtroom.
“It has been a long three years,” Alvarez said. “It has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. At least now I am able to move forward and heal from this.” To Pandolfi, he said, “I am just thankful that you finally took the responsibility for your actions.”
Alvarez shared a video of himself with Adalyn in the courtroom along with a statement about the plea deal. “I can finally put an end to this chapter and be able to fully heal. I spent the last three years grieving for the loss of my wife that was run down and killed by an impaired driver. Courtney Fritz Pandolfi pleaded guilty to driving impaired and running down my wife, Yesenia Aguilar during a crash in Anaheim on August 11, 2020,” he wrote, concluding, “I hope by sharing my story and pain, I can inspire others to never give up like I have. My daughter gives me the strength to keep going and to keep fighting. I’m blessed to have her in my life and I have to give thanks to my late wife for giving her life to save our daughter. That’s why I try to be the best father I can be and hope to make my late wife proud of me.”
