Indigenous woman survives domestic violence attack

DENVER — An Indigenous woman in Denver says she is recovering after a violent attack by her husband which she believes could have been prevented with better access to domestic violence resources, especially for her community.

More than a week after the incident, Alexandra James Banuelos’ face remains covered in bruises of dark purple, green, and yellow hues. Her left eye is completely swollen shut.

“The last thing that I remember was him grabbing my hair and wrapping it around his fingers…punching me while holding me in place,” Alexandra said.

Her escape left a bald patch on her scalp, a physical testament to her desperate attempt to survive. On May 6, after informing her husband, Brandon Banuelos, she wanted a divorce, she says he punished her for it.

A lot of her memory is hazy, but one thought was clear in her mind: “I was thinking I was gonna die,” she said.

This wasn’t the first time Alexandra says she faced violence from Banuelos. Following his arrest for allegedly assaulting her on Feb. 14, she filed a protection order against him. Banuelos’ criminal record shows multiple arrests for assault and domestic violence, including a protection order from another woman.

The Denver Police Department said they are currently investigating the May 6 incident, but no arrests have been made. Alexandra does not know where her husband is, but she knows she needs to leave Colorado.

“I’m terrified that he’s gonna come back and finish the job that he was about to do. I feel like if he were to find me that he would kill me,” said Alexandra.

Alexandra considers herself fortunate to have survived. 

“My family, we are Indigenous. Some of my family members have gone missing, some have been murdered. Their cases are still unsolved, and they are still missing to this day. I didn’t want to be another statistic,” she said.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. Alexandra emphasizes that resources for her community are not accessible enough — a reality she has faced personally.

“I’ve been trying to escape this marriage since February 14, and there’s no help for us,” Alexandra said.

Below is a list of resources for victims and survivors experiencing domestic violence. 

Specific to Indigenous people:

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