Video captures dad’s last moments with daughter before she’s taken off life support

August 16, 2024 Gloria Shaw

A deeply moving video captures the heartbreaking moment a father, Robert Moreno, grieves over the body of his 22-year-old daughter, Zahriya Moreno, as it is prepared for organ donation after her tragic death following a domestic violence incident.

The emotional scene unfolded on Wednesday at Banner University Healthcare hospital in Tucson, Arizona, where Zahriya was taken off life support. Robert, crouching over his daughter’s body, wept as she was wheeled away, knowing that her organs would go on to save others.

Zahriya’s death is a double tragedy for the Moreno family, coming just three years after her twin brother died in a motorcycle accident. Robert spoke of the profound darkness that now hangs over their future but expressed a determination to honor Zahriya’s memory by pushing through the pain.

“Being as we lost our twins, it’s going to be a lot of darkness in the future, and we’re going to push through that as difficult as it is because that’s what our daughter would have wanted for us,” Robert said.

Despite the comfort in knowing that Zahriya’s organs would give life to others, Robert emphasized that nothing could ever truly make the situation better. “It’s wonderful to know that parts of my baby will live on,” he said, “but there’s no words, no anything that will ever be able to make this better.”

Zahriya sustained critical injuries on Monday after a heated argument with her boyfriend, 25-year-old Angelito Adrian Olivas.

According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Zahriya jumped onto the trunk of Olivas’ car as he attempted to drive away. Despite this, Olivas continued to drive, and Zahriya eventually fell off, leading to her fatal injuries.

Olivas was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence, aggravated assault and felony endangerment. However, he was released later that day after posting a $2,500 bond, a decision that Robert found incomprehensible.

“It almost seemed like a joke,” Robert said, expressing his disappointment in the judge and the legal system.

Zahriya was remembered by her father as a strong, determined young woman who cherished her time in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. Despite their immense heartache, the Moreno family found some solace in the overwhelming support from the community.

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During an Honor Walk for Zahriya, over 100 people gathered at the hospital to show their love and support for the family.