Isabella Guzman

Case record: Isabella Guzman

Background

Isabella Guzman was an 18-year-old who lived in an Aurora home with her mother, Yun-Mi Hoy. Her mother Yun-Mi Hoy and Isabella Guzman had a contentious relationship, and court-related accounts described Isabella as more “threatening and disrespectful” toward her mother in recent days.

Ryan Hoy was Isabella’s stepfather and called Aurora Police on the night of Aug. 28 after he saw blood pooling under the door of the upstairs bathroom.

Isabella Guzman’s biological father was Robert Guzman. He told 7News that he spoke with Isabella in the backyard about respect for parents hours before the killing, saying:

“I went to talk to Isabella and we sat down in the backyard looking at the trees and the animals and I started to talk to her about the respect that people should have for their parents,” Robert Guzman told 7News. “And I was trying to let her know that she should be obedient to her parents, not rebellious, that she should try to listen more and everything was going fine. In the conversation, I thought that I made progress. But obviously it didn't do nothing, because hours later, this thing happened.”

Robert Guzman also said the family was “heartbroken” after the death of his ex-wife:

“We're heartbroken. Of course we're upset over the death of my ex-wife,” Robert Guzman said.

Melanie Guzman was identified as Isabella’s aunt. Melanie Guzman said she saw “a typical teenager” when she visited the family a few months earlier, and said Guzman could get angry but violence seemed outside her character. Melanie Guzman also said:

“Her demeanor is pretty sweet. She's very coquette. I can see her yelling, screaming and storming off and locking herself in her room and turning on her iPod,” Guzman said. “But not being violent like that.”

The offence

Isabella Guzman was accused of killing her mother, Yun-Mi Hoy, after allegedly stabbing her 79 times in the face and neck in an upstairs bathroom in the family home.

Court-related accounts described an email sent by Isabella Guzman the day before the killing telling her mother, “You will pay.”

Ryan Hoy told police that after he was unable to open the bathroom door because Isabella would not let him enter, he heard Yun-Mi Hoy say “Jehovah” before the bathroom door opened. He observed Isabella standing in the doorway holding a knife and said she did not speak to him as she exited. He said Isabella was “just staring straight ahead” as she walked past him.

One account described Ryan Hoy as performing CPR and chest compressions. He later told police he believed his wife was already dead because she was staring blankly ahead. Yun-Mi Hoy was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy found that Yun-Mi Hoy suffered 31 stabs to the face and 48 stab wounds to the neck.

Investigation

Aurora police investigated after receiving calls about a body inside a car in a parking garage.

Police spokesman Frank Fania said arriving officers found the car, but no one was inside. Fania said officers found items in the car and additional items believed to be involved in the homicide during a search, and a K-9 team joined the search.

Glenn Petty, who worked in a nearby office building, described seeing undercover officers when Guzman left the garage:

“They did find items in the car, however, that led them to believe these items were related to the earlier homicide,” Aurora police spokesman Frank Fania said.

Petty said he saw a man dressed like a motorcycle gang member turn out to be an undercover officer walking into the parking garage as a young woman walked out. Petty said the officers briefly spoke with the woman, then the officers surrounded her as she walked away into a parking lot. Petty described the arrest moment:

“Suddenly, all three officers pulled guns” and the woman sat down next to a bush on a raised parking lot median, Petty said.
“It was very smoothly and very professionally done,” Petty said. “It gave me a good feeling about the Aurora Police Department.”

Detectives questioned Isabella late Thursday in connection with the stabbing death, and police said they were not formally holding Isabella for investigation because she was not carrying positive identification, while also stating that no other suspects were being sought.

Homicide detectives offered no clues about a motive.

Arrest

Isabella Guzman was detained while leaving a parking garage of a Parker Road office building after reports of a body inside a car. Police later arrested her the next day near a parking lot at South Parker Road and South Havana Street, after she was found by police in a nearby parking garage.

Court-related accounts said officers called in undercover officers to assist with the garage search and Guzman was seen walking out of the garage and was then detained and taken to headquarters.

Trial

Isabella Guzman appeared in Arapahoe County court to be formally charged.

During one court hearing description, Guzman smiled briefly at the beginning of the hearing as she listened to her attorney and the judge. She wore an orange jumpsuit and shackles on her wrists and legs. In another description, Toward the end of the hearing her eyes began tearing up, she looked into the camera, and pointed to her eyes. She also made a face at the camera.

A judge was forced to push back a morning court date until later in the afternoon because Guzman refused to come out of her cell.

Sentencing

Isabella Guzman was held without bond while awaiting trial.

Appeals

No appeals information appeared.

Outcome

Isabella Guzman was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of a crime of violence. She was held without bond pending trial and was stated to be eligible for the death penalty.

Aftermath

Outside Isabella Guzman’s home, there were two dumpsters in the front yard filled with stuffed animals, jewelry, and other belongings. A picture of a younger Guzman was on the ground by the dumpsters.

Robert Guzman said his ex-wife owned “Bella’s Portrait Studio” at the Town Center in Aurora and worked long, 12-hour days. He also said his daughter sometimes worked at the studio and that Isabella dropped out of Overland High School.

Other details

Isabella Guzman was accused of killing her mother on Aug. 28. One account stated her mother came home from work about 9:30 p.m. and took a shower, and soon after Ryan Hoy heard a “thumping” and his wife calling his name.

Court-related accounts described an earlier domestic disturbance call at the home on a Wednesday evening, when police were called after reports of a family disturbance. Officers arrived and were told a woman was upstairs in need of help, and emergency responders arrived and pronounced the woman dead at the scene.

Isabella Guzman was described as wearing a pink sports bra and turquoise shorts when leaving the bathroom with a knife, and leaving the home in that clothing.

Isabella Guzman was described as carrying a plastic shopping bag when detained in the parking lot area.

Isabella Guzman’s nickname “Isa” appeared in descriptions of her Facebook page, which included a photo of a watermelon slice with the word “Love” carved into it and a photo of her wearing a “Hello Kitty” T-shirt and jeans standing in front of a rock band set from a singing competition.

No further case resolution appeared in the provided material.