Amanda Friar

Editor-in-Chief

Tragedy hit home last weekend when 23-year-old Jeana Vargas, MSC graduate, was killed by her husband Octavio Vargas, in a domestic violence dispute. Jeana was a May 2009 graduate from Mesa State with a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing and she is will be deeply missed on the Maverick campus.

“She was very energetic and full of life, always smiling with a positive outlook on life and her studies,” said Kristy Reuss, head of the department of health sciences. “I will miss her passion for nursing and her sweet caring spirit.”

According to police, Jeana was stabbed in the neck by her husband in front of her 2-year-old daughter, Leah Vargas, after she told him she didn’t love him anymore at her home on Walnut Ave. Octavio turned himself in to police after threatening to kill himself. He now is being charged with first-degree murder and has a bond set at $1 million.

Jeana’s spirit will forever be remembered on the Mesa State campus and it will ring especially loud in the nursing program. 

“Jeana was a great student, caring, hard working and always with a smile,” said Debra Bailey, assistant professor of nursing. “I have had few students who work as hard as Jeana to accomplish their dreams and be a success. She has been missed and left faculty and friends with very heavy hearts.”

Jeana was an employee at LaVilla Grande Nursing Home before her death.

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afriar@mesastate.edu