Kristy Van Es, 37, of Visalia, California, was found dead on June 10, 2022, in an orchard near Avenue 288 and Road 68 in Tulare County. Her body showed an apparent shotgun wound to the head. Kristy had been separated from her husband, Thomas Van Es, since January 2022 and had filed for divorce. She had sought restraining orders against Thomas in September 2021 and January 2022 and described episodes of physical abuse and threats against her and their children in court documents.

Police arrested 41-year-old Thomas Van Es in connection with Kristy’s death. Investigators say surveillance footage captured him leaving his home the night of June 9, 2022, and returning late that evening with a shotgun in the bed of his truck. Officers recovered a shotgun hidden behind the truck’s seats with one expended shell; DNA and video evidence were reported to link Thomas to the scene. Kristy worked with the Visalia Unified School District and was remembered by family, friends, colleagues, and students as kind and encouraging.

Are there details anyone in the Visalia or Tulare County area remembers from that night or information that could help clarify Kristy’s last hours?