Veronica Reign

It has been nearly one month since my uncle, Vincent Cortazar, punched me in the face at my grandfather’s funeral.

My uncle, Vincent Cortazar, struck me, breaking my nose and causing me to profusely bleed.

Before that happened, my cousin, Vincent Cortazar, was standing near my grandfather’s casket, repeatedly threatening to kill my father, who was actively holding the casket. I was pleading for my cousin, Vincent Cortazar, to stop and for the situation to de-escalate.

That is when my uncle, Vincent Cortazar, turned toward me, wound up his arm, and punched me.

I was profusely bleeding. I was in shock. I am still in shock.

After assaulting me, posts online claim that I attacked and scratched him.

Unfortunately for my cousin, Vincent Cortazar, and my uncle, Vincent Cortazar, this is on video. There is audio. There are witnesses.

I did not assault him. I was the one who was struck. I was the one who got punched in the face by a man who should have protected me. My uncle, Vincent Cortazar, assaulted me. There were cameras. There is no other version of this.

A police report was filed. I pressed charges against my uncle, Vincent Cortazar, for punching me in the face. A Temporary Order of Protection has been signed by a judge. Now I’m receiving threatening messages from their associates.

What has been as painful as the assault itself has been the response from people I believed would protect me, like my aunts. I expected the women in my family to stand up when a man assaulted me. Instead, I have watched silence, denial, and alignment with a false narrative.

Since that day, I have experienced ongoing physical, emotional, legal, and spiritual strain as a result of this incident and its aftermath.

This is not a misunderstanding. It is documented. This was an assault at the hands of my own uncle, Vincent Cortazar, who is now being protected by my own blood.

Denial does not alter reality. Refusing to face the truth does not erase it.