Podcast Summary: "The Fight" — One of Their Own (KPBS, Dec 9, 2025)

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode of "One of Their Own" investigates the death of San Diego police officer Ciara Estrada, found dead in her home with a gunshot wound between her eyes after a New Year's Eve party in 2017. The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) — her own employer — quickly ruled her death a suicide and made no arrests, despite her family's concerns about a possible abusive relationship with her boyfriend, also an SDPD officer. The episode questions whether departments can impartially investigate "one of their own," explores systemic barriers faced by families seeking answers, and highlights recent legislative efforts aimed at reforming investigations of suspected suicides in the context of domestic violence.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Estrada Family's Fight for Answers

• Larry Estrada’s Letter: The show opens with Ciara’s father, Larry Estrada, reading a letter to SDPD Chief Nislet sent in August 2020. He questions the department’s handling of his daughter’s death and asks why no interventions occurred regarding her boyfriend, Officer Eric Hansen (01:21).
  • Quote: “How could one of your police officers be dead? How she died (gunshot to the head) does not explain why she died.” — Larry Estrada (01:21)
• Family’s Main Concerns (02:53–05:08):
  • SDPD’s failure to address the alleged abusive relationship between Ciara and Hansen.
  • Lack of transparency — refusal to share unredacted case files and initially denying an autopsy existed.
  • Rushed ruling of suicide; no accountability for involved officers.
  • Department allegedly used Ciara’s death as a case study of job-stress suicide in officer training without acknowledging the relationship context (04:26).

2. Disputed Investigation and Lack of Transparency

• Department’s Stance: SDPD states employment laws and privacy provisions restrict disciplinary actions and information sharing unless laws were explicitly broken while on duty (05:08).
• Eric Hansen’s Career: Left SDPD in 2022, reportedly joined a Utah police force; declined to comment for the podcast (05:32).
• Legal Barriers: The Estradas filed their legal claim after the statute of limitations (six months) had expired, closing any path for recourse (07:04).
  • Quote: “We had no idea the statute of limitations with the city was six months. It’s kind of criminal in itself…” — Larry Estrada (07:04)
• Struggle for Records: The family received a portion of Ciara’s casefile only after persistent public records requests, years after her death. Many documents remain withheld (08:10–08:19).

3. Legislative Reform: "Joanna's Law"

• Inspiration and Need: KC Guinn, co-creator of Joanna’s Law, recounts similar barriers faced by the family of Joanna Hunter Lewis, whose death was hastily ruled a suicide despite a history of domestic violence (08:40–09:49).

• Key Provisions (14:06):

  1. Families’ right to all case records.
  2. Deaths with a domestic violence history must be investigated as homicides until proven otherwise.
  3. Investigators must consider 10 red-flag factors before determining cause of death.

  List of 10 Red Flags (14:37):

  • Premature/untimely death
  • Death scene staged as suicide/accident
  • Partner wanted to end relationship
  • History of domestic violence (including coercion)
  • Death in residence
  • Found by/current/previous partner
  • History of strangulation/suffocation
  • Last seen by partner or their child
  • Partner had control of the scene
  • Scene/body/evidence altered

• Quote: “We’ve never had a case that met all 10 factors that we didn’t determine was actually a homicide.” — Casey Guinn (15:41)

4. Ongoing Barriers to Reform

• Pushback and Practical Challenges:
  • Some law enforcement sees Joanna’s Law as an attack or unnecessary “second guessing.” Supporters argue it formalizes best practices and protects families' rights (16:06).
  • Concerns about resources and cost to reopen suspected hidden homicides (16:38).
  • Quote: “If…there are another thousand murders…we shouldn’t be talking about cost, we should be talking about solving them.” — Casey Guinn (16:51)

5. Application and Limitations in Ciara Estrada's Case

• SDPD Review: Capt. Judd Campbell asserts that SDPD’s investigation into Ciara’s death was thorough and would satisfy Joanna’s Law (18:43).
  • Quote: “What Joanna’s Law asks you to do…is to actually deploy resources to confirm…and investigate what it is. And that’s what happened here.” — Judd Campbell (18:43)
• Family’s Request for Full Records Denied: SDPD maintains that certain evidence is exempt from disclosure, while advocates like Casey Guinn argue that, for closed cases, evidence like scene photos should be released (21:09–21:29).
  • Quote: “It saddens me that SDPD continues to hide records and information in a closed case. Why?” — Casey Guinn (21:29)
• Evidence and Discrepancies: The podcast notes that Ciara’s death meets several of Joanna’s Law red flags, but not all. Some investigative inconsistencies (e.g., removal of the gun, thrown-away evidence) are noted but do not, in the department’s view, undermine the suicide ruling.
  • Quote: “Any investigation…is going to have minor things you can point to…You have to weigh out the evidence…” — Judd Campbell (23:54)

6. Broader Issues: Law Enforcement Culture and Suicide

• Stigma and Trauma: Law enforcement officers are exposed to trauma and discouraged from discussing mental health, resulting in a high suicide rate among officers (24:56–25:17).
• Quote: “If you talk about…your troubles…you’re viewed as weak.” — Jeremy Gates, SD County Sheriff’s Deputy (25:05–25:17)

7. The Family’s Ongoing Grief and Their Hopes

• Legacy and Healing: For the Estradas, policy changes or telling Ciara’s story cannot heal their loss, but may help others (25:39).
  • Quote: “Will it help somebody else? That’d probably be the best thing. Is it gonna help heal the family? No.” — Larry Estrada (25:39)
• Personal Mementos and Memorial: The episode closes with the family visiting Ciara’s grave, caring for her headstone, and reflecting on her memory and story (27:13–29:48).
  • Quote: “Everybody that knew Ciara knows that she would never do this.” — Julie Estrada (29:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “How could one of your police officers be dead? How she died (gunshot to the head) does not explain why she died.” — Larry Estrada (01:21)
• “Police officers are not supposed to escalate a situation. They are supposed to deescalate a situation.” — Larry Estrada (03:41)
• “If you believe it was suicide or if you believe it was homicide, it doesn’t matter. It never should have happened. She should be alive today.” — Larry Estrada (06:33)
• “We had no idea the statute of limitations with the city was six months. It’s kind of criminal in itself…” — Larry Estrada (07:04)
• “Joanna’s Law became a focus on basically these three things…” — Casey Guinn (14:06)
• “We’ve never had a case that met all 10 factors that we didn’t determine was actually a homicide.” — Casey Guinn (15:41)
• “We shouldn’t be talking about cost, we should be talking about solving them.” — Casey Guinn (16:51)
• “What Joanna’s Law asks you to do…is to actually deploy resources to confirm…and investigate what it is. And that’s what happened here.” — Judd Campbell (18:43)
• “It saddens me that SDPD continues to hide records and information in a closed case. Why?” — Casey Guinn (21:29)
• “Any investigation…is going to have minor things you can point to. But what you have to do…is you have to weigh out the evidence…that’s how you eventually reach your ultimate conclusion.” — Judd Campbell (23:54)
• “Everybody that knew Ciara knows that she would never do this.” — Julie Estrada (29:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Larry Estrada’s Letter & Family Concerns: 00:47–05:08
• Legal Claim & Barriers to Transparency: 06:42–08:10
• Joanna’s Law Background & Provisions: 08:40–15:55
• Application in Ciara’s Case & SDPD Response: 17:53–21:29
• Investigative Challenges & Closure: 21:29–25:39
• Memorial, Family Reflections: 26:01–29:48

Conclusion / Tone

The episode is deeply empathetic, giving voice to the Estrada family’s grief and frustration, and does not shy away from criticisms of SDPD’s investigative practices. Through the juxtaposition of Ciara's and Joanna's cases, the episode raises urgent questions about the capacity for justice in deaths involving police officers and/or past domestic violence. It ultimately advocates for greater transparency for grieving families and more rigorous, standardized investigations—while acknowledging that, for the Estrada family, some wounds may never heal.