LOS ANGELES, CA – A Santa Ana woman says she has faced years of relentless harassment and violence from a neighbor despite repeated legal interventions, leaving her family frustrated and fearful for her safety.
Zoyda Mendez alleges that since 2020, her neighbor, Nancy Varela, has subjected her to physical attacks and verbal abuse. Her daughter, Stephanie Mendez, vividly recalls one such incident where her mother suffered injuries.
“My mom was bleeding in the face, her tooth was loose, and she had scratches all over her chest,” Stephanie said. “Who wants to see their parent like that?”
The harassment escalated in late October when Varela was recorded on video shouting profanities and issuing threats. “I’m gonna kill you, you f**g bh,” Varela yelled in the footage, according to Stephanie.
For Zoyda, the impact has been profound. “I feel like she stole my peace, my soul,” she said. “I used to be brave and active. Since that day, everything changed.”
Legal Measures Yield Little Relief
The family says they have taken multiple steps to protect Zoyda, including filing restraining orders and cooperating with police after Varela’s arrests. However, the harassment has persisted.
“The most frustrating thing is the lack of accountability, the lack of true justice,” Stephanie said. “My family has been dealing with this for almost five years now, and nothing has stopped my violent neighbor—not calls to the police, not restraining orders, not court hearings, not arrests, not jail time.”
Stephanie recently addressed the Santa Ana City Council, pleading for urgent intervention.
Official Responses
Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amescua expressed confidence in law enforcement’s handling of the case. “I have full faith in the Santa Ana Police Department to thoroughly investigate and address this matter to the full extent that the law allows,” Amescua said in a statement.
The Santa Ana Police Department confirmed that an active investigation is underway. “We sympathize with their frustrations, and we’re using all resources available to try to bring the case to a resolution,” the department said.
For Stephanie, the assurances are insufficient. “It lacks any kind of accountability,” she said. “It lacks any kind of plan. What is the plan?”
The Mendez family continues to seek justice, fearing for Zoyda’s safety as they await concrete action.
