KILLED WITH KINDNESS

Cathryn Gorospe wanted to help people, and she paid the ultimate price.

- HANNAH CROCKER

Cathryn Gorospe only ever wanted to help people.She doted on the kindergarten kids she taught, and she was known for her sweet, kindhearted nature.

Cathryn, from Phoenix, Arizona, ‘took things in’ – whether that was the kids in her class, animals or even people. She saw the best in everyone, and if she could help, she did.

And one of the people she rescued was her boyfriend, Charlie Malzahn.

Back in 2017, Cathryn, 44, was working as a summer tour guide in Williams, northern Arizona – near the Grand Canyon.

Cathryn knew the area well – she often hiked and went river rafting.

That’s where she met Charlie. The stepson of the chief of police, he was working at a restaurant in the town.

He’d spent most of his adult life in and out of jail, on charges including theft, aggravated assault and resisting arrest.

But something about him caught Cathryn’s eye.

In August 2017, Charlie had been arrested for firearm possession and stealing a family member’s vehicle.

And in October, not long after starting to date Cathryn, he found himself behind bars yet again.

He was clearly a bad boy. But Cathryn saw something good in him, and she just wanted to help him.

Despite him being in jail, they spoke regularly.

‘Hey muffin,’ Charlie said in one call from prison. ‘What are you doing little love bug?’

In October 2017, after dating for around a month, Cathryn even bailed Charlie out of jail – offering up her house as collateral.

Cathryn wanted to help Charlie with his drug addiction, and get him on the straight and narrow.