On June 10, 2021, Cheylee Octavio, then a 25-year-old mother of two from Hilo, was stabbed repeatedly, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend.
On Friday, a year to the day after the near-fatal attack, Octavio stood with dozens of others along Kanoelehua Avenue by Waiakea Center, waving signs in a rally against domestic violence themed “Justice for Chey.”
“I’m taking it day by day,” Octavio told the Tribune-Herald. “I couldn’t be more thankful for the support of my family and friends. That’s what’s really been keeping me going.”
Cyrus Jabilona, 25, is charged with attempted second-degree murder and felony domestic abuse for the attack — which, according to court documents and Octavio’s family, happened in front of her then-4-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, the latter fathered by Jabilona.
Jabilona, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, is free on $525,000 bail with court orders he wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and remain at home between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Jabilona has a court date on Nov. 22, but a trial hasn’t yet been scheduled.
Octavio went to court after the attack and was granted an order for protection for 10 years. She said she hasn’t seen nor had contact with Jabilona since the order has been in effect.
Octavio suffered a lacerated kidney, lacerated liver, fractured rib and thoracic injuries, according to court documents filed by police. A Hilo Medical Center emergency room physician told police Octavio’s injuries were life-threatening.
Octavio’s grandmother, Paula Agrigado, told the Tribune-Herald in 2021 the attack occurred at Jabilona’s home when Octavio went there to pick up her children. Octavio managed to get to the bedroom of Jabilona’s mother, who called police.
But according to Agrigado, Jabilona’s mother was too hysterical to be understood by dispatchers, so Octavio talked to them herself. She then used Jabilona’s home phone to call her mother, tell her mother she loves her, and asked her to take care of her children.
Octavio, who at 26 still resembles the high school athlete she was that earned a college soccer scholarship, said she thought she might die from her injuries.
“In that moment, I think my biggest fear was leaving my kids behind and them growing up without a mom,” she said. “It happened to me, but everybody was impacted.
“Physically, I’ve totally recovered, but mentally, it’s been a struggle. And I wouldn’t be standing here today without the unconditional love and support of my family and friends.”
Asked if she had an inkling something like the attack might occur, Octavio thought for a moment and replied, “Yeah.”
“I was kind of struggling behind closed doors with domestic violence. There were some warning signs,” she said. “But I never thought that it would amount to what it did. So, if I can share my story, I would hope people that are going through domestic violence who are being silent or not speaking up will reach out for help. Because you never think it’s going to happen to you — and then it does.”
Octavio said she doesn’t think “any amount of time served would do justice for what has been done.”
“I would like to see (legislation) protecting survivors and victims of domestic violence. I think, for me, that would be justice,” she said. “I definitely would like to be an advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence.
“The thing I gained, I think, was not taking my life for granted and cherishing everyone that loves me. Just living life to the fullest, every day.”
For an immediate response to a violent domestic incident, victims and witnesses should call 911.
The Hale ‘Ohana domestic violence crisis hotline has trained support staff 24/7 at (808) 959-8864. And the National Domestic Violence Hotline is at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Victims of domestic violence and their children can find safety at shelters in both East and West Hawaii. In East Hawaii, call Hale ‘Ohana at (808) 959-8864, and in West Hawaii, call the Child and Family Services Center at (808) 322-7233.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.