Late Tuesday night, in the quiet neighborhood of Black Rock Avenue, the unthinkable happened: 24-year-old Evelyn Rayo-Mairena was discovered severely wounded on the 200 block of the street, and despite life-saving efforts, she later died at the hospital. Officers responded to a call of an abandoned child at around 9:30 p.m.—and at that scene, they found the toddler on a front porch, while Evelyn lay a short distance away, unresponsive. Medics performed CPR at the location and rushed her to St. Vincent’s Hospital, but she could not be saved.
As of Wednesday morning, the Bridgeport Police Department (BPD) has officially classified the case as a homicide and homicide detectives are actively working leads in the investigation. The child, Evelyn’s young son, was transported to Bridgeport Hospital for evaluation and is reportedly safe.
The details on how Evelyn came to be injured remain scarce. A police spokesperson, Shawnna White, confirmed the timeline: officers were sent to the scene after the alert of an abandoned child, found the child on the porch and then discovered Evelyn on the street nearby. The cause and manner of death have not yet been released — the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy.
Friends and neighbors described the area of Black Rock Avenue as typically calm, making the severity of this incident all the more jarring. In such neighborhoods, an 11 p.m. emergency of this sort sends ripples through the community — voices of shock, worry, the hurried appearances of police tape and escort cars. The fact that a young mother was found in such condition while her child was left alone on a porch adds a deeply human and unsettling element to the unfolding story.
For the BPD, this case is now a priority. Detectives are canvassing the area, gathering surveillance footage, and urging anyone with knowledge—no matter how small—to step forward. Investigators specifically asked for tips directed to Detective Elizabeth Santora at 203-581-5291. (The public is reminded that even anonymous information can be extremely valuable.) The urgency is underscored by the tragic outcome: a young life lost, a child now left without his mother, and a community on edge.
Evelyn Rayo-Mairena’s death opens many unanswered questions: Who caused her injuries? What led to her being in the street rather than inside? Why was her child left on a porch? And above these, how will the child move forward in the absence of his mother at such an early age? These are the questions law enforcement and the family alike are grappling with as the investigation deepens.
As the autopsy and forensic work continue, the Bridgeport community remains silence-heavy, waiting for answers. This story serves as a stark reminder of how quickly tragedy can disrupt lives, and how the ripple effects touch far more than those present at the scene.