SAN ANTONIO – A woman who was shot several times in a domestic violence rampage that also left one of her young daughters dead and another in critical condition is speaking about the traumatic event from her hospital bed.
Mariah Clare, 28, is recovering at a local hospital after being shot multiple times in her home. Her 2-year-old daughter is one floor above her, recovering in the intensive care unit. The baby of the family, an 11-month-old girl, died.
“Here we are; I get to buy an urn and a walker in the same week; I have no home because I can’t go back to the one I was in,” Mariah Clare said.
Stephen Clare, 50, who Mariah Clare said is her ex-husband, was arrested and charged with capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Mariah Clare said the day the shooting happened, April 10, was a regular day. She said her ex would visit the kids regularly to co-parent. What started out as play time before bed quickly turned into violence when she said that Stephen Clare pulled a gun.
“He stands next to me, and he puts a gun in my face, and he tells me to get into the car. He’s like, ‘you’re not going to make it this time,’” Mariah Clare said.
Mariah Clare said she and her ex fought as she tried to take the gun away. In the process, she was shot multiple times. She adds Stephen Clare was using a revolver, so she fought up until he had used all six bullets in hopes of keeping her kids safe.
Mariah Clare’s 11-year-old and-8-year-old from a previous relationship escaped the home.
She said her older children are traumatized about the incident and she is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds, including one through the neck. Meanwhile, her biggest concern is the possibility of Stephen Clare being released from jail.
“He lives two minutes down the road from my children’s school, the two children who he just hunted,” she said.
As of Monday night, Stephen Clare remained in jail in lieu of bonds up to $2 million.
You can find resources for victims of domestic violence here.