Pilsen mural honors slain pregnant woman Marlen Ochoa-Lopez

A mural honoring Marlen Ochoa-Lopez has been nearly completed at 16th Street and Newberry Avenue in Pilsen.

Artist Milton Coronado started the mural Sunday to pay tribute to Ochoa, the 19-year-old expectant mother slain last month.

“I was impacted by the story, the horror of it. As human beings with feelings and emotions, we are impacted one way or another,” Coronado said.

Though Coronado has not met Ochoa’s family, he wanted to give them and the community something to remember her by.

Coronado said he hopes the mural will bring hope for everyone who has been affected by the horrific crime.

Prosecutors say Ochoa-Lopez was lured to a home in the 4100 block of West 77th Place and killed by a woman and her daughter, who had plotted the crime for weeks. The two women are accused of strangling her, then cutting her baby from her womb.

The child survived but suffered brain damage, and remains in the hospital.

“I just wanted to share a gift to the community that will hopefully inspire them, build them up and remind them that there is hope in the midst of everything,” Coronado said.

Cindy Hernandez/Chicago Sun-Times

Murals serve as a form of art therapy and that is one of the reasons he creates them, said Coronado.

“We know that art therapy helps children to adults explore their emotions,” Coronado said. “It helps those who struggle with anxiety and depression to cope with a loss like this. In the midst of living in a community where there is struggle of all sorts, I want to give a sort of inspiration and bring awareness to the victims of violence.”

Coronado said he hopes Ochoa’s story will push people to spark conversations about violence against women.

Josefina Cerna, 50, drove in from Tinley Park Monday to visit the mural.

“As a mother, I was impacted by what happened to Marlen, so when I saw pictures of the mural I decided to come see it in person,” Cerna said in Spanish. “I think this was a good gesture from the artist’s part. Now there will be something left here, in the heart of where she was raised. And for people who pass by it, it will be a reminder of what happened.”

Coronado was planning to complete the mural Monday.

Family Photo