BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) – The Manatee Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller dedicated two spaces of its Violence Protection Division on Wednesday in honor of two former Clerk and Comptroller team members, Erin Craft and Jazmin Catano, who tragically lost their lives to domestic violence.
“I am so happy to do this and be able to honor their legacy,” Angel Colonneso, Manatee County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, said.
“We wanted to do it in a permanent way. I’m hoping that when people come into these areas now and they see the big plaque with their name and their face and their story that they’ll think about it and know that there’s help out there.”
The dedicated spaces will be known as the Erin Craft Center and Jazmin’s Nook.
“It was a very happy day, it lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders,” siad Sebastian Carvalho, Jazmin’s son. “Just seeing her face, she was loved and cared for by a lot of people and now my family and friends and everyone that was here can see that.”
The dedication ceremony took place Wednesday morning in the Hon. R.B. “Chips” Shore Historical Courtroom, inside the Historic Courthouse in Bradenton.
Domestic violence continues to be a concern across the community. In 2024, the Violence Protection Division processed 1,003 total injunctions, commonly referred to as restraining orders, for domestic violence, dating violence, repeat violence, sexual violence, and stalking.
This is a 3.8% increase from 2023, highlighting the growing need for protection services and awareness.
“Her employer said, ‘we didn’t know, she didn’t act troubled or distressed’ and she would smile. But he kept coming and coming and finally she put her foot down and said no more,” Colonneso said.
Jazmin’s son said the ceremony has helped bring a sense of peace.
“A sense of relief for sure. I just wanted people to know about my mom a little bit more and I feel like the courthouse did a very good job organizing this and it’s very thoughtful, people now can see how important she was,” Carvalho said.
“Their stories are proof right there that they need to reach out, it’s a serious matter, I know both of them Erin and Jazmin would want that too,” Colonneso said.
About Erin and Jazmin
Erin Craft dedicated over a decade to serving the community as a team member in the Traffic and Court Services divisions of the Courts Department from 2006-2017.
After relocating to Alabama, the 36-year-old mother’s life was taken by domestic violence in January 2022.
Although only with the Clerk and Comptroller’s office for six months, Jazmin Catano brought enthusiasm and dedication to her role in the Criminal Division of the Courts Department. The promising 30-year-old team member’s life was cut short by domestic violence in 2013.
The ceremony included brief remarks from speakers including Clerk Angel Colonneso, Erin Craft’s mother, Tiffany Tompkins, and Jazmin Catano’s son Sebastian Carvalho. Additional time was made available to allow friends, family, and guests to share a few words about Erin or Jazmin.
Several partnering agencies such as Manatee County Sheriff’s Victims Advocacy Unit and HOPE Family Services joined the other groups for this ceremony as well.
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