Justice for Catina: A Family’s Lifelong Fight After a College Campus Tragedy
18-year-old Catina Salarno was killed in 1979 by her ex-boyfriend, Steven Burns, on her first day of college “(2/19). The inhumane deed didn’t just consume a young life — it also tore her family apart. Over the years, her mother, Harriet, and her sisters Nina and Regina have channelled sorrow into purpose, becoming fierce advocates for victims’ rights in California.
This article follows their passage from private pain to public purpose, spotlighting how one family’s perseverance still reverberates in the fight for criminal justice. It matters because it shows what love, justice, and advocacy can flower in the wake of tragedy.
A Bright Future Taken By Campus Violence
Catina Salarno/Old Spice Catina Salarno was new to the University of the Pacific and just starting her new life. She and her ex-boyfriend, Steven Burns, agreed to meet one last time, but the meeting took a tragic course.
Burns took Catina to a secluded part of the campus and put her down. She was discovered a few hours later and died soon after. Burns had brought a gun that didn’t belong to him, and then gone back to his dorm, as if nothing had happened. He was arrested and convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 17 years to life.
When Steven Burns’ Threats Became A Reality
But Catina’s family had heard Burns threatened her before the murder, and they never imagined he would follow through. Burns and Catina had been high school sweethearts. As she attempted to move on, he grew more possessive and dangerous.
Catina agreed to see him, and it was a closure date. Instead, she lost her life. Her sister Nina would later tell me that the family’s overwhelming instinct was not to believe that Burns could ever cross that line, something that many domestic violence victims suffer from: the inability to see this until it’s too late.
The Trial And A Family’s Shattered World
The trial exposed astonishing details: a stolen weapon, premeditation, and no regret. Burns was found guilty by the court in 1980. But the harm had already been done. Catina’s mother, Harriet Salarno, and her sisters, Nina and Regina, were bereft.
Their lives would never be the same again. But their response was not despair—it was action. They determined that no family should ever endure what they did without a powerful voice in the criminal justice system.
Harriet Salarno- From Grief To Activism
After her daughter’s murder, Harriet sat down and co-founded Crime Victims United of California. She leads the organization and efforts to support victims and press for stricter laws. Harriet has also worked to preserve California’s death penalty and has opposed the early release of violent felons. Her husband, Michael, is deceased, but she remains close to her daughters and still lives in Sacramento, where she has spent her life as an advocate.
Nina Salarno Ashford: The Law, The Justice, And The Leader
Nina’s life changed forever with her sister’s death. She went on to study legal studies and law, later working as a sexual assault and family violence lawyer. Now, she is the District Attorney of Modoc County.
Nina also has her own law practice and serves on the Crime Victims United board. She was instrumental in the passage of Marsy’s Law, which broadened victims’ rights in California. Nina is a wife, mother, and dog lover who juggles a family and her legal career.
Regina Salarno-Novello: When Nursing And Family Heal
Regina was a nurse and went on to receive a master’s degree. She was a senior administrator at a hospital in Santa Rosa. She resides in Windsor, California, and is the mother of two, Brayden and Alyssa.
Brayden enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and Alyssa was married and gave birth to her first child in 2024. Regina is now a grandmother, and we are very proud. Like her mother and sister, she had transformed tragedy into resilience and strength.
Parole Hearings, And A Fight That Never Ended For Justice
Steven Burns has attempted to win parole 13 times since his conviction. Each time, the Salarno family has fought back. They have testified at hearings, coordinated campaigns, and worked with lawmakers.
Their hard work paid off once more in January 2025 when Burns was refused parole as he posed a “safety concern.” Their actions are an example of how family members of victims can have a significant impact on the criminal justice system, even decades after the crime.
One Such Gift, With Reverberating Consequences Across The Country
The story of the Salarno family is more than a tragic story. It’s a legacy of change. With Crime Victims United, Harriet and Nina have championed laws, supported survivors, and raised awareness.
Their work ensures that other victims have support and a voice. Their power can be felt in courtrooms and halls of the Capitol all over California. With grief as its spark, that move has become a statewide movement for justice and reform.
FAQs
Who was Catina Salarno?
She was an 18-year-old college student who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend on her first day of college in 1979.
Why did Steven Burns murder her?
He wouldn’t acknowledge their split. When she would not agree to come home, he shot her in the back of the head.
What is Crime Victims United?
It’s a nonprofit begun by Catina’s family to help crime victims and lobby for reform of the criminal justice system.
Is Steven Burns still locked up?
Yes. His 13th request for parole was denied in January 2025 because of concerns about public safety.
What are the pieces of music that Nina and Regina serve today?
Nina is an Assistant District Attorney and a leader in the fight for justice. Regina is a nurse, mother, and grandmother.
Final Words
Catina Salarno’s life was robbed from her far too soon, but her family would not let her be forgotten. Instead, they transformed pain into purpose, aiding others, forming laws, and honoring her with every step forward. Their story demonstrates that even in the grimest of circumstances, strength, justice, and hope can emerge.
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