James Curtis
•7/3/2026
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation paid off the mortgage for the family of fallen Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Elio Diaz.
According to a news release on Thursday, the foundation paid it off so Diaz's wife, Yesenia Gonzalez, and their four children can remain in their home.
"Having a mortgage-free home means my children will always have a place to call home, no matter where life takes them or what challenges they may face," Gonzalez said in the release. "They will always have a safe place to return to, a place filled with love, memories, and the legacy their father built for them."
Diaz was shot and killed after conducting a traffic stop in December 2024.
A sign honoring Diaz is in place along US-41 from Church Street to Melbourne Street.
Diaz was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States, settling in Miami before starting his career in law enforcement. He joined the sheriff's office in 2013 and was named Deputy of the Year in 2019.
After his death, he was posthumously promoted to sergeant and honored with the Medal of Honor from the American Police Hall of Fame and the Medal of Valor from the Fraternal Order of Police, according to the release.
The foundation said it is delivering mortgage-free homes to the families of 30 fallen first responders across 19 states this Independence Day.
"While Americans celebrate freedom this Independence Day, we remember the heroes who gave their lives protecting it," Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller said in the release. "We remember heroes like Sgt. Jaime Roman and Sgt. Elio Diaz. By providing mortgage-free homes, we want their families to know that a grateful nation will never forget their sacrifice."
The full list of families receiving mortgage-free homes through the foundation's initiative is listed below:
