THE VICTIMS

20 year old Allie Sweitzer was shot during an argument at a park in Richmond, CA in May 2017.

Another family left without justice, another murderer among us... thanks to Diana Becton. She asserts that her focus is on enhancing the safety and well-being of our community. She vows to hear the concerns of the people, to pursue charges against those suspected of wrongdoing, and to challenge laws that may be unjust or unconstitutional. Yet, her actions do not align with her words. It feels as though she tells us what we want to hear, only to follow her own agenda without regard for our needs.

ALLIE SWEITZER

Alexis Gabe, a 23-year-old from Oakley, California, was reported missing in January 2022. Allegations have surfaced that her ex-boyfriend, Marshal Curtis Jones, was responsible for her murder and that he disposed of her remains in various locations throughout Amador County.  On June 1, 2022, he was shot and killed by members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force while they were attempting to apprehend him in Washington. He died at the scene after confronting officers with a knife.

The family suspects that Alicia Coleman Clark, the mother of Marshal Curtis Jones, played a role in the crime, yet District Attorney Diana Becton has chosen not to pursue charges against her.

ALEXIS GABE

Damond Lazenby Jr., just 19 years old, tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run incident in January 2023, while he was on the shoulder of Highway 4 near Port Chicago Highway, as reported by the California Highway Patrol.

As of now, the Coroner's Report concerning Damond's death has not been finalized. This delay has heightened the family's worries about the lack of transparency and accountability surrounding the case. They are calling for a thorough investigation to be conducted swiftly by qualified experts who can clarify the events that led to this heartbreaking loss.

The way Damond Lazenby Jr.'s case has been handled raises serious concerns about public trust and highlights a troubling reality where justice remains out of reach for those who need it the most. The family believes that everyone deserves to be treated fairly under the law, regardless of their background or situation.

The burned remains of 25-year-old Mykaella Sharlman were discovered last year in Antioch, California. Recently, prosecutors decided to drop the charges against two men who were implicated in her tragic death. Her sister, Nicole Eason, expressed her outrage towards the Northern California prosecutors for this decision, highlighting the troubling connection to racist and offensive text messages that have emerged from a local police department.

Nicole Eason emphasized that these messages, which came to light following a joint investigation by the FBI and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office into the Antioch Police Department, should not have influenced the prosecution of Ashton Montalvo and Deangelo Boone.

Montalvo and Boone faced charges of arson and the mutilation of human remains related to Mykaella Sharlman's death on October 17. Both men have pleaded not guilty to these allegations.

MYKAElLA SHARLMAN

On June 17, 2021, Stacy DeWayne Corley, Jr. was tragically shot nine times while delivering pizza on California Blvd. in Walnut Creek. This incident stemmed from what is believed to be a road-rage confrontation. His mother, Kimberley Banks, expressed her heartbreak, revealing that the police did not inform her about her son's shooting when they reached out to her.

"I could hear him talking," Banks recalled. "I could hear them asking him questions, which made me uneasy, sensing that something was wrong and that there was more to the situation."

The family is now seeking justice, feeling that it will remain elusive as long as five of the six individuals present that night are not held accountable.

"Every charge that Dylan Baker faces should also apply to Jaesin Collado," Banks stated firmly. "Anyone else in that vehicle who chose to remain silent must be considered an accessory. They had the chance to come forward, and they didn’t."

In 1985, Carol Sherman’s grandmother, Carmen Carlos Vasquez was raped and killed in her Richmond home. She was an 84 year old widow at the time of the violent murder. Freddie Lee Taylor, was convicted for the murder and spent 33 years on death row before he was released.

The Mercury News covered the case, noting, “Three days before Taylor’s plea deal, the assigned deputy district attorney, Jason Peck, called Edward Vasquez, 86, Carmen Vasquez’s son who had found her body in 1985, to tell him Taylor would soon be released. Vasquez’s grandchildren say their “Uncle Eddie” has early onset dementia and did not know who he was talking to. “He thought the man on the phone was talking about his wife, who recently passed,” said Thomas Garcia, another of Vasquez’s grandchildren. “He was confused.”

Days later, one of their cousins saw a story in this newspaper about Taylor’s release and began sharing it with the family. Sherman said they were “furious” and called a meeting with Peck and District Attorney Diana Becton. They met with Peck and members of Becton’s administration, and say they were told prosecutors had a “roster” of other family members who could have been contacted.

“If just one of us would have been called it would have been a different scenario,” Garcia said. Sherman said Peck admitted to them he had “dropped the ball.”

On November 6, 2021, a tragic event unfolded in Oakley when Anthony Hernandez was fatally shot during a family gathering celebrating his mother-in-law’s 60th birthday. What should have been a festive occasion turned into a nightmare when two men, one familiar to the family, returned after being asked to leave and opened fire. Anthony was killed in front of his children and relatives, while his mother-in-law was shot in the back and another family member sustained two gunshot wounds amidst the chaos. One of the assailants was killed in self-defense by a family member, while the other was apprehended but later released without charges, leaving the family with a deep sense of injustice. A dedicated father and a respected member of the Oakley community, Anthony's sudden loss has created an irreplaceable gap in the lives of those who loved him. As his family seeks justice, they remain hopeful that his legacy will be honored and that those responsible will face consequences for their actions.

ANTHONY HERNANDEZ

County coroner’s officials have confirmed the identity of a man who tragically lost his life following a violent incident at a home on Bennett Way.

According to deputies, 31-year-old Thomas Arellano succumbed to stab wounds sustained during a confrontation inside a residence located in the 3000 block of Bennett Way on the evening of January 22, 2022.

Authorities reported that Arellano was discovered with serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The individual believed to be responsible for Arellano's death was apprehended by detectives from the Concord Police Department, along with agents from the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, in Lafayette on January 27, 2022. The name of the suspect has not yet been disclosed, and further details regarding the arrest remain unavailable.

On September 19, 2016, Otilio "Nico" Martinez, just 18 years old, was tragically shot and killed outside Zion Hill Church on Bayview Avenue in Richmond, CA. He was simply going about his day, only moments away from home.

Having recently graduated from high school and celebrated his 18th birthday in June, Nico was cherished by many, known for his radiant smile that could brighten anyone's day.

His future was full of promise, but it was abruptly taken away when he was shot at 67 times that night. On August 30th, the Richmond Police Department announced that they had charged eight individuals in connection with his murder, along with over 30 other crimes against different victims.

The pain of his violent loss will forever linger in the hearts of his family and friends left behind.

Though Nico's life was cut short, his story continues to resonate, impacting countless lives and ensuring that his memory endures.

Nico will always be remembered, and his spirit will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.

OTILIO “NICO” MARTINEZ