Elizabeth claims back then Limon would. The cameramen turned on their night-lights, which reflected off the glass of the jail door. Of course she did. Gloria took her to the hospital and then kicked her out of the house. Were they lesbians? Had she been in lesbian relationships? She spoke to reporters at her childhood home, a small bungalow where the street dead-ends at a muddy creek. Anna had traded her usual T-shirts and jeans for a purple blouse. She immediately denied the accusation. Stephanie Limon Martinez, center, was just 7 when she and her older sister said the women sexually assaulted them. Kristie remembers her friend accepting money and rides. The new technology was fascinating, but so were social mores. I think Im going to wait for him to come to me, she told me shortly before her release. Elizabeth still wasnt sure what she wanted to do, and she struggled with her new identity. Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. It was the first day of testimony in a hearing involving Stephanie Limon Martinez, 25, and her husband, Joseph Martinez, 29, who both believe the accusations against them are in retaliation because Limon Martinez is now working to help exonerate her aunt and the other women. No olvides preguntar por sus ofertas, descuentos y especiales del momento. An appreciative Anna Vasquez, right, looks up to her brother Chris Vasquez at her homecoming. The lawyers had argued about it, and he expected to get cut from the jury pool, but now here he was sitting in the jury box. Wed, Nov 23, 2016 at 12:35 pm, Owner of San Antonio bar Moses Rose's launches GoFundMe to cover court costs as talks stall, San Antonio gourmet hot dog spot The Dogfather quietly opens second location. Go ahead and pull the trigger, Javier, Im not afraid of you, she remembers saying. He never felt like Elizabeth took advantage of his kindness; helping people was just in his nature, he said. But I cant do nothin because its my job., All four of the women described to me a transition in prison from rage and bewilderment to acceptance and quiet resolve. Anna Vasquez (left), Cassandra Rivera and Kristie Mayhugh (right) were tried together and were sentenced to 15 years, which began in 2000 after they lost their only appeal. The three women reported to prison, where they were all given higher security levelsincluding, at one point, more than 30 days in solitary confinement for Cassiebecause they refused to take sex offender rehabilitation classes. At H-E-B they met Cassie Rivera, who, before coming to terms with her attraction to other women, had a son and a daughter and then split with their father. Alejandre testified that she was told by Morales that Limon was killed because he avoided paying money he collected from drug transactions and went into hiding. He had no idea who she was. And the letters? Editor's note: Violence at a local sporting event last made national news when South San basketball player Tony Limon received a five-year prison . Matjeka typed her answers into a computer. More letters followed, each one taking about two weeks between his home and Elizabeths prison in Marlin. On Valentines Day 1998, a Saturday morning, all three were convicted of the same crimes as Elizabeth: aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. The cameras blinked on. Prison was a place of endless routine, and so she started one of her own. The Firm presently has twelve members. The story of the San Antonio Four unfolded like this: In the summer of 1994, Ramirez's two nieces, the 9- and 7-year-old daughters of her older sister, stayed for a week with Ramirez and. September 5, 2012. From the archives: The Tony Limon incident. Elizabeth was confused. The Texas Observer is known for its fiercely independent, uncompromising work which we are pleased to provide to the public at no charge in this space. The judge hearing the case will determine whether the couple get their children back. They needed something to justify why Rosemary left me. Kristies parents were divorced and her mother, like Elizabeths, was uncomfortable with her daughters sexual orientation. They realized that the four of them had rarely been in the apartment at the same time, because they were so busy with long shifts at various jobs at odd hoursyet the girls were claiming that all four women were present for the assault. She looked stoic and resigned. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. She wanted a relationship with me. He would offer Elizabeth rides, he would give her small amounts of cash when she needed it, and he would leave long messages on her answering machine. Cassie recalls that Elizabeth promised Javier she would marry him. Limon Martinez took the stand for more than a hour Monday. Otto found an organization called the National Center for Reason and Justice, which was created in the wake of the 1980s-era satanic ritual abuse scandals to advocate for people wrongfully accused of harming children. Theres a home video from the period shortly before Kristie, Cassie and Anna went to prison in 2000. Cassie, who worked at AutoZone and frequented car shows, thought about becoming a mechanic. They also wouldnt face sex offender restrictions. Si deseas conocer ms sobre este negocio, puedes llamar y solicitar informacin de sus productos y servicios. With a lot of time on his own, Otto developed various research obsessions outside his academic work on fish breeding. Elizabeth told me that after she became pregnant, Javier offered to marry her and was upset when she refused. Nathan contacted family members and others connected to the case, and Otto sought out reporters and published a short essay of his own on Texas Monthlys website. Mr. Limon took his daughters to the Alamo Children's Advocacy Centre where they underwent a physical examination for evidence of . His primary company is a group of huskies. (That account was backed up by Oscar, Rosemarys partner in Denver, as well as by Rosemary herself in recent interviews. Do you know anything about where she learned it? Serafina asked. Aunt Liz produced a gun. Her older niece hadnt acted the way she expected. Limon has been charged with capital murder. He had already taken my kids, so he couldnt hurt me there. Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. Stephanie Limon, the younger of the two accusers, called Debbie Nathan and recanted. Alejandre replied, "I thought so, too. Cassie met her one night when she went to pick up a pizza. I remember everything [Javier] coached me to say, as well as my grandmother. More than a decade later, in 2011, Cassie was transferred to the Hobby Unit in Marlin, where Anna and Elizabeth had been living. Thank you for using this website. As prison guards at the Crain Unit in Gatesville close the gate behind her, Anna Vasquez opens the door to a relative's car after being released on parole Nov. 2, 2012. When Javier got home, the girls told him the whole shocking story of being held down and raped, he said. A modern tale of colonial-style persecution follows four Latina lesbiansElizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna Vasquezwrongfully convicted of sexual assault in the mid-1990s. Morales didn't incriminate himself in the conversation, Alejandre testified, but police "weren't satisfied" because no confession was elicited. When the jury announced her guilt, Elizabeth remembers her mother standing up and screaming, No! Allowed five minutes to say goodbye to her family, Elizabeth was then escorted to a holding cell, where she fainted. Thats so rude, she said. I miss everyone cause Im not able to see and be home with them, one read, but most of all I miss my son. She was still leaking milk when the police took her to jail. They were each sentenced to 15 years, but the judge decided they could remain out of prison until their appeals had been exhausted. In October, Child Protective Services was given emergency custody of the couple's three children, all younger than 3. She also testified that she felt scared as she was high on methamphetamines, stressed and confused when told there was a murder investigation. The girls father, Javier Limon, who had dated her sister Rosemary before a messy breakup, had been making advances toward her, she said. The relationship could remain secret only so long, and when Elizabeths mother found out, their already strained connection suffered further. Maria Vasquez (right), mother of Anna Vasquez, shakes hands with Gloria Herrera (left), mother of Elizabeth Ramirez, as Anna Vasquez's aunt, Valeria Pachecano stands in between during a meeting of the San Antonio Crime Coalition on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Morales stands accused of allegedly orchestrating the August 2014 murder of Javier Limon, who the prosecution claims was killed over unpaid drug debts to gang members. In the midst of her legal troubles, Elizabeth gave birth to her son. Javier told me that his daughter wants this all to go away, that she still wakes up in the night crying about what happened to her, and that hell do anything he can to protect her. Follow her on Twitter @gina_k210, An inmate on trial for allegedly directing the 2014 murder of a Santa Maria drug dealer finished testifying in his own defense Friday but not . A San Antonio, Texas judge is considering what he will recommend to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals after hearing testimony that four women convicted of sexually abusing two young girls in 1994 should be exonerated. Javier did not testify, but told me unequivocally, There was no gun.), Sometimes truth is different, Ruiz told the jury. Lopez, who normally handled child sexual abuse cases. We met once at the colleges library, and then later at a Whataburger, where he takes his kids so often that he knows the staff well. Javier told me he testified in court on the matter, but that the police filed the CPS report, not him. His parents sought asylum in Venezuela when he was five after dictator Augusto Pinochet rose to power. defense attorney Michael Scott asked. Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? When one reporter asked whom they blame, Kristie offered, I dont think we blame anybody. Ware jumped in and said the blame goes to a number of factors and people, and thats not something were going to get into.. There was a problem saving your notification. Morales stands accused of allegedly orchestrating the August 2014 murder of Javier Limon, who the prosecution claims was killed over unpaid drug debts to gang members. what happened to javier limon san antonio. At screenings of Deborah Esquenazis documentary footage, she wooed supporters. The crowd followed the women down the jail steps. I dont want to say I was disowned, but I was, Elizabeth told me. She had not spoken to him for 13 years, though family members had updated her on his growth, his football games and his girlfriends, and informed her that he was staying out of trouble. He is now 18, with a job and a girlfriend. In the backseat of a car, Stephanie Limon (now Stephanie Martinez) read from a sheet of notebook paper. Cassandra Rivera gave the white teddy bear at right to her mother, Margaret Rivera (left), 11 years ago. Deborah Esquenazi sat in the front seat and held a camera as Stephanie read. Alejandre testified she went to the sheriff's substation voluntarily and spoke with Sgt. She liked to balance on the balls of her feet, leading her mother to joke that maybe she would become a ballerina. Matjeka was helping investigate a sex crime and asked if she would come to the station to answer a few questions. Cassie and Anna tried to meticulously recreate what had happened the week of the alleged crimes. Elizabeth Ramirez was four months pregnant when she heard a knock at the door. Kristie Mayhugh, seen here Sept. 4, 2012, is incarcerated at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas. . We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Yes. Elizabeth had told Detective Matjeka about Javiers advances, but he hadnt thought much of it. Besides his work as producer has also dabbled as an interpreter and has released three studio albums, Limn, Son de Limn and Mujeres de Agua. An affidavit submitted by a CPS caseworker outlines multiple accusations against the couple, from having a filthy apartment to being violent with each other, which they both deny. The women had been drinking tequila and were topless, VL said. Elizabeth knew that being a lesbian would make her an outsider in her conservative Catholic family. Kazen asked if she was dating Kristie Mayhugh, her roommate and one of the other women accused of abuse. She denied the accusations of abuse about her and her husband and that she neglected her children. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. Every other day, she told me, shed clean the office of her sisters prosecutor, Philip Kazen. You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. He didnt want to let me go.. Then Mike Ware, another lawyer with the Innocence Project, got involved. As a teenager Otto had hitchhiked across the continent, but by 25 he was tired and wanted mental discipline. While working at H-E-B, she got to know Kristie Mayhugh, who was born in Montana and moved to San Antonio at age 3 when her father was transferred to the Randolph Air Force Base. Stephanie now said the women had never abused her. Maybe the lawyer could explain to the authorities that no crime had occurred; it was just a malicious accusation orchestrated by a bitter man. San Antonio police arrested Zion J. Limon, 20, in connection with the shootings. He introduced himself as Detective Thomas Matjeka from the San Antonio Police Department, and though he was not in uniform, he said he was with the Homicide Unit. Alejandre further denied ever selling drugs for Morales or being asked to do so. Anna Vasquez served more than a decade in jail while the other three women remain imprisoned. I love them. Gloria has no unkind words to say about her daughter, but she never describes her as shrewd. She had rejected his advances. Of course she did. You must understand I was threatened, and I was told that if I did tell the truth that I would end up in prison, taken away, and even get my ass beat. They couldnt get me drunk or doing anything illegal. He and Rosemary had gone through a messy custody battle over the kids after she moved to Denver and began a relationship with a former friend of Javiers named Oscar Aguirre. Some things were familiar: Elizabeth savored a strawberry shake from McDonalds and watched a Spurs game on television; Cassie went to a cookout for her sons birthday. When offered plea deals of 10 years probation, they all refused and decided to go to trial. He went back inside as everyone exhaled. Guards at the rural prison stared in surprise at his Canadian ID card. Kristie Mayhugh, seen here Sept. 4, 2012, is incarcerated at the She said yes. After Cassandra went to prison, her mother got a white puppy and named it Teddy Bear. They looked like celebrities inundated by paparazzi. Javier Limn Customer Service Manager & Chief Digital Officer (CDO) en Volkswagen Financial Services - Mxico Anna Vasquez had played sports with Elizabeth in high school. The women cooperated with authorities and vehemently denied that any abuse had taken place. It is probable that [Javier] wrote it, said one, adding that there is not enough evidence to make a definite identification or elimination. Another explained, It is one thing to attempt to imitate someones signature once or twice, but an entirely different and exponentially more difficult thing to attempt to successfully imitate a large quantity of extended writing.. All rights reserved. He did not testify Monday but is expected to this week. The families did their best to move on. VL claimed that the court reporter must have incorrectly taken down her remarks at Elizabeths trial. She was 22. Here's why dogs involved in fatal San Antonio mauling were returned to owner after prior attacks, Tense moment involving Budweiser Clydesdale at San Antonio Rodeo goes viral online, Family of man killed in San Antonio pit bull attack launches online fundraiser for funeral costs, Video of Texas school shooting survivor's American Idol audition goes viral, DPS sent at least 3,000 drivers licenses to organized crime group targeting Asian Texans, By Karen Brooks Harper, The Texas Tribune, Texas gets failing grade in study about state's efforts to get lead out of schools' drinking water, How Texas activists turned drag events into fodder for outrage, A critically-acclaimed documentary in the case had been critical in drumming up support and awareness for the so-called San Antonio Four, Scroll to read more San Antonio News articles, widely-acclaimed documentary on the San Antonio Four case. Javier says she went to Mexico to evade paying child support. At the station, Matjeka asked if she knew a man named Javier Limon and his two daughters. Im sad inside. At this trial, the younger of Elizabeths nieces, Stephanie Limon, who was not a witness at Elizabeths trial, would testify (her name is used here because she has recently spoken to the media about the case). She never stopped sending him letters. She also noted that while she did regularly use and sell drugs, she only sold the substances to support her children, and wasn't paying taxes to gangs, or to Morales. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. Hooper described Javiers behavior as a pattern, saying he uses the authorities to get back at people who have crossed him. Anna Vasquez, right, embraces her mother Maria Vasquez after she was released from prison. The younger of the two accusers, now 25, has recanted, saying no assault occurred. This makes us one of the biggest by prevailing local standards. Anna remembers Elizabeth coming to her real upset and describing Javiers inappropriate comments. Elizabeth Ramirez (clockwise from top left), Kristie Mayhugh, Cassandra Rivera and Anna Vasquez -- the San Antonio Four -- are all out on bond or parole, but face new trials. The letter was several pages long and written in clear cursive script. As a lesbian couple in conservative San Antonio, they seldom showed affection in public, but Anna was unusually touchy that morning. According to Ramirez, the accusation came after she rebuffed romantic advances by Limon. The scene of the crime had vanished. If he did, Im going to ask for a mistrial. The judge overruled that request. The video cuts between scenes of them spinning Cassies kids on a small playground carousel and swimming at a beach. Ramirez theorized at the time that Javier Limon, her sister Rosemary's ex-boyfriend and her nieces' father was upset with her because she rejected his many romantic overtures after he went through a bad breakup with her sister, the Texas Observer reported. The crowd cheered. All of the Texas Observers articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions: You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. Everything she does is camouflaged, he said, adding that she probably made a deal with Rosemary, her mother, for money or other help. Elizabeth Ramirez, the aunt, and her friends Anna Vasquez, Cassandra Rivera and Kristie Mayhugh are fighting to clear their names in the bizarre case that spurred talk of Satanism when they were accused in 1994. About a month before, they had spent a week at her apartment. Then Aunt Liz ordered her to take a shower. In the spare, gray courtroom, Cassie, who often wore denim overalls, had on a black dress with white flowers. Nathan brought the case to the Innocence Project of Texas, where well-known attorney Jeff Blackburn agreed to represent the women. Investigators say Richard Adam Hernandez shot and killed Rose Marie Limon on January 31 at her apartment on Pecan Valley Drive. The court battle this week pitted Stephanie Limon Martinez and her husband, Joseph Martinez, against her father, Javier Limon, who in court Friday accused them of domestic violence and. Javier Limon was given as the reason his two daughters made accusations of sexual abuse against four women in 1994 that led to them being sent to prison. Por sus ofertas, descuentos y especiales del momento Ware, another lawyer with the shootings about Javiers advances but! Strained connection suffered further where the street dead-ends at a beach embraces her mother Maria Vasquez after was! 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