Terrance Aeriel, Dashon Harvey, Iofemi Hightower, and Natasha Aeriel were hanging out, listening to music in an elementary school yard in Newark, New Jersey on a Saturday night in August, 2007.  They were close friends and planned to be together at Delaware State University in the fall.  Around 11:30 p.m., three of the four were murdered, forced to lean up against a wall, and shot execution style at close range in rapid succession. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Natasha Aeriel survived being shot in the head and multiple knife wounds. She was courageous in helping to provide information on the multiple killers involved. Jose Carranzo, a known criminal alien from Peru was arrested. A warrant was issued for Rodolfo Godinez, an illegal alien from Nicaragua, a principle player in the murders. (1)  Two fifteen year olds were arrested and may be tried as adults.

From text messages between the victims, it appeared the victims struggled against their unknown attackers. Robbery appeared to be the motive. (2)

The alleged assassins have been charged with three counts of murder, four counts of first-degree robbery, one count of attempted murder, various weapons offenses, and one count of conspiracy to commit the crime of robbery. (1)

Jose Carranzo, with a fraudulent Social Security number was arrested on charges of raping a five year old and threatening the child and the parents. He faced a 31 count indictment. He was also arrested for a bar fight. Immigration officials knew of his illegal status from prior arrests but did nothing. (3)

On the evening of November 1, 2006, Adrienne Shelly, 40 years old, was found strangled with a bed sheet, hanging from a curtain rod in an apartment she used as an office in Manhattan.  The death appeared to be suicide. Adrienne was the adoring mother of a two year old child, wife, actress, talented director and screen writer. (1)  A dusty footprint found at the scene led the police to Diego Pillco, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador. 

Pillco confessed to murdering Adrienne and staging it to look like a suicide because he feared deportation. (1)

Pillco said Adrienne complained about construction noise and threatened to call the police. He followed her into her apartment and struck her until she was unconscious on the floor. Pillco claimed he thought she was dead. Pillco then choked her with a bed sheet and knotted it around the curtain rod, killing her by strangulation. (2) 

In the courtroom, Pillco told a different story. His intended to rob Adrienne. He followed her into her apartment, stealing money from her purse. Adrienne fought back, scratching Pillco’s face. He punched her until she was unconscious. He made it appear she hung herself. (2) Police believe he intended to sexually assault her.

 In a deal negotiated with the Manhattan district attorney, Pillco pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, avoiding a jury trial. He was sentenced to a fixed 25 years in prison.

Kelynn Byrd, an innocent two year old child, was kicked to death.  Kelynn died of “blunt chest and abdominal trauma” on August 12, 2007, in Coweta, Illinois.  Michael Hernandez, an illegal alien, allegedly confessed to the violent murder. (1)

 Exiting the apartment after an argument, Kelynn’s mother left him in the care of Hernandez. When she returned home it was obvious something was wrong with her baby. She called 911 and Kelynn was taken to a Tulsa hospital. It was too late. (2)

 “Whatever kind of anger that can lead up to someone doing that to a 2-and-a-half-year-old boy is just beyond me”, the toddler’s grandmother, Michelle Ebel said.  Burying her grandson was the hardest thing she ever had to do said Ebel.(3) 

 Michael Hernandez was ordered to be held in the Wagoner County Jail without bond.  He was charged with first degree murder in the kicking death of Kelynn Byrd. (1)

Jordin Paulder, nine years old, was murdered with an ax on June 5, 2007. Santos Cabrera Borjas, an illegal alien was suspected.

Jordin was a sweet, chubby-cheeked 9 year old boy. On June 5, 2007, he was playing with his younger brother and a friend when a red car with a ‘wobbly wheel’ drove by them. Jordan warned the driver of the bad tire.

An occupant of the car became enraged and made an obscene gesture toward Jordin. Jordin apologized. The man stepped out of the vehicle and slammed an ax into 9 year old Jordin Paulder’s face twice, embedding it. (2)

Jordin was transported to Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta. Paramedics were afraid to remove the ax. Jordin Paulder died. (3)

Police attempted to interview a Honduran native, Borjas. He fled across the street to another apartment complex.  From a second or third story stairway, Borjas threw a tire at Officer Alexis Powell, breaking his arm. Office Powell fired 3 shots, killing Borjas, after Borjas charged him with a stick. (4)

The police say they are “99% sure” Borjas was the murderer.(2) Borjas had been released on Friday from the Fulton County Jail after serving time for ‘criminal trespass’. (5) The car was located and two juveniles questioned. Jordin’s mother was worried about her family’s safety and went into hiding. (6)

Gloria Marie Applegate’s body was found in an alley in Hamilton, Ohio, on Sunday, June 1, 2008. She was allegedly murdered by Daniel Estrada-Lopez, an illegal alien from Mexico.

Gloria Marie, 32 years old, had a history of mental illness dating back to her childhood. She was described as a “troubled girl” by her sister, Jovetta Griffin. Jovetta said protecting Gloria Marie was difficult because the family was unable to get her declared ‘incompetent’, the law was not in their favor.  Her uncle, Don Applegate said Gloria Marie “didn’t think anyone would hurt her”. (1) (2)

Gloria Marie Applegate’s naked body was discovered at 3:15 a.m. She had been shot in the head and sexually assaulted, according to the coroner’s report. Estrada-Lopez was “indicted on a single count of aggravated murder with a gun specification” by a grand jury. The Butler County Prosecutor said detectives believe Estrada-Lopez “forced himself on her” and “that resulted in her shooting”. The prosecutor described Gloria Marie’s killing as “cold-blooded at “close range”. (3)

Estrada-Lopez was wanted on several outstanding warrants but they were not specified.  He is being held on $1.5 million bond. A trial date of September 30, 2008 was set by the judge. (4) Estrada-Lopez may face life in prison if convicted.

“I love you”, Matthew Henneken said to his wife, Patricia, at the end of their cell phone conversation. Those were the last three words Matthew, her husband of one year, would ever speak to Patricia. (1)

Patricia Henneken was killed in the early morning hours of Memorial Day, 2006, in Hampton Estates, Illinois, by Javier Rico, an illegal alien. Patricia’s car was broadsided by the intoxicated Rico after he ran a stoplight with his headlights off, traveling at least 100 mph.

Patricia’s death left behind a devastated and inconsolable 8 year old son.  Sandy Innis, Patricia’s mom was shocked by her only daughter’s death and the inexplicable circumstances of the driver. Javier Rico was an illegal alien, had no driver’s license, prior DUI’s, and was wanted on a warrant for not showing up in court for an earlier drunk driving charge. (1) (2)

When Innis called United States Senator Dick Durban from Illinois to discuss her daughter’s killing, she was given the abrupt and disingenuous response, “it is too costly to send illegal aliens back to their countries”. (2)  Matthew stated, he had not heard ‘straight answers’ for a death that was preventable. (1)

Javier Rico pled guilty to aggravated driving under the influence. As a result of Rico’s plea, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
(Original article by Stefanie Pervos from www.pioneerlocal.com )

In 2003, twenty-one year old Angie Leon of Nampa, Idaho, was murdered by her estranged husband, a known criminal alien. Leon had 59 arrests, 38 of which were charges of domestic abuse against Angie, her children and another family member over a five year period. (1)

On the morning of May 19, 2003, Angie’s mom, Sylvia Flores, came to drive Angie to work. A call from a pay phone, on caller ID, indicated to Angie another unwanted visit and confrontation with Abel was imminent. (1) Angie, frantic, made her mother flee with the children. Abel dragged her, at gunpoint, into her apartment while her children and mother watched in horror. Abel shot her twice in the head and once in the chest at close range. Sylvia Flores, called 911 from her car, but they arrived too late to prevent Leon from murdering the lovely young mother of three.

Abel pled guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. Sylvia Flores, Angie’s mother, sued Canyon County for denying her daughter equal protection under the law when prosecutors released Leon after accepting a plea agreement, despite his record of abuse, a month before he shot Angie. She received $925,000 to settle the lawsuit. (2)

On the morning of Christmas Eve, 2006, the Ceran family was driving home from a performance of “A Christmas Carol” and last minute Christmas shopping.  Three members of the family were tragically killed, allegedly by Carlos Prieto, an illegal alien.

Allegedly, Prieto, intoxicated, ran a red light and smashed into the Ceran’s car in Murray, Utah, killing Cheryl, 47, and Ian, 15 instantly. Julianna, 7, died later at the Primary Children’s Medical Center where she was admitted with, Caleb, 12, who had a broken pelvis and ribs. The car “wrapped” around 19 year old Clarissa’s legs. Husband and father, Gary Ceran, survived the accident along with the two injured children.

Prieto, a Mexican national, was described as “smelling strongly of alcohol and having glassy blood shot eyes” at the scene of the accident.  (1) Carlos Prieto was arraigned and charged with three counts of automobile homicide, three counts of driving under the influence, and driving without a license.  He will be turned over to ICE when the criminal case is resolved.

1n 2004, Prieto was cited for speeding and given a fine. (1) Jail records stated he had two prior arrests for drunk driving. (2)

Screaming, “Oh, God, Help me! Help me!” Amanda Duran ran for her life from ex-boyfriend, Gilberto Cruz. (1) Cruz, AKA Eduardo Espinoza-Martinez, the name he was using from a prior arrest, was an illegal alien. (2)

Cruz went to Amanda’s home on October 4, 2006, angry about her decision to break up. Amanda would not reconcile. He was hiding a sawed-off shotgun and three shells in his shirt. Cruz’ gun misfired twice. They had struggled over the gun.

Amanda fled to a neighbor, knocking and begging for help. Before anyone could respond, Cruz shot Amanda Duran in the back of the head from a few feet away. He left in a pick-up truck. “Just drove off like nothing happened”, a witness observed. (3)

If I knew how to operate a shotgun, she wouldn’t have died in the street, she would have been dead in the house” according to testimony by Cruz. Cruz had been planning the murder for a week. (4)

Amanda Duran, 22, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 17, but it did not change her love of life nor her plans. Cruz was convicted of first degree murder and possession of a dangerous weapon in July, 2007. In August, Cruz was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The United Veterans Club of Altoona, Pennsylvania, was the site of the Altoona’s first-ever triple homicide in 2005. It was committed by Miguel Padilla, a known criminal alien on August 28.

After an evening of drinking, Padilla and friends wanted to gain admission to the ‘members only’ club. (1) Alfred Rickabaugh, owner of the club, and Mignogna, the doorman, were arguing with them. Padilla went to his car and returned with a .45-caliber hand-gun. He opened fire on Rickabaugh and Mignogna, hitting Stephen Heiss, an innocent bystander. Heiss pushed his girlfriend to the ground, taking a direct shot to the chest. Heiss, Rickabaugh and Mignogna all died. Rickabaugh was shot several times in the back.

Alfred Mignogna, 61, was a well-liked former high school math teacher, father and grandfather. Fredrick Rickabaugh, 58, would have celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife, Janet, in October. Stephen Heiss, 28, a Marine who had served in Iraq, was a patron.

Judge Hiram Carpenter ruled the jury could not know Padilla was an illegal alien until the sentencing phase of the trial. Padilla was convicted of 3 counts of first-degree murder. After 4 hours of deliberation, the jury sentenced Padilla to death.

Miguel Padilla is in this country illegally since the age of nine. In 2004, Padilla was arrested for domestic violence and two firearms violations. He had several other priors and a parole violation. District Attorneys from two counties and the Altoona Police contacted ICE, but they failed to respond. (2) (3)

Thanksgiving night, 2006, Jennifer Bower and Corporal Brian Mathews were on their second date. Stopped at a red light in Columbia, Maryland, Eduardo Morales-Sorianno, an illegal alien, crashed into their car spinning it around and breaking the windshield. Morales-Sorianno had a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit. (1) Both Jennifer, 24, and Brian, 21, died from injuries at the Baltimore Shock Trauma Center. (2)

Jennifer Bower was buried on her 25th birthday. Friends gathered to “remember and celebrate” Jennifer’s life. “Infectious and outgoing”, Jennifer was studying community counseling at Marymount University. (3)

Corporal Mathews had returned from an 8 month tour of duty and was scheduled to leave the service in June. Brian’s mom noted Brian had donated his organs.” His heart was donated at the hospital. She said, “…it’s a good heart, a very good heart.” (4)

In February, Eduardo Morales-Sorianno, in the country illegally for a year, had been charged with 4 counts relating to drunken driving in Howard County. He refused a breathalyzer test which required by law a 120 day suspension of his driver’s license. (5) Morales-Sorianno was never prosecuted, nor was his license suspended.

On May 28, 2008, Judge Louis Becker III gave Morales-Soriano 10 years in prison and 5 years probation after he pleaded guilty to two counts of automobile manslaughter.(1) Morales-Soriano may be deported after he finishes his sentence.

Four children, Jesse and Hunter Javens, Emilee Olson and Reed Stevens of Cottonwood, Minnesota, were killed when a van, allegedly driven by an illegal alien from Guatemala, Olga Franco, broadsided their school bus after running a stop sign, toppling it over onto a pickup truck.

On the afternoon of February 19, 2008, the parents of 28 students gathered at Lakeview School to learn the fate of their children. Three of the families received the worst possible news. Their children were dead. Ten other children were injured, two in critical condition.

For the memorial service, 1400 people gathered in the gymnasium to say good-bye. Students gathered, holding hands and praying.

Franco is charged with 4 counts of vehicular homicide, 17 counts of criminal vehicular injury and identity theft after giving authorities a false name, Alianiss Nunez-Morales, and a false Social Security number. (1) Franco claimed someone else drove the van, yet she was extricated from behind the wheel of her vehicle. The judge granted a change of venue request for Franco.

Franco was charged in 1996 for not having a license. (2) In May, 2006, after driving a car into the front yard of a house without a license, she was ticketed and paid a $187.00. (2)

In the early evening of December 28, 2006, four year old Joshua Morrow and a Morrow family friend, Ronald Bishop, forty-two, were struck by an SUV when crossing the Courtney Campbell Causeway near Tampa, Florida. Ronald’s truck had broken down and he was taking the little boy for a drink. Going 40-45 mph, Armando Lopez-Canada, an illegal alien, hit Josh and Ronald and left them lying on the pavement as he sped away. Witnesses said Lopez-Canada slowed down and then took off down the parkway. A doctor and other drivers at the scene desperately tried to resuscitate the two victims of the hit and run. (1)

“I just can’t believe how cold and callous a person would be to know that they hit two human beings and just keep going regardless of his immigration status and just being a human being”, said Josh’s grandmother, Brenda Andujar in an interview. (2) Fear of deportation made Lopez-Canada flee the scene, he admitted to police. (4) Lopez-Canada pleaded guilty to two counts of leaving the scene of a accident involving death. Judge Mark Wolfe gave him the maximum sentence, 30 years.  (3)

Rodney Johnson, a 40 year old police officer, served the people of Houston for 12 years. He was honored for his service with two HPD Lifesaving Awards and the Texas Medal of Valor. (1) Johnson was a kind-hearted, family man who loved his job by all accounts. Officer Johnson “believed he could make life better for others” and he died while serving his community. (2) He was murdered by Juan Leonardo Quintero, an illegal alien.

On September 21, 2006, Officer Rodney Johnson stopped a car driven by Quintero, for going 50 mph in a 30 mph zone.  Driving without a license, Officer Johnson hand-cuffed Quintero, did a pat down search and placed him the rear seat of his patrol car. He was wearing layered clothing and Officer Johnson missed the 9mm pistol in Quintero’s waistband. Quintero managed to extract the gun and shoot Rodney Johnson multiple times in the head and back as he sat in the front seat. (3) Witnesses said Quintero shouted racial slurs and profanities. (4)

Quintero was sentenced to life in prison on May 20, 2008. Quintero had been arrested for priors. In 1998 he was given probation for ‘indecency with a minor’ and was deported in 1999. He had multiple DWIs.(3) He was issued an ID by the state of Texas following his re-entry to the U.S. (5)