Crime Victims Remembered with Candlelight Vigil

Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach has prosecuted more than 50 murder cases, but said he still can't comprehend what those who lost a loved one to crime go through.

"As a homicide prosecutor for many years, my way of thinking was I wanted to get this trial to court ASAP so the families could get on with their lives," Zellerbach said. "...But there never really is closure, it lingers on."

Zellerbach and 13 other public officials took part in a candlelight vigil held on the steps of Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta on Wednesday evening. The vigil was one of three this week in Riverside County held in honor of National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

The guest speaker was Liz Avalos, whose two daughters were murdered on two separate occasions. Her 20-year-old daughter Olivia and another woman were shot to death in September 2005 when a man opened fire on a home in San Jacinto. Then, in April 2007, her 24-year-old daughter Felecia was found murdered on the Soboba Indian Reservation.

It was the first time since her daughters' deaths she has attended one of the vigils, which are held each year. As the evening sun set, Avalos recounted to a crowd of about 125 people -- many who were there to remember lost loved ones -- what her life has been like since she lost her daughters.

"The shots fired that night shattered our lives," Avalos said. She lived three blocks away from where her daughter lived and was shot. She remembered closing her sliding glass door when the shots rang out.

"I never even imagined in my wildest nightmare that our daughter Olivia was the victim of those gun shots."

Less than two years later, her other daughter was murdered, leaving behind two grandchildren for Avalos and her husband to take care of.

"It has been the grandkids who have kept us going...after all, mommy was not coming back anymore."

Olivia was able to identify her killer before she died. As a result, he received a sentence of four consecutive life terms. Felecia's killer committed suicide. Avalos said her faith got her through the losses. She also lost her son to a car accident when her daughters were 9 and 12 years old.

"For me, it has been Jesus living in me...I don't blame God because if you remember, his son was murdered, too."

Zellerbach said the purpose of such events was so that the families of victims would know they are not alone. "The district attorneys and law enforcement are willing to stand up for you and stand by your side," he said. He also recognized victims' advocates, who are employed through the county and serve as contacts for victims' families throughout the legal process.

Murrieta Mayor Randon Lane started attending the vigils about five years ago. Lane, along with the other public officials, read the names aloud of 75 victims of crimes. Candles were lit in honor of each victim.

"I can't fathom the loss the families are dealing with. It is an honor to be here and be part of this -- to be here to support them," Lane said.

A Lake Elsinore family who lost a member, Larry C. Perez, is still looking for answers.

"I dropped him off on Lincoln and Flannery so he could go to the store. He got stabbed. He only lived two hours after he was stabbed," said Priscilla Silva, Perez's sister.

Silva said law enforcement have not caught the suspects yet, that she is aware of. She said it was a gang-related stabbing.

For Michelle Luna, the pain was still fresh. Her father, Mike Wayne Morgan, 57, was killed in a car accident in March near Soboba Casino. Law enforcement were pursuing a suspect in a chase when the suspect hit Morgan head on, killing him. "He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Luna said.

Her daughter, 7-year-old Heaven, prays for her grandpa when she goes to bed at night. "I say goodnight, and I love you," Heaven said.

A third and final vigil will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. in Riverside. The guest speaker will be Joseph Bonaminio, the father of Riverside police Officer Ryan Bonaminio who was shot to death in November 2010 while chasing a suspect through Fairmount Park in Riverside.