One of the women told a court that the accusations came after she spurned Limons advances for marriage. What was next? Ramirez was tried separately and sentenced to 37 and a half years, more than double that of her three friends, who were tried together. Then one day while he was at work, his mother, Serafina Limon, was cooking while the girls played outside. Asked about how the world had changed during her time in prison, she described going to a restaurant and noticing families eating together in silence while each member stared at a smartphone. At one point, he had as many as 40 of them, and he would haul 5-gallon buckets from a nearby river for them to drink. Statis. The lawyers, standing in a row behind them, answered the big-picture questions about the new state law and the legal actions to come. They would barbecue at the park on weekends and take trips to a nearby lake. Please notify us by email that the article will be republished at, I Confronted the Man Whose Crime Put Me in Prison, Observer Radio Episode 50: Greg Abbott Had a Rough Week, Border Security Is a Financial Black Hole that Will Consume Us All. 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. Originally the most reticent of the four, Anna became their spokeswoman. Elizabeth had told Detective Matjeka about Javiers advances, but he hadnt thought much of it. The children in family aren't allowed to be at family gatherings with Anna present. Years went by without a response. Released on parole after serving 12 and a half years of a 15-year sentence, Anna Vasquez speaks at a screening of "San Antonio Four," a documentary by Deborah S. Esquenazi, on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, while holding photos of her friends who are still in prison. Six months before graduation, overwhelmed with her work schedule, she dropped out of high school. Morales maintained that he was minding his own business and focused on appealing his prior criminal case to get out of prison, and denied any involvement in the murder. He was nearly 2 years old when her trial date was finally set. Both will be thrust into the limelight in the upcoming legal battles over the case. Elizabeth was confused. In other ways, though, her life was starting to look up. But as he scanned articles on the Internet, there was one case that didnt fit the pattern. Of course she did. About a month before, they had spent a week at her apartment. She started to cry. She claimed Morales never told her who Limon owed money to but that she did know there had been a business deal between Morales and Limon that went awry and soured their relationship. Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox. Limon Martinez was just 7 when she and her older sister said the women sexually assaulted them. 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. Were they lesbians? All four of the women were out as lesbians, a fact that colored the investigation into the accusations and case against them. Shifts at AutoZone. Still hale in his mid-50s, with close-cropped hair, Otto lives without reliable electricity or running water. He is expected to testify this week in a case in which one of his daughters is fighting allegations of child abuse. 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. Anna Vasquez gives her father Jesse Vasquez a hug as he leaves after celebrating Thanksgiving with family members at her Anna's mother's house, her first after being released on parole, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. Rosemary, who had trouble fighting for custody since she lived outside of Texas, floated around, at one point moving to Mexico with a husband who had immigration issues. A wiry, bearded man appears on camera and tells them the building was torn down. Vasquez's mother, Maria Vasquez, and aunt, Valeria Pachecano, attended the meeting in her place. With a lot of time on his own, Otto developed various research obsessions outside his academic work on fish breeding. Margaret Vasquez, Anna Vasquez's sister-in-law, holds up a loteria card, as the family plays the family favorite tradition, celebrating Thanksgiving with family members at Anna's mother's house, her first after being released on parole, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. In 2012, one of the nieces admitted to having been pressured by her father, Javier Limon, to make the false accusations. This is a carousel. As a lesbian couple in conservative San Antonio, they seldom showed affection in public, but Anna was unusually touchy that morning. Matjekas tone grew less friendly. The Innocence Project of Texas hopes to perform a systematic review of child sex assault cases around Texas, and Kellogg may find more of her work questioned. It was hard for me to really get my mind around what they had been accused of doing, he recalled. Javier Limon . Kelloggs admission suddenly undermined the key evidence in the case. From the bathroom, she heard screams from her younger sister. Javier Limon, which happens to be the two girls' father and Elizabeth's brother-in-law at the time, is apparently the man responsible for all of this. Her long straight hair was in a perm with her bangs teased up off her forehead. what happened to javier limon san antonio Updates - Experience in Banking and Finance Updates - Experience in Energy Law About ETAH-NAN & Co. ETAH-NAN & C is a bilingual (French and English) Law Firm created in 1985. Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. She spoke to reporters at her childhood home, a small bungalow where the street dead-ends at a muddy creek. He was an ex-boyfriend of Ramirez's sister who the family said had made romantic advances toward the much younger Ramirez. Elizabeth Ramirez is in the Hobby Unit in Marlin, Texas, September 5, 2012. Kristie Mayhugh, seen here Sept. 4, 2012, is incarcerated at the Hooper described Javiers behavior as a pattern, saying he uses the authorities to get back at people who have crossed him. Im sad inside. Elizabeth Ramirez was four months pregnant when she heard a knock at the door. Though her attraction to women made her an outsider at home, it led her to new friendships. Anna applied to nursing school. She now says that didn't happen. Javiers older daughterwho, because she is still officially considered a victim of child sexual abuse, Ill identify with the initials VLtestified that after several carefree days at Elizabeths apartment, her aunt called her into the bedroom one afternoon and began shouting at her. Her relationship with her mother improvedGloria co-signed for Elizabeths new apartment. On the court, the other girls would call out her nickname, Little Liz! Yes. 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. At the station, Matjeka asked if she knew a man named Javier Limon and his two daughters. VL claimed that the court reporter must have incorrectly taken down her remarks at Elizabeths trial. By the time of the trials, she told me, good pediatricians knew this stuff had been discredited.. Her brother got her a job at his auto shop, but she had to quit when they discovered it was near a school. Elizabeth had nervously trudged out of the cellblock, wearing purple eye shadow that contrasted with the white prison scrubs. what happened to javier limon san antonio. At screenings of Deborah Esquenazis documentary footage, she wooed supporters. Elizabeths friends say she could have done more to reject Javiers advances. Anna, Cassie, Kristie and Elizabeth emerged from the jail, holding hands in a line with Mike Ware, and raised their arms up. Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas. Anna Vasquez, one of the four San Antonio women fighting to clear their names in the 1994 sexual assault of two sisters, was released from prison on parole, from the Crain Unit in Gatesville, TX. Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. So he traveled to Texas to get a better sense of who she was. Pedro Pascal was born in Santiago, Chile. She would do the same thing if somebody was hurting her child., Elizabeth herself, several months earlier, had said nearly the same words. His questions grew more personal. Even as a toddler, Elizabeth Ramirez was small for her age. Prison was a place of endless routine, and so she started one of her own. In the spare, gray courtroom, Cassie, who often wore denim overalls, had on a black dress with white flowers. He sometimes grows out a mustache thatalong with the tweed jackets he likes, the glasses perched on his head and the iPhone in his shirt pocketgives him the look of a harried college professor. I love them. Gloria has no unkind words to say about her daughter, but she never describes her as shrewd. Limon took his daughters to the Alamo Childrens Advocacy Centre where they underwent a . Javiers advances toward Elizabeth are corroborated by her family, but so too are his denials corroborated by his own family members. Elizabeth's brother-in-law, Javier Limon, father to the two accusers, had been pursuing Elizabeth romantically, and was angry that she rejected his advances. Two days after their release, the women appeared at a hastily arranged press conference. They took the girls to Walmart, where they bought a fish. Her older niece hadnt acted the way she expected. The patriarch of the family, Limon was given as the reason the sisters made the accusations in 1994, according to Ramirez's testimony at her trial for sex abuse. At the station, Matjeka asked if she knew a man named Javier Limon and his two daughters. 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). Elizabeth was stunned. Then he put her on hold to take another call. Anna Vasquez could not attend the meeting because of her parole restrictions. Javier said that after the girls spent the week at Elizabeths in July 1994, he didnt notice anything different at first. I remember reporters at the time wanting to know if we were trying these women because they were lesbian, which was ludicrous, she told me. While the names of those who make an outcry to CPS aren't public, the affidavit and testimony state that the case stems from a call to CPS in early August that claimed that the couple had a history of domestic violence, including Joseph Martinez pulling a butcher knife on his wife and her threatening him with pepper spray. She was so trusting, so lovable. Elizabeths sister Monica said, If Liz was a different person she would have had him arrested or placed a restraining order.. Yeah, theyre all gay and were friends, but that doesnt mean its a gay relationship. This type of evidence would later be deemed inaccurate. There was a problem saving your notification. Because I could say something, and you could twist it around., At the second trial, there was far less talk of lesbianism. Javier Limn Customer Service Manager & Chief Digital Officer (CDO) en Volkswagen Financial Services - Mxico She spoke confidently, her voice cracking a little when she talked about Kristie, Cassie and Anna, and her son. She also testified that she felt scared as she was high on methamphetamines, stressed and confused when told there was a murder investigation. Limon was her sisters ex-boyfriend, and the two daughters were her 7- and 9-year-old nieces. She says she didnt pay because he wouldnt let her see the kids. He never felt like Elizabeth took advantage of his kindness; helping people was just in his nature, he said. on Dogs were barking and a few neighbors watched from a distance as she sat on the front steps and talked to a local TV anchor. Then Aunt Liz ordered her to take a shower. Gloria Herrera shows her favorite pictures of her daughter, Elizabeth Ramirez, Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. A boot-wearing, quiet man with a wide smile and blond hair mopped down on his forehead, Ware had worked for years with the Conviction Integrity Unit at the Dallas County District Attorneys office, which investigated old cases for possible wrongful convictions, and helped exonerate dozens of men. The relationship could remain secret only so long, and when Elizabeths mother found out, their already strained connection suffered further. 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. Anna Vasquez, right, enjoys a laugh with her brother David Vasquez and her mother Maria Vasquez over a plate of turkey dinner as they celebrate her first Thanksgivings after being released on parole, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. An emotional Anna Vasquez pauses before answering questions about three of her friends who are still in prison. When the two former lovers saw each other, We were both just shaking, Cassie remembers. A video of Anna Vasquez plays on a computer and is projected to an audience at a meeting of the San Antonio Crime Coalition on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Both later described it as love at first sight. Otto was initially skeptical; he asked her the same questions in letter after letter, to see if her answers remained consistent. San Antonio police arrested Zion J. Limon, 20, in connection with the shootings. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. 2021 The Texas Observer. Booking mugshots of Elizabeth Ramirez (from left), Kristie Mayhugh, Anna Vasquez and Cassandra Rivera. September 5, 2012. Michelle Mondo, a crime reporter at the San Antonio Express-News, read Ottos piece and began investigating. The prosecutor, Mary Kay Delevan, reminded the jury that much time had passedthe alleged abuse was three and a half years earlierso the victims may not be able to keep everything perfectly straight.. There aren't many places she is allowed to go. He explained to Elizabeth that her nieces were accusing her and several of her friendswho had also been at the apartment that weekof sexually abusing them. I tried writing the innocence projects and Oprah and Maury Povich and Montel, Anna told me, anybody who would listen. Detective Matjeka was a homicide detective covering for detective T.R. Ramirez told the court that the accusations against her and her friends came after she spurned his advances for marriage. She had rejected his advances. Alejandre further denied ever selling drugs for Morales or being asked to do so. Were all friends. 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. She saw them often. The bottom line is this, prosecutor Philip Kazen countered: VL was very clear about specifics in terms of time, place, and content of the sexual assault. Kazen, who is now a judge, didnt respond to multiple interview requests. Testimony revealed that Alejandre herself was facing criminal charges after a search warrant was served in April 2015 at a home she previously resided in, when detectives began investigating Morales and his alleged role in Limon's murder. Kristie remembers her friend accepting money and rides. Cassie remembers her lawyer telling the women that they would surely win and coaching them not to jump up and down when the jury announced an acquittal. Otto teaches courses on natural resources at Yukon College. Swimming with the kids. Eventually the two would move in together, and Anna would treat Cassies two kids as her own. Everyone laughed. No. Today, Vasquez works with the Texas Innocence Project to overturn other wrongful convictions. After splitting with her first girlfriend, Elizabeth started dating a man named Hector. That was the last time they spoke. The crowd cheered. When Ramirez rebuffed him, her family claimed, Limon retaliated by coaching his daughters to accuse her of molestation, and the girls ended up accusing Ramirez's three friends as well. In terms of mileage from the Yukon, the North Pole would have been a shorter journey. The scene of the crime had vanished. I trusted Elizabeth, that she wasnt going to hurt my daughters, he said. Javier says she went to Mexico to evade paying child support. 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 . 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. Our whole relationship was based on him controlling me, she said. Elizabeths mother called her grandson to tell him that his mother would soon be released. He explained that she threatened to recant to hurt him, because they had recently been fighting. The sun started to set as family members and friends of the four women lined up outside the county jail, breathing in sharply each time the doors opened. His primary company is a group of huskies. Ramirez has testified that the. I want my babies back, she said, crying. They traded cars so each could get to work, bought hot dogs for the kids and played basketball at the park. Her father Javier called, and as VL assured him that everything at Aunt Lizs house was going just fine, her aunt held the gun to her head. Michelle Mondo published a story strongly implying that Javier filed the allegation as punishment for Stephanies recantation. He did not testify Monday but is expected to this week. 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