Monday, March 06, 2006

10 YEARS AGO TODAY...........

I was posting these exact MISSING signs of my brother Sean all over the Riverside area. Asking permission inside local stores and such to post this sign in their window or door. Yes, I still have a copy of the one that I made a decade ago and I scanned it today to post along with a couple pictures I have of him in a collage in my hallway. The last time I saw him alive was the early morning of March 6, 1996. I knew something was wrong when he did not come home that evening. Police and Sheriff informed me at this time that there was nothing they could do as he was an adult. He was 22 and could take care of himself in hte outside world.
Almost 1 month later, on April 3, 1996 his decaying body was found by a bee keeper n Chino Hills only able to be identified by a fingerprint. My dad confirmed that it was him when he went to the coroner's office and identified him through photos and his remains.
(wow, this is harder than I thought it would be)
He was murdered by a so called 'friend' that terrible night of March 6, 1996 at his friends home here in the Riverside area. This so-called friend of his was a drug addict asnd has lived his life in and out of prison. (My brother, Sean had never been in trouble with the law when this happened to him) The story through courtroom testimony and witnesses confirmed that this 'friend' struck him in the back of his head with a weight bar and repeated this until he did not move. He then wrapped him in tarps and tied him with rope, drug him into his garage, where he kept him for almost 3 days and then dumped him in Chino Hills with some trash and animal feces that he had. When he dumped his body in hills, he shot him in the chest with a gun.
Almost another month went by before the police and sheriff's department really got involved and found and arrested this 'friend' that killed him. He is currently serving a life sentence on a 3rd strike offense (2nd degree murder) 45 to life with out the possibility of parole.
The court proceedings were darn near 3 years long and has taken a permanent mark on especially my mom and myself as we were asked to take the stand during the trial.
I miss him everyday and wonder how it would be if he were still here today. We were not even two years apart and were best friends!
Here he is at approxiately 5 years of age........
(1979)



And here is as we remember him the most... Happy and having fun....

Age 22 - January 1996


Sean, I love and miss you everyday. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of you.

S . K. C. July 14, 1973~March 6, 1996

8 comments:

MarylandMommy said...

I am so sorry about your brother. That story brought tears to my eyes.

Heather/SHTEZQ said...

ok girl you made me cry you are in trouble. I hope you get through this week o.k. We love you and I wish I would of known him as well. It breaks my heart that you had to go through all of this. He is watching over you and your family sometimes probably laughing his butt off but watching over and you know is as proud as he can be of you and what you have accomplished in you life.

Avery's mom said...

what a tragedy to go through. my heart goes out to you and your mother. ((((HUGS))))

mrs. awesome said...

it's good to remember our loved ones. thanks for sharing your (and sean's) story. we will keep you in our prayers.

Sandy said...

That is the saddest story. I am glad that "friend" is behind bars, though that's not enough to bring your brother back : (
(((HUG)))

Michelle said...

I am sorry about your brother. Thank you for sharing your story. BTW - there's a Benihana's on the outside area of Ontario Mills. Its a pretty nice one. We had fun when we went there!

trisha said...

I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful comments this week. It has been a bit difficult to have Seans 10 year death anniversary and then having my youngest brother get out of prison the same week. It hasn't been the same around here lately and I have been feelin it, which means that my whole household has been too. Thanks again to all of you!

Shannon said...

I just came across your blog, and read your story. I wish you the best of happiness and love as you think of your brother. It sounds like you were really close, and remembering him this way will always keep him close to you! Thanks for sharing!