Los Angeles, CA—This was the
initial appearance bail hearing for the two men arrested for killing Andrea
“Andy” DelVesco.
It began with an announcement
by the judge that there would be no photography, video or sketching in court.Additionally that much of the evidence
offered by the DA was privately discussed in judicial chambers and would be
sealed.
Both defendants had top gun,
privately retained defense lawyers.Dimitry
Gorim represented Alberto Medina and Steven Cron represented Eric Marques.Hiring these lawyers involves paying a very
large retainer up front.
Only a partial story was revealed
by the prosecutor and many more questions remained unanswered. These are simply allegations rather than proof.
Words never uttered in this proceeding were drugs, witness tampering or revenge killing.
For the blow-by-blow description
I made a quick iPhone video that I hope provides a window into the courtroom.
Los Angeles, CA—I took an
early interest in the case because of my closeness to past and present UCLA
students and alumni.
It was about 7:00 AM when
LAFD emergency vehicles came screaming to the Scene midblock at 10900 Roebling
adjacent to the UCLA Campus.
It was a lucky break that
some of the students there were awakened by screams and fellow residents were up
trying to combat the fire with a fire extinguisher on the first floor, Eastern
side of the complex.
That was the residence of
UCLA Spanish and Psychology major, Andrea “Andy” DelVesco.Andy
was an active member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority.
Some of the more observant
kids present were able to tell the firemen that Andy was unaccounted for and
they began an aggressive search.They
found Andy badly burned and beyond all medical aid.Some 30 firefighters were able to contain the
blaze within ten minutes.
Thankfully no others suffered
injuries considering this was early when the complex residents would normally
be asleep.Without early discovery by
neighbors and and LAFD intervention this could have been a tragic
holocaust.
Soon UCLA police and members
of the LAPD determined that this was an arson fire that was set to cover up a
murder.Ignorant criminals often believe
setting their crime scenes on fire will destroy evidence and make detection
more difficult.More often this creates
even more evidence that will snare the criminals.This would prove to be one of those cases. Police quickly notified Andy’s
parents, Art and Leslie DelVesco in Austin, TX.They wasted no time, jumping on the next flight to L.A.I can’t imagine the horror they are still reeling
from and the devastation to their close-knit family.
Police did what cops do these
days.They quickly learned about the
recent felony drug possession for sale arrest of Andy and discovered she was
cooperating with authorities to curry favor possibly evading a ruined life with
a felony conviction and prison term.
It’s obvious to me that the
arresting agency (UCLA Police Department) dropped the ball badly here and
failed to protect their indentured informant.
Police also obtained Andy’s
computer and cellphone.They’d also get
search warrants to capture every possible communication records from her ISP,
Email and phone providers.That of
course gave them a shopping list of potential suspects to investigate.
Once they zeroed in on
obvious involved characters their cell phone and emails would be captured via
search warrants and analyzed too.
Police released the crime
scene on September 21.However curiously
on the afternoon of the 23rd they returned with a search warrant
spending the next 30 hours sifting through the debris for evidence.
On September 27 police got a break
in the case that gave them probable cause to arrest 22 year-old Alberto Medina who is a
pre-psychology and social work major at Fresno State University. That also gave
police the ability to obtain search warrants for his cars and residences.Fresno police acting on a request from the
LAPD took Medina down and into custody during a felony stop on the street
without incident.
It was learned that Medina was a Member go the Lambada Chi Alpha Fraternity but was expelled over some bad behavior.
That in turn led police back
to the Westwood UCLA Campus.On the
evening of September 27 an LAPD SWAT team raided the nearby Strathmore Regency
Apartments arresting 22 year-old Eric Marques for murder too. Needless to say
they used a search warrant to locate and seize evidence from his apartment.
Like Andy and Alberto Medina, Eric Marquez had a promising future.He was a
pre-med biology UCLA student.
On September 28, police felt
they could announce their arrests to the media without comprising the
investigation.
What remains to be told is
more about the motive and the various informants and witnesses that were
involved. One life senselessly snuffed out and two others that will unlikely ever
taste their freedom again.
Because of the nature of the
kinds of drugs seized from Andy by police last June it’s apparent at least to
me that the drug ring was catering to Rave Festivals and such.
I have to ask when will we
learn that the Drug War and the huge profits it generates are far more evil than
the drugs themselves.How many more
lives will be lost or destroyed before we understand treating the addicted is
far cheaper and better than the constant violence the Drug Was creates?
In the meantime we will be
waiting and watching as this nightmare unfolds in a Los Angeles courtroom.
Los Angeles, CA—Students will
be sleeping easier tonight after police announced the arrests of two 22-year
old Hispanic men for killing Andrea "Andy" DelVesco.
Alberto Madina and Eric
Marquez are in custody at the Van Nuys Jail.
This is sure to be a “special
circumstance” case meaning prosecutors can ask for the death Penalty.
Yet to be offered by police is the motive
however the drug selling connection is sure to be playing a part in this
investigation.
the DelVesco girl and her two alleged killers showed promise as students of making great contributions to our world. However now we have three young lives destroyed because of our insane Drug War. How many more killings must we tolerate until we end this madness? We need to redirect our efforts to treat thoes addicted.
Los Angeles, CA—YouTube has
changed entertainment and news in a big way.It’s brought the true democratization of mass media allowing virtually
anyone to create, and broadcast whatever he or she desires. Saying that, there are those issues related to
what content gets special behind the scenes promotion by YouTube. There is a lot of trash mixed
in with some stunning content. YouTube is also
a training ground for those that want to shape and hone their skills.
Music lovers routinely steal
or borrow music content created by others for their video’s soundtracks. This
has created copyright pandemonium.However it’s not really a bad thing for the artists. In fact new
exposure of forgotten music of decades gone by has boosted legitimate sales!
I’m a chronic music
thief!I do it because I fail to see the
harm and I don’t get punished.More
importantly I need great music for the videos I create.There is copyright free material but it’s
really lame in most cases.
I’ve become addicted to
camera drones and sharing my incredible videos with friends and strangers
alike.I can either do a voiceover or
add music to the soundtrack.Drone video
was made for exceptional music. I have to find and borrow music based on type
and length so my videos become enjoyable.
Right now YouTube compensates
artists through shared advertising revenue. However my numerous friends in
Europe are blocked from my videos because of compensation issues.
I say these issues must be
worked out for art’s sake!I’d be
willing to pay a reasonable fee to insure my videos are seen everywhere in the
civilized world.I don’t mind the
advertising provided it’s fair to the music artists.
Below are some of the drone
videos where I placed “borrowed” music.It’s my hope that viewers will be encouraged to legitimately purchase
those songs for their music various devices.
Los Angeles, CA—21 year-old
Andrea “Andy” DelVesco was obviously recruited into the Drug War when the UCLA
police arrested her on four felony counts this June.
Police are programed by
prosecutors to automatically give Get Out of Jail Free Cards to low level dealers so they can
take down the upper echelon drug kingpins.
Such was the case with this young Texas, double major coed.She had
little choice but to risk her life and become a snitch.
The complaint filed against
DelVesco with the court contained an appropriate bail bond recommendation of
$120,000.00 to be posted before she could be released from jail.
What that meant is she’d have
to post the entire amount in cash or wait until trial in a jail cell. These
things aren’t quick and that could easily mean she’d spend a year or more
behind bars before her case was tried of plea-bargained.
Most people don’t have that
kind of cash lying around to they must pay a bail bond company.The bondsmen risk their own funds but charge the
accused a whopping ten percent of the total bond.In this case DelVesco would have to pay
$12,000.00 cash to the bondsman that she’d never get back.On top of that she’d need to hire a lawyer and
that would be well into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Because of her own
foolishness at her young age, DelVesco suddenly had the worst nightmare of her
entire life!
Simply put, police used
extortion to force DelVesco into ratting out the criminals that put her in the
drug dealing business. Once DelVesco agreed to snitch she was released on her
own recognizance without posting a dime for bail. Additionally she’d be spared from a felony
criminal conviction record and a most certain prison term.
It’s easy to understand why the
cops aren’t talking now, but the court documents reveal what happened.The big reveal here is in the handwritten
initials “OR” (own recognizance) on the documents.
The UCLA Police Department
dropped the ball here by failing to protect their young and vulnerable
tattler.They should have known that the
criminals they wanted DelVesco to finger would be both desperate and
dangerous.
If that lapse was not enough
wait until you find out how police bungled things in the hours before DelVesco
was murdered!I’m holding out that
outrageous reveal until I have additional documents in my possession.
It’s truly a miracle that
this fire set to cover up Delvesco’s murder did not become a holocaust killing
the numerous sleeping students in Delvesco’s building!
In the end there is going to
be a huge issue of liability for the failures of law enforcement to protect the
youngster they recruited from a frightening and really gruesome death.
