Marc told his dad he was going to a concert that night. He attended concerts once or twice a year, and he was celebrating during his week off before he started his new job. At one point he came into contact with the defendants outside a 7-11, 4-5 blocks from home.
When the news broke I thought one person was responsible for the crime. I wondered of the circumstances, I feared some older criminal type had been out looking for someone to prey on, like you read or see on TV. Marc wasn’t a fighter and would not be the best at physically defending himself, that was horrific for me to dwell on. I just couldn’t think past that, as too painful. Later I thought maybe there’d been a robbery, some drug issue involved?
I knew Marc was like me in that he was a ‘space-maker’ in times of risk. I drive like that, with a cushion of space around me. Marc didn’t like criminal types, mean-spirited people you couldn’t feel safe around. I knew he had no friend who’d betray him. I’ve worked closely with people of color for years … Marc was not that familiar with other races but he liked ALL people …. but I sorta ruled out a race or hate crime.
On the Monday after the crime the D.A., Detectives, victim advocate came by to speak with us. We heard then about the video tape of the incident and we were questioned about Marc’s friends, usual hangouts, etc. There was so much in the news, and family speculation, we interpreted maybe a ‘gang’ of wild kids did it for the ‘thrill’ of it. Our family made some of the same judgments that most make, that they were a bunch of wild kids maybe ‘high’ on drugs or lawless gang.
t wasn’t till I went to the Bail Hearing for the main defendant that I saw the real defendant seemed like a normal young man, he was so quiet and had no glaring mental, educational, social issues. Just a guy that maybe my sons would have played with in a band or something when younger.
One big thing I’ve learned is that no one knows exactly what happened. There was a lot of confusion. It turned out it wasn’t a horror story like the news first intimated. It seems there was a verbal altercation that took place and in a few seconds a horrible tragedy occurred. I’ve read certain facts since from public news sources, from the attorneys, from the defendants. There are variations. I don’t need to know every single detail, it’s so painful still. I know enough, I’m not troubled about any lack of detail.
The case is over now and I’m pretty satisfied with the outcome. I’m so grateful there’s not a lot of things on any side that’s left unsaid, undiscovered. I feel part of a real clear, clean process, and that puts my heart at rest. We all had our day in court, and we can walk away knowing we did our best for my son and the city of Portland. And the defendants too.
It still hurts so bad, but …… there was nothing shoddy going on in the case with Police Dept, courts, attorneys. I’m free to go on, my wings are not clipped by an unsolved case! So thankful to God!