At school, coming out wasnt as big a deal because nobody talked about it. My sister., The more I interviewed the estranged couple, ferrying bits of information between them, the clearer the duality became: Javier was either a vindictive, wrathful man or a caring father who was being smeared by Elizabeths family. Ramirez theorized at the time that Javier Limon, her sister Rosemary's ex-boyfriend and her nieces' father was upset with her because she rejected his many romantic overtures after he went through a bad breakup with her sister, the Texas Observer reported. She was still a convicted sex offender and there was a long list of parole rules: no cell phones, no computers, no contact with anyone under 18. In early February 1997, Elizabeth sat at the defendants table as the judge stated the charges against her: aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. At first, Anna was a little distrustful of Elizabeths new friend. Cassies son and daughter continued to drive three hours up Interstate 35 to visit her in prison, but Elizabeth had lost contact with her son when he was 5 and his father obtained custody. The families did their best to move on. 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. Mike Ware, left, is another lawyer working on the case. As their families paid lawyers to file appeals, Cassie and Anna, still very much in love, set out together to investigate the case on their own. Everyone laughed. Limon was the boyfriend of Ramirez's sister at the time. Maria Vasquez (right), mother of Anna Vasquez, shakes hands with Gloria Herrera (left), mother of Elizabeth Ramirez, as Anna Vasquez's aunt, Valeria Pachecano stands in between during a meeting of the San Antonio Crime Coalition on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. A version of this story ran in the January 2014 issue. Yeah, theyre all gay and were friends, but that doesnt mean its a gay relationship. carvajal mazzini francisco javier dedicada a venta al por menor de alimentos, bebidas, principalmente y diversos articulos como: aparatos de uso domestico, articulos de ferreteria, muebles, prendas de vestir, cosmeticos, etc, en almacenes no especializados (supermercados, tiendas de abarro.inici sus actividades comerciales el 18/03/1997 como personas naturales. During a cross-examination, Kazen, the prosecutor, broke the flow of his questions to ask, Am I intimidating you up here? Serafina had said Elizabeth was suspiciously dour when she brought the girls back after the week at the apartment. 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. HOUSTON A young woman who recently recanted a nearly 20-year-old accusation of sexual assault, which had sent her aunt and three other women to prison, was in a courtroom here Monday fighting child-abuse allegations leveled at her. Vasquez was recently released on parole, but the other women remain behind bars. More letters followed, each one taking about two weeks between his home and Elizabeths prison in Marlin. When Elizabeth first came out behind the glass to meet him, she couldnt stop shaking. There had been other little kidsCassies kids and some neighborsin the apartment throughout the week, but now she was adamant that she and her sister had been the only children. Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. In October, Child Protective Services was given emergency custody of the couple's three children, all younger than 3. The Firm presently has twelve members. They grew closer and, with Elizabeth beginning to realize she was attracted to women, eventually started dating. Cassie and Anna tried to meticulously recreate what had happened the week of the alleged crimes. 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. Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. 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. You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. This makes us one of the biggest by prevailing local standards. The questioning continued, focusing on Elizabeths relationships with women. Even as a toddler, Elizabeth Ramirez was small for her age. defense attorney Michael Scott asked. It was like living in a labor camp, he said. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Sept. 5, 2012. Anna Vasquez, right, answers questions, as her sister-in-law Rose Vasquez, left, gives thanks for Anna's release from prison. 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. His parents were Salvador Allende supporters and he recalled what happened in a Reddit Ask Me Anything. She, along with Kristie, had been in prison for 13 years. She would do the same thing if somebody was hurting her child., Elizabeth herself, several months earlier, had said nearly the same words. He continued typing. I remember everything [Javier] coached me to say, as well as my grandmother. Javier did not testify, but told me unequivocally, There was no gun.), Sometimes truth is different, Ruiz told the jury. A car provided by the Innocence Project of Texas whisked them away. In the spare, gray courtroom, Cassie, who often wore denim overalls, had on a black dress with white flowers. He stormed away. The next day, the fish died and they returned it. Nathan brought the case to the Innocence Project of Texas, where well-known attorney Jeff Blackburn agreed to represent the women. Promotional Rates were found for your code. He had already taken my kids, so he couldnt hurt me there. Anna Vasquez, left, sits next to long time friend Denise Tristan as the family prepares to play a game of loteria, a traditional Mexican game. In September, a new state law had taken effect, passed in the spring by the Texas Legislature. During that conversation, which was played to the jury, Alejandre could be heard asking Morales who killed Limon. One of them, Elizabeth Ramirez, had a profile on the website WriteAPrisoner.com. I always felt like an outsider, my whole life, he said. With a lot of time on his own, Otto developed various research obsessions outside his academic work on fish breeding. The language was chatty and upbeat. By late 2012, media attention on the womenwho were becoming known as the San Antonio Fourwas steadily growing. Cassie, who worked at AutoZone and frequented car shows, thought about becoming a mechanic. In the backseat of a car, Stephanie Limon (now Stephanie Martinez) read from a sheet of notebook paper. The stories came after pressure from Javier Limon, Ramirez's former brother in law and the father of the two girls. Alejandre replied, "I thought so, too. Gloria Herrera shows her favorite pictures of her daughter, Elizabeth Ramirez, Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. Her son took a plea deal and is now a registered sex offender. Youre confusing yourself because I said that Kristie wanted a relationship with mea gay relationship with me. She looked stoic and resigned. She denied the accusations of abuse about her and her husband and that she neglected her children. Elizabeth Ramirez, the aunt, and her friends Anna Vasquez, Cassandra Rivera and Kristie Mayhugh are fighting to clear their names in the bizarre case that spurred talk of Satanism when they were accused in 1994. Javiers sister Cristina agreed: Shes going to flip on the recantation, to get back at her mom.. Elizabeth was stunned. More of his work can be found at mauricechammah.com. 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 . Jarrett Morris, who told her she could be facing drug trafficking charges and could lose her kids. It was the first day of testimony in a hearing involving Stephanie Limon Martinez, 25, and her husband, Joseph Martinez, 29, who both believe the accusations against them are in retaliation. The letter was several pages long and written in clear cursive script. They were all arrested and convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child. She wasnt the spontaneous, happy-go-lucky girl that she would always be. Javier took his daughters to the hospital and the police station. Anna Vasquez talks with her brother Jerry Vasquez on their mother's front porch after they celebrated her first Thanksgivings after being released on parole, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. I never heard anything back.. Stephanie Limon Martinez (center) breaks down in a state district court in Houston during questioning at a hearing concerning custody of her children. Im your grandmother, Cassie said to her daughters 2-year-old girl. When one reporter asked whom they blame, Kristie offered, I dont think we blame anybody. Ware jumped in and said the blame goes to a number of factors and people, and thats not something were going to get into.. Kristie Mayhugh, seen here Sept. 4, 2012, is incarcerated at the Javier Limn Customer Service Manager & Chief Digital Officer (CDO) en Volkswagen Financial Services - Mxico Now Kristie had been at the apartment, whereas before she hadnt. Kazen asked if she was dating Kristie Mayhugh, her roommate and one of the other women accused of abuse. 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. Lopez, who normally handled child sexual abuse cases. Where had these accusations come from? Thats so rude, she said. She and her husband, Joseph Martinez (right), were in a Houston courtroom Dec. 3 fighting child-abuse allegations leveled at her by her father Javier Limon, who was given as the reason his two daughters made accusations of sexual abuse against four women in 1994 that led to them being sent to prison. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. They did. The cameras blinked on. Her relationship with her mother improvedGloria co-signed for Elizabeths new apartment. Waiting to solve 5. 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. . To be honest with you, she said, I feel so bad for my brother, because I tell him hes got the worst luck with women.. Limon Martinez was just 7 when she and her older sister said the women sexually assaulted them. Detective Lopez was studying for her sergeant's exam when the complaint was filed by Javier Limon, the girl's father. She wasnt receptive, Javier told me. Ware expects a battle over whether the women are declared actually innocent, a designation that would entitle them to compensation from the state for their imprisonment. I think they knew, but they didnt, you know? She remained close to her siblings, buying her little brother Mark clothes (If you had two dollars and needed more money, he said, shed give you 20) and giving her little sister Monica advice (I couldnt honestly ask for a more loving, caring sister, Monica said). We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. Elizabeth moved in with her sister Rosemary, who was then living with Javier Limon and their three young children. Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. Limon has been charged with capital murder. Alejandre later was promised by police that her charges would be dismissed if she agreed to cooperate with their investigation and also testify. Anna, right, is greeted by Gloria Herrera, mother of Elizabeth Ramirez who is still in prison. But as he scanned articles on the Internet, there was one case that didnt fit the pattern. Every Sunday, she would write her son a letter and have her mother deliver it. That was the last time they spoke. Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story: This article was originally published by the, Articles cannot be rewritten, edited or changed beyond alignments with house style books. It was mentioned mostly by the defense attorneys, who attempted to show that relationships between women have nothing to do with pedophilia. As prison guards at the Crain Unit in Gatesville close the gate behind her, Anna Vasquez opens the door to a relative's car after being released on parole Nov. 2, 2012. Michelle Mondo published a story strongly implying that Javier filed the allegation as punishment for Stephanies recantation. 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. I trusted Elizabeth, that she wasnt going to hurt my daughters, he said. Anna Vasquez, just released from prison, stops at the "Anna Wall" in her mother's home, joking that the photo of her in a crib as a baby, was the first picture of her behind bars. Though the women are free, theyre not exonerated. It was August 2012, and Stephanie, then 25, was a mother herself. The younger of the two accusers, now 25, has recanted, saying no assault occurred. Elizabeth told him about Javier, about her trial, and about the guilt she felt for her friends prison sentences. Visitors give TX state park final farewell after land sold, Dallas judge revives sexual misconduct suit against Jerry Jones. On the court, the other girls would call out her nickname, Little Liz! Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Spotlights, Shipping companies reach $97M California oil spill agreement, Lompoc boys fall to Cypress Oxford Academy in first round of soccer regional, Dear Abby: Wife has no appreciation for man's preferred dress, Intel agencies: No sign adversaries behind 'Havana syndrome', Questions remain over who allowed Javier Limon to be killed as former Northwest gang member wraps up testimony. We have no ads to show you! Detective Matjeka was a homicide detective covering for detective T.R. Question ( 92735) Answer ( 32) He was an ex-boyfriend of Ramirez's sister who the family said had made romantic advances toward the much younger Ramirez. I would not have one with her., Did you have a gay relationship with Anna?, Did you have a gay relationship with Cassie?, That doesnt mean you have to be together., Well, maybe Im confused. Limon was overbearing and lectured her constantly. Kristie wanted to return to veterinarian school at Texas A&M if she could find the money. what happened to javier limon san antonio. The four were convicted, in part, based on testimony from a pediatrician who said visible scarring to one of the girls hymens was proof of sexual abuse. The most painful memory of that day was being separated from my newborn son, she later wrote. But money was tight, and at various times Elizabeth held jobs at Taco Cabana, Arbys and H-E-B. One night Elizabeth stole some of her mothers prescription anxiety pills and overdosed. Holidays and birthdays were the hardest. The girls father, Javier Limon, who had dated her sister Rosemary before a messy breakup, had been making advances toward her, she said. 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. 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.. One of the girls ran in and told her that the other had been playing with dolls in an inappropriate way, undressing them and making them kiss. Gloria Herrera keeps a picture of her daughter Elizabeth Ramirez in a Bible in her bedroom, Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. The man standing outside her small apartment had thick black hair. Rosemary recounted years later that Javier threatened her family. Outlets must also tag the Observer in all social media posts. No, nothing like that happened, Limon Martinez replied. But because only copies of the documents are available, the experts reports were inconclusive. Anna Vasquez could not attend the meeting because of her parole restrictions. They traded cars so each could get to work, bought hot dogs for the kids and played basketball at the park. Gloria was suspicious of Javier. His primary company is a group of huskies. She was 22. A tearful Anna Vasquez, left, embraces her mother Maria Vasquez. He knew what was going to hurt me the most, she told me. They took the girls to Walmart, where they bought a fish. Hooper described Javiers behavior as a pattern, saying he uses the authorities to get back at people who have crossed him. They needed something to justify why Rosemary left me. (That account was backed up by Oscar, Rosemarys partner in Denver, as well as by Rosemary herself in recent interviews. Elizabeth had told Detective Matjeka about Javiers advances, but he hadnt thought much of it. I called all the womens previous attorneys, and they didnt even remember the case, she told me. Investigators say Richard Adam Hernandez shot and killed Rose Marie Limon on January 31 at her apartment on Pecan Valley Drive. Yes. Matjekas tone grew less friendly. She spoke confidently, her voice cracking a little when she talked about Kristie, Cassie and Anna, and her son. They were each sentenced to 15 years, but the judge decided they could remain out of prison until their appeals had been exhausted. Otto found an organization called the National Center for Reason and Justice, which was created in the wake of the 1980s-era satanic ritual abuse scandals to advocate for people wrongfully accused of harming children. Four gay Hispanic women molesting children was something that seemed to go down everyone's throats quite easily only, it wasn't true. Alejandre testified that she was told by Morales that Limon was killed because he avoided paying money he collected from drug transactions and went into hiding. Anna Vasquez served more than a decade of time in jail while the three other women are still serving time. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. 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