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Randi-Mark's Mom
 IP: 75.2.132.39 Nov 24, 06 - 8:31 PM |
Daily Review newspaper article for November 24, 2006
Ashland mother still set on finding son's killer With no new leads, family advertises for witnesses By Alejandro Alfonso, STAFF WRITER Article Last Updated:11/24/2006 02:51:45 AM PST ASHLAND — When Mark Espinal was shot and killed in the driveway of his Ashland home, police were unable to identify who pulled the trigger — even though they believe there were several witnesses to the crime. Nearly three years later, police have lost the trail of any promising leads, and Espinal's family is still looking for justice. But at least one person is keeping the investigation alive and in the public eye. Randi Butterworth, Espinal's mother, hasn't given up on finding her son's killer. Her dedication has kept police motivated to find the gunman by reviewing the case every month. And all this month, on a billboard in the community where the murder occurred, she is asking the public to help answer the question: "Do you know who murdered our son, Mark Espinal, on February 3rd, 2004?" The billboard, near where LewellingBoulevard and East 14th Street meet in Ashland, can be seen from Interstate 238 and offers a $20,000 reward for information. It will be up until the end of November. Butterworth hopes someone with knowledge of the crime will see the picture of her son and give police new leads to follow in the case, which is being worked by the Alameda County Sheriff's cold case unit. In an unusual move, CBS Outdoor, the billboard's owner, donated the space to Butterworth's cause. "It is certainly not something we do all the time," said Steve Shinn, a company spokesman. "She was persistent, and it is certainly an appropriate way to -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advertisement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- use our medium. We know it can be effective, and I hope it helps generate some leads to who murdered her son." The billboard was blank when Butterworth approached Shinn with the request. She paid $1,000 for the production of the design by CBS Outdoor and Shinn waived all other costs for keeping the billboard up. What frustrates Butterworth and detectives is that they know there are people out there with knowledge of what happened, but for some reason those people are not talking. On the night he was killed, Espinal had returned home with four friends. As he pulled into his driveway, two men came up to the car. It is not clear what took place next, but one of the men shot Espinal several times. The four people with Espinal ran from the scene. Within the first 72 hours, police took statements from the witnesses who said the shooter had been selling drugs in the neighborhood. But as the investigation progressed, cooperation by witnesses died out. "They just decided it is what it is," said Sgt. Scott Dudek, sheriff's cold case unit. "They've already witnessed them kill someone; perhaps they think, 'If I help the police, I could be killed.'" Dudek dismisses the fear as derived from television dramas. He said it is rare for a witness in a murder investigation to be killed. "Basically you have to step up to the plate," he said. The passage of time can also be crucial to solving a cold case, Dudek said — especially if the case continues to receive public attention — because the guilt of the person holding on to information that may solve the case becomes too much to bear. "Someone had to have seen something," Butterworth said. "I don't let it die down. I'll call up whoever I have to and do whatever I have to do to remind people that I need to find out who murdered my son." |
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Michelle Villegas (Julio's Mom)
IP: 68.70.237.53 Nov 24th, 2006 - 11:16 PM |
Re: Daily Review newspaper article for November 24, 2006
Randi, KEEP FIGHTING! YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF. I KNOW MARK IS SMILING DOWN ON YOU AND HE IS PROUD OF HIS MOM! SOMETHING OR SOMEONE WILL BE MONEY HUNGRY, AND WILL COME FORWARD. THEY SAY THAT "MONEY IS THE ROOT TO ALL EVIL" AND YOU ARE DEALING WITH EXACTLY THAT...EVIL PEOPLE! I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU. MUCH LOVE, MICHELLE VILLEGAS |
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Karen Wes's mom
IP: 12.72.169.201 Nov 25th, 2006 - 6:14 AM |
Re: Daily Review newspaper article for November 24, 2006
Good for you Randi! The squeeky wheel gets the oil! If someone does not come forward then the investigators need to lean harder on witnesses. It is so hard to believe that someone can live with knowing who did this and keep their mouth shut. You keep squeeking sister! Karen Wes's mom |
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Lorre
IP: 207.200.116.70 Nov 25th, 2006 - 10:07 AM |
Re: Daily Review newspaper article for November 24, 2006
Thank you for posting the article Randi. I pray that it brings some information that is helpful to solving Mark's murder. I agree with the other MOMS, he is proud of his Momma! Good has to fight to stand tall against the winds of evil, and you are doing just that. Even if this leads to nothing (though I hope that is NOT the case) you need to be proud of yourself for persisting. What a great Mom you are. Much Love, Lorre |
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Tracey (Terrell's MOM)
IP: 209.158.212.125 Nov 25th, 2006 - 4:07 PM |
Re: Daily Review newspaper article for November 24, 2006
Dear Randi: I am so proud if you and I know that Mark is beaming from ear to ear for the strength and persistance you showed in trying to catch the demons that killed him. I know there is a MOM or MOMS that read this article and is inspired and motivated by your courage. Sadly, I noticed that the sheriff is quick to judge the witnesses for not coming forward out of fear but why didn't his office pursue the shooter so that the witnesses might felt a little safer. Statements from four witnesses should have at least give them probable cause to arrest someone. However, I prayed that now that Mark's face is posted on a billboard, someone will have the courage to come forward or at the very least, the killer is forever haunted at his face staring at them from a billboard. Regardless of the outcome, I think you are one BAAAAADDDDD MAMA for what you have done for your son. God Bless Steve Shinn for helping a MOM. Good Luck on any leads. Tracey (Terrell's MOM) |
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Randi-Mark's Mom
IP: 75.2.147.214 Nov 25th, 2006 - 6:22 PM |
Re: Daily Review newspaper article for November 24, 2006
Thanks to all of you MOMS. It's been a hard road I've been traveling, for all of us it has been. I honestly don't know how the Sheriff's Office is working on Mark's case. They don't tell me too many things out of not wanting to mess it up in any kind of way. Mark was on the local news channel also on Wednesday, Nov 22. Myself and my husband and daughter were sitting down and were also taping it. We knew they were going to put a picture of his billboard and the interview they had with me on. I was told they were going to replay some of what happened to Mark almost 3 years ago. Well they did, and the part that they played was his precious body in a body bag being rolled out of our driveway on a gurney. My husband got sick, he said he never saw that before. When I was watching that night so long ago, I felt as if it wasn't real. If I saw those *******s that murdered my son right now, they wouldn't have a fuggin chance to breathe again. |
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