Let us remember Alex Zaldivar
on August 26 and September 10 every year. Do support his family by donating or
supporting the website (see the Facebook Page
also).
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Alex H. Zaldivar
(August 26, 1993 to
September 10, 2012)
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THE CASE:
On September 10th 2012, Alex Zaldivar
(19) was not murdered, but executed in a home he was temporarily staying at in
Ocoee, FL. He was a witness listed to testify in court, which was set to take
place the very next day for a previous home invasion in May earlier this year.
Nolan Darnell Bernard and Bessman Charles Obinna Okafor led the first attack,
both convicted felons with lengthy violent criminal
histories involving deadly firearms. Orange County Circuit Judge Bob LeBlanc
let one (Okafor) of the 2 highly dangerous criminals go on a small bond with a
cheap Radio Frequency Monitor. The other, Bernard, has been in the Orange
County Jail since May. Court records indicate Okafor left his Pine Hills home
at 4:40 a.m. Monday and returned at 5:20 a.m. The deadly shooting in Ocoee
occurred around 5:15 a.m., according to police. It doesn't take a rocket
scientist to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Okafor has been a criminal
since he was 16 years old. He is now 27, with over 17 different criminal
charges, nearly all of them involving burglaries and other dangerous crimes
involving deadly firearms. He also was arrested in 2006 for violating his
probation; he already has shown that he cannot be trusted with any sort of
freedom. These are just the crimes that he didn't get away with. How could
Judge Bob LeBlanc let such a violent criminal with a record like this go with a
soft slap on the wrist? None of this would have happened if Okafor were still
in prison where he clearly belongs. Justice needs and will be served to Alex.
Any form of donation would be tremendously appreciated in this terrible time of
tragedy and misfortune. All donations will be used to help pay for funeral
expenses and to help the fight against changing the laws so nobody has to ever
experience a tragedy like this. We will not stop fighting until we get justice
for Alex. Thank you so much.
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Rafael Zaldivar, left,
holds a picture of his son. (Photo by Monivette Cordeiro)
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Rafael
Zaldivar stands up for the victims:
QUOTE 1: Law enforcement officials
and some victims' families, though, are outraged by Ayala's decision,
including Rafael Zaldivar. His son Alex Zaldivar, 19, was fatally shot in
2012 before he and his roommates were set to testify about a robbery at their
Ocoee home. Bessman Okafor was convicted of Alex Zaldivar's murder in
2015 and sentenced to death. Okafor's case is currently before the Florida Supreme Court because his sentence was not decided
by a unanimous jury.
The Sunshine State's death penalty sentencing scheme was on unstable ground after the U.S. Supreme Court found the sentencing law unconstitutional because it allowed judges to have the ultimate decision instead of a jury. Florida lawmakers fixed the process by requiring a 10-2 vote jury vote for the death penalty, which was struck down by the state Supreme Court. The governor recently signed into law a requirement that juries be unanimous when recommending the death penalty.
Rafael Zaldivar says he doesn't trust Ayala with his son's case and is asking for a special prosecutor.
"I have no confidence," he says. "She should resign, and somebody else should take her place right now."
QUOTE 2: Rafael Zaldivar, whose son
was murdered in Orlando in 2012, said Ayala's decision is part of a political
agenda and has no place in the state attorney's office. He demanded her
resignation.
"She is an activist. She isn't a
prosecutor. She has an agenda," said Zaldivar, whose son's killer was sentenced to death in 2015.
QUOTE 3: Rafael Zaldivar showed up at
the news conference to question the group's motives.
"I'm here to tell them, it's really
none of their business," said
Zaldivar.
He's been speaking out in favor of the death
penalty since his son Alex was brutally murdred. Zaldivar says the death
penalty is only for the worst of crimes.
"It's the ultimate punishment for heinous
crimes, that's all it is," said
Zaldivar.
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Alex Hiroki Zaldivar
(August 26, 1993 to
September 10, 2012)
[PHOTO SOURCE: https://twitter.com/justice4alex93]
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Father of murdered son wants Aramis
Ayala thrown out of office before attacker’s second death sentence hearing
By Frank Torres on Latest, Orlando
Political Analyst, Orlando
Political News, Orlando Politics,
The Feed
In 2012, 19 year old Alex Zaldivar was
murdered by Bessman Okafor just one day before he was scheduled to testify
against him in a home invasion case. Since then his father, Rafael Zaldivar,
has fought for justice for his son and has served as a victim’s advocate to
help other families through the tragedy of losing a loved one.
Now as the Central Florida stands
divided over the decision of Orange Osceola County Attorney Aramis Ayala in her
decision not to seek the death penalty against Markeith Loyd in the alleged
murder of OPD Lieutnenant Debra Clayon and his former girlfriend Sade Dixon,
who was pregnant at the time of her death, Zaldivar is standing with the
families of other victims who seek justice from the Ayala’s office.
A recent change in the requirements to
carry out the death penalty also means his son’s case will be returned to
Ayala.
Zaldivar recently interviewed with OPO
Publisher Doug Kaplan to discuss what he believes is going on in the state
attorney’s office and what he believes should be done.
“It did not surprise me
because I expected that from her and where she stands politically.” begins Zaldivar ”
He describes his son as a kind,
generous, young man, who spoke three languages, had many friends and even more
potential to do good. The morning of his death his parents tried to reach him
following some car trouble
“It took us 19 years to raise
him. We lost him in a second. Two bullets to the back of the head.” Zaldivar adds “Aramis Ayala has thrown a monkey wrench in my personal
agenda. Hugs for thugs. She doesn’t need to be in there. Period. Her job is to
prosecute not legislate”
Zaldivar also denies points made by
Ayala’s supporters that the process behind seeking the death penalty is tougher
on families and believes their is a misproper use of office resources and
manpower currently taking place at the state attorney’s offices.
It’s because of all of these things, he
believes Ayala should be removed from her position.
“I think at this point yes,
because she’s lost all credibility in that office. Right now that office is a
complete disaster”
Zaldivar adds “I don’t trust her with my son’s case.
She would throw it out the window.”
Ultimately, he wants justice that will
allow Alex’s family to move on with their lives and hopes to start a new
business.
“I want this to end. Whatever
it takes. We’re going to bring him back. I don’t want her near the case.” Zaldivar says in closing “It’s very difficult. It’s very hard.”
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