Real Name: Gabe Semenza Member Since: September 30, 2007 Last Signed In: August 27, 2008 Profile Views: 731 Blog Views: 7260 Friday Night Lights: Stories from the sidelines Is South Texas ready for a black president? Is it OK for pastors to make millions of dollars? Victoria's Team: Dallas Cowboys or Houston Texans? Going to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games? Who is Hollywood's worst actor? Illegal immigration and the Sanctuary Movement Do you oppose illegal immigration? Any local in Corpus for Dolly? What will you do when Dolly makes landfall? September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 
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Never before had so many illegal immigrants died in one tragedy on American soil.
Rick Streeter was one of the first to witness the aftermath.
“I just remember the bodies,” Streeter said on Wednesday, pausing, “just scattered everywhere in the truck. We just tried to move the dead ones to find the living ones.”
It’s these images, shared by the Quail Creek volunteer firefighter and others, that resonate five years after the worst immigration tragedy in U.S. history.
It’s partially why we feel compelled to begin retelling the story in full starting in May.
On May 13, 2003, at least 73 illegal immigrants – including 5-year-old Marco Antonio – piled into a semi truck trailer.
For some, the journey began in Mexico. But for others, it began in countries such as Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
Like so many others, this group illegally entered the country in seek of a better life.
The group met human smugglers in Harlingen, this side of Mexico.
But what started in Harlingen as a trip of hope ended just miles south of Victoria in a horrific disaster.
The death of 19 of these immigrants changed Texas – and the U.S. political landscape – forever.
Just as they clawed for a better life here, passengers inside the trailer – sealed off from fresh air – clawed at the semi’s walls, began suffocating and cooking from the 173-degree Fahrenheit heat.
The late Michael Shelby was the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas who first prosecuted the smugglers.
“That’s one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen in my life,” he told the Advocate in May 2003. “This had to be one of the most panicked and terrifying ways that human beings can suffer before they die: in the pitch black darkness of extraordinary heat with all those people around you while you suffocate.”
To retell this story, the Advocate will revisit those who were there to witness the tragedy, those who survived, those who prosecuted the criminals and the family members who lost a loved one that day.
And we’re asking for your help. To retell this story, we’re soliciting your memories. What did you see? Do you know if any survivors are still in the Crossroads?
To offer you a roadmap of our plans, here is a very brief list of stories we’re attempting to cover:
We’re open to your suggestions, too.
I'll update you on what I learn. Please do the same.
Did the Austin debate between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama sway you to one candidate or the other? Experts have said the two are similar on a lot of issues. But did discussions, in what is called the most crucial debate between the two, show you clear-cut differences that will sway your vote on March 4? What's your take? I'm working on a story about the state of the justice system following mediation between our district attorney and law enforcement leaders. Since that mediation, more than 350 backlogged cases were taken by law enforcement to DA Steve Tyler's office. Before the mediation, a nearly three-month standstill forced those cases to remain un-reviewed, un-prosecuted and in boxes at the VPD and VCSO. To attain a firsthand glimpse of the justice system now that cases are flowing again, I sat for bits of a driving while intoxicated trial on Tuesday, a case that made it into the system as scheduled. But at the judge's bench, some of those backlogged cases were awaiting the trial's end. By many accounts, the system isn't bogged down from a rush of once backlogged cases, although some courts are experiencing more hectic days than usual. Did the standstill impact you? Were you a victim in a case that should have made it to court in October, November, December or January? Do you have any stories to share? Gabe Semenza/Advocate journalist If you don't feel comfortable sharing in this blog, reach me at gsemenza@vicad.com or 361-580-6519. The Advocate received an e-mail on Monday promoting Sen. Hillary Clinton's plans to stop in Corpus Christi on Wednesday:
Clinton, who is running for president, is running to the state that may make or break candidates vying for their party's nomination. Anytime a politician of Clinton's national status visits South Texas, it's cause for excitement -- good or bad. I confirmed her tentatively scheduled appearance on the Web site for the Nueces County Democrats. A story published online Monday at the Web site of the Corpus Christi-Caller Times, though, notes, "Clinton campaign spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod emphasized that the campaign has not picked a location or a time for the visit here." Be sure to check back for updates as I learn concrete details. I talked to local Democratic leaders on Monday who are excited about Clinton's scheduled visit, and the position Texas is in heading into the March primary. Stephen Jabbour, the Democratic party chairman, said he will be in Corpus Christi on Wednesday if his schedule allows. Are you going? If so, we'd love to view your pictures and video, and read your firsthand accounts. Let us know. Share your experience in this blog. If we receive enough material, it may even suffice as a print newspaper story. Gabe Semenza/Advocate journalist I talked to District Attorney Steve Tyler on Friday about his decision to request a special prosecutor in the Michael Ratcliff case. And I asked him what a special prosecutor would cost. Tyler said the special prosecutor would not cost the county any money if the appointee is an elected DA who also doesn’t practice privately. This appointee, in that example, falls under state law that allows for this free service. "It could cost a little or it could cost a lot. It’ll probably end up being someone who the judge chooses," Tyler said. Tyler wouldn’t speculate about the range of potential costs because of the great number of variables to consider. There’s no way yet to know exactly how much a special prosecutor will cost, according to the district clerk’s office. Total costs will vary depending on the amount of pretrial work required, as well as work required during the trial. No one knows yet how long that trial will last.
But last year, Ray Hardy Jr., a former Victoria County assistant district attorney, was appointed to try the Ahmad Rasheed trial.
Rasheed was found guilty of shooting and killing Eric Cook, a 19-year-old Victoria teen.
Hardy is an assistant district attorney for the 24th Judicial District – which includes DeWitt, Goliad and Refugio counties.
He was assigned the case because Tyler once defended Rasheed as a private-practice attorney, thus disqualifying him from this case.
The Rasheed trial lasted about a week – including the jury selection portion of it.
A check for $476.18 was paid to Hardy on Aug. 6, 2007, County Auditor Judy McAdams told me Friday. Hardy was paid from the DA’s discretionary fund, she said. Tyler said Hardy's office did Victoria County a favor. "That pay to Hardy was largely for travel and meals. His office absorbed his fees. They were doing us a big favor, and that price reflects that. It certainly doesn’t reflect the quality of work." Do you have any information or examples about the cost incurred when a special prosecutor is appointed?' Gabe Semenza/Advocate journalist As always, please share facts. If you know a rumor, call or e-mail with it and I'll verify it and share it with the group, or let you know the rumor is just that. My e-mail is gsemenza@vicad.com. My phone is 580-6519. An Advocate reader e-mailed today with questions about Rep. Ron Paul’s opponent in the District 14 race. “I have heard that Chris Peden’s FEC filing has not been filed,” wrote this concerned resident. “Since I classify this as a rumor, I thought I would email you first like you asked.” This question, and the manner in which it was asked, illustrates perfectly how we hope this blog, Crowdsourcing, works. While working together on forming and reporting stories, we don’t want to spread rumor. (For a rehash on the essence of what Crowdsourcing is, and how you and I can work together, click here.) As it turns out, Peden did file his Federal Election Commission paperwork on time. Peden’s committee – Chris Peden for Congress – is in good standing. “William Christopher Peden is an FEC-filed candidate for District 14,” said Hanz Klingler, Republican Party of Texas communications and political director. To see for yourself, visit this site. On the right side of the page, click Peden’s link, which is located beneath “Report History.” In the meantime, what stories out there need covering? What can we all dig into? As always, let's keep discussions in here centered on facts. If you hear a rumor, and would like it confirmed or squashed, e-mail or call me as did this gracious reader.
If I can confirm it, I'll share it with the group. In this case, even though the rumor is not true, it's a good example of how I hope this process works. If the rumor was true, then we would have a story worth printing in the newspaper. Gabe Semenza/Advocate journalist 361-580-6519 What is Crowdsourcing, and how can you get involved? I wrote a column about Crowdsourcing, which published in Sunday's print edition of the paper, but here's a quick overview: I should probably introduce myself: Gabe Semenza, Victoria Advocate journalist. Crowdsourcing is a fancy word for citizen journalism – kind of. “It’s a process in which readers submit individual reports that are collected into a larger dataset for use in reporting a story,” the Online Journalism Review notes. You, me, your neighbor down the street, the business owner, the bored employee, retiree and stay-at-home parent can attack a story thoroughly. We can collect facts, pictures, video and audio. The Internet allows us to meet in one place – as a group – to share the information, form stories and then publish it for the greater public’s digestion. We can cover just about anything. The only restriction I’d request is that the information we share be factual. In working together, let’s not spread or start rumors. If you hear a rumor and would like it verified, e-mail or call me. If I can confirm it, we can share it publicly in this blog and unleash the group on it. Contact me at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com. We can update everyone online about the progress we each make – and encourage each other all the way to publication day. Look for the Crowdsourcing logo in the paper. It'll be attached to the stories we worked together on in this blog. To get the ball rolling ... Offer a story idea we can all work on. Once a list is compiled, we can vote on which story to attack. From time to time, I'll solicit your help on a story, too. At a certain point, we may all be working on numerous stories. So, what story out there needs covering? What facts do you have to share about it? Again, if you know a rumor, call me first so I can verify it. I look forward to working together. |
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