Justice has a book but it also has a balance on the other hand. Efren Paredes has served enough time (more than half his life), especially since most of the evidence wasn't even found on him but on someone else that walked.
I am a friend of a friend of Efrens. I have heard from so many different people about the sad events of Efren's arrest coming from four different people in various towns. This is not only letting Efren go because of his innocence. It is also about Judges, Politics, egos, mislogged evidence and so much more.
I am a teacher and this is an abomination. To allow an innocent kid to pay for the murder of someone he held dear was one offense but to have it repeatedly covered up by those that hold the power is completely and utterly insane. Where are the lawyers that can solve this case? Two such long term cases were recently resolved in my home town. The complacency to allow Efren to take the fall for the murder and then for the cover up by the prosecution is sick and wrong. Please Efren, know that I am in your corner. Look at where the other guys involved are? Are the police that dumb tht they can not see that the brothers and one of the other accused went to to commit murders again? Stop allowing Efren to be the fall guy. How he remains so positive is only by divine grace.
This is a horrible story about how a young innocent mans life are ruined and while the quilty ones go free. Are the ones who did the crime relatives to powerful people in the politics or other??? This smells coruption long way. I will pray for you Efren, you will be a free man. We must all believe that. Greetings from Norway Embla Laache
I went to school with all of the people involved in this case.I hung out with Steve Miller almost on a daily basis for a while around this time. I did not realize the extent of his behavior. I did know his dad dealt with drugs and I felt kind of sorry for him having been brought up in this kind of life. After reading some of the imformation on Steve I can not believe that he was the same person I had hung out with. To know that I was hanging around someone with these kind of problems shocks me now. Steve told me the day before the murder that Efren and the Mui's were going to rob Vineland, He said that they wanted him to help but he was not going to. Of course I did not believe this and I told Steve that they would not do that. When I heard about the crime on the radio I felt sick. I thought maybe I could have done something if I would have taken it seriously. I was young and did not know what to do. All I had was what Steve said. After all these years and reading the infomation on the case, I wonder if Steve told me that to help lay the blame on Efren. I guess my main concern is I wonder if anyone took into consideration the mental compasity a 15 year old boy would have to have to murder someone he new. Someone he respected and worked with. Efren had no history of mental problems. I believe it would take a child with a history of mental and behavioral problems to walk into his place of employment and murder his manager that he worked with and talked to on a weekly basis. I have thought all these years that Efren was guilty, but now I wonder otherwise. Of course no one knows the truth except the people who were there. I am signing this because something in my heart tells me that this case was not conducted properly and I do not believe that Efren got a fair trial. Efren I am sorry that I did not do something when Steve told me. Maybe I could have reported this infomation and this would have never happened, but then maybe no one would have believed me. I hope
I went to Lakeshore High School with Efren. I was a couple years ahead of him, but we shared one class. I did not know him well at all, but I do remember thinking that it was hard to imagine the kid I saw in class being the murderous gang member he was portrayed as after his arrest. I also remember being almost sick with disgust when I saw Steve Miller out having fun after the arrests because it seemed like everyone knew he had played at least some part in Rick's murder. I have a feeling the FBI would not be willing to vouch for Steve Miller's credibility. I don't have any way to know for sure if Efren is innocent, but I have a terrible feeling inside that he has in fact been imprisoned all these years for a crime he did not commit. The one thing I do know for sure, after having read all the information I've found about the case, is that Efren should at least have a chance at a new and fair trial--with an examination of ALL the facts. I just pray that true justice be done.
There is no doubt this is the truth. Way too often the courts do not care who is really guilty as long as someone is willing to point the finger at the other person, making a case for the prosecution and making the public happy. Please stop sentencing our youth to life in prison.
This is one of the most tragic examples of racism and injustice. I sincerely hope that he will be exonerated. I hope that there is karmic justice for the police who tortued an innocent young boy.
More than half of this person's life has been stolen by false arrest and incarceration. This shameful pattern of racism and injustice should be exposed!
This is clearly an injustice and must be rectified immediately. A young boy was tried as an adult and has spent the most productive years of his life incarcerated for a crime that he had nothing to do with. This practice must be abolished. Either he is allowed a new trial or he goes free.
Please release my son he has been in prison for a crime he never commited and has always claimed his innocence.17 years of his life have been taken away from our family for a wrongful conviction this must end.
