Dont write to this fool, he committed such a heinous crime...Rest in Peace Maria Alva, 15, and her brothers, Alicio, 19, and Jerry, 18. Also killed was Tanya Valdez, 15, a friend of Marias. GUILTY VERDICT IN FIREBOMB SLAYINGS Detroit Free Press (MI) - Friday, May 28, 1982 Author: JOE SWICKARD Free Press Staff Writer Frank Colon was convicted Thursday of four counts of first- degree murder for the August firebombing deaths of four sleeping teenagers on Detroits southwest side. A Recorders Court jury of five men and seven women needed only two hours to reach their verdict after a 3-week trial before Judge Richard Hathaway. Colon, 28, showed no emotion when the verdict was announced. But Raymundo and Rosario Alva -- parents of three of the victims -- squeezed each others hands every time the jury foreman announced guilty. DEFENSE attorney Charles Campbell complimented Assistant Prosecutor Robert Monk for his great victory in a hard-fought courtroom battle. But a grim-faced Monk said: This is not a great victory. Im just sorry that people should be killing other people. Colon, also convicted of one count of arson, faces mandatory life in prison without parole; he can be freed only by a governors pardon. Hathaway set sentencing for June 9. Colon and two other men -- Pedro Medina, 23, and Louis Cabrera, 28 -- were accused of firebombing the Alvas Morrell Street home last August as part of long-standing feud between the Alvas and Medina. Killed in the blaze were Maria Alva, 15, and her brothers, Alicio, 19, and Jerry, 18. Also killed was Tanya Valdez, 15, a friend of Marias. THE FEUD started over the fatal 1980 stabbing of Tony Alva, an uncle of the three firebombing victims, by Colon -- a killing that was ruled self-defense. There were skirmishes between the two factions in the week before the bombing, and Medina claimed his house was twice attacked by the Alvas just before the bombing. According to police and Fire Department arson investigators, four gasoline-filled bottles were thrown into the Alva house. Cabrera, charged with first-degree murder , was convicted of manslaughter and arson two months ago by a jury. Judge Justin Ravitz sentenced him to 6-20 years. Medina accepted an offer from the Prosecutors Office and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder before Judge David Kerwin. He was sentenced to 15-25 years in exchange for a promise to testify for the prosecution if necessary. Colon originally accepted the same offer from Kerwin, but unexpectedly withdrew his guilty plea on the sentencing date. Kerwin, who disqualified himself from hearing the trial, told Colon he hoped a jury would convict him. ** Caption: Pix Edition: STATE EDITION Section: NWS Page: 3A Index Terms: CONVICTION ; BOMB Record Number: 8301030088 Copyright (c) 1982 Detroit Free Press
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 03:05:34 +0000
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