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To whom it may concern,
The day our son was convicted of murder
and sentenced to death, he called me and said " Mom, I don't know
what they are trying to do to me, I didn't kill Staci."
He did not have to say that to me,
for I have always known my son was and is still innocent.
From the moment Sheriff Nick Navarro
went on national television (four days after they arrested my son) and
said "We got our man" I knew it was going to be a political thing
with the election coming up. Everyone had to back him up. They took
hair, skin, blood and under the nail samples.
Even pubic hair samples and lie detector
test everything came out unsubstantial evidence.
After six months of pressure from the
media of whether or not Michael was going to be charged of murder and not
just a suspect it was decided to be given to the grand jury.
Two of the family vehicles were impounded
at and returned the next day at 12 noon. The media was told
blond hair was found in one of the cars, but they were not told it was
dog hair belonging to our dog Bugsy. This case was tried by the media.
How they even found a jury that didn't hear or read about this case is
beyond me.
Michael did not own a car so he could
not figure out how he could kidnap someone and transport the body from
Landerhill to Coral Springs.
They tried to involve a van owned by
Michael's friend. At the grand jury Mark Peters testified that he
himself had the van all day and night. At the time of the trial he
could not be found to be given a subpoena. We wonder what happened
to him. His grand jury statement was not allowed at the trial.
Mr.Malavenda tried to get the trial out of Broward county it was denied.
Every motion Mr.Malavenda brought was
denied by the judge.
The state's only evidence or witness
they had was a man named Peter Salino who said Michael confessed to him
while at the Broward county jail. Enclosed are some articles
of this great honest witness who is offered money and reduced sentences
for information. I know this may be time consuming, but I will greatly
appreciate it if you can take some time to read the articles.
On one of the trial days a group of
children were allowed to be there, they were mostly all girls the same
age as Staci was. (11). It was a class outing. This received
the jurors attention. On the last day of the trial Mr.
John Walsh was present sitting with Staci's mother. That
also got the jurors attention. It seemed like that was the only was
the jurors could get the state's sympathy.
I am sorry if I sound bitter and angry,
but that is how I feel. My son did not receive a fair and just trial.
I am only letting out my feelings and frustrations like my psychologist
said I should. It is very hard for me to do this. I was even
called for jury duty this past summer and was excused because I could not
enter the courtroom.
It took the whole family (Mike's sisters,
brother and father) to be here for me to write this letter. We all
feel the same way. I am writing this on behalf of all of us.
Till this day I know my son is innocent
of murder and will stand by him for as long as he needs me. I feel
very sorry for Staci's family for losing a daughter but I refuse to lose
a son. I wish to thank all of you for taking the time to let me express
my feelings.
Sincerely
Mrs. Esther Rivera
P.S. Months after the trial we
also found out that the foreman of the jury knew Sheriff Nick Navarro personally.
I guess he wasn't honest when they questioned him for jury duty.
To bad I didn't save that newspaper
article.
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