OK-Poor Tricia was slammed with other things, so I winged my press release...I sent it to the AP Wire, Jodi of ABC, Atlanta ABC, Danielle Wilkerson TLC...and here it is...probably too wordy, but I have never done one before.
On January 26, 1999 a young girl was found terribly injured on east bound I10 out in Phoenix, AZ. She had been pushed or thrown from a moving vehicle at 75 mph, and she died the next day of her injuries. The driver of the vehicle was apprehended 20 miles from the scene and claimed no knowledge of the young girl's identity-he pled guilty to failing to render aid and fled the state after being released on probation four months after the crime.
This young girl, extraordinarily beautiful, lay unclaimed for more than 9 years in the Maricopa County medical examiner's office until she was finally buried in a Potters field. But she captured the heart and mind of not only the Medical Examiner who had her autopsied, but thousands of online sleuthers who wished desperately to give her back her name.
On August 23, 2008 her name was restored to her by the combined efforts of her family, a cold case detective in Phoenix and the online community who had adopted her as their own-Tawni Lee Mazzone of Lynn, MA, just 17 years old, had her life cut short by the cold, cruel actions of a man whose criminal history was well known to law enforcement. On the day she was formally identified, the perpetrator who had fled the state almost 10 years ago was captured and returned to custody to continue his sentence.
On January 11th, 2009 Judge Janna Vanderpool of Pinal County Superior Court will preside over a special jury trial, case number S-1100-CR-99025155. William Walker, aka Alonzo Fernandez, will finally be judged on his actions almost 10 years to the day that Tawni Lee Mazzone died. What makes this case unique is the defendant's continued reluctance to identify himself due to the fact that he pled guilty 9 years ago under an alias. On January 6th, 2009 there will be a series of motions heard by the judge concerning elements of the case that include information on Walker's lengthy criminal history involving violence against young women as well as whether or not the original plea deal will supercede the Mazzone's quest for justice now that Tawni Lee has been identified.
This is a opportunity for the press and the public to be a part of the justice which has long been denied in this case. There are loopholes in AZ law that allowed for the perpetrator who took Tawni's life to plead guilty under an alias. The time has come to hold the William Walker's of this world accountable for the damage they inflict both on the young women who cross their path, and the families who are left behind.
Please contact Judge Vanderpool's assistant for permission to film in the courtroom:
Pinal County Superior Court Division 6
Janna Vanderpool
Phone: 520-866-5407
FAX: 520-866-5404
Pinal County Superior Court
P.O. Box 986
Florence, AZ 85232
:blowkiss:
