0:00

I'm Julia Paskin. Join me as

0:02

I talk with NPR's Sarah McCammon

0:05

about her new book, The Exvangelicals,

0:07

Loving, Living, and Leaving the White

0:09

Evangelical Church. That's April 25th at

0:11

the Crawford. Tickets at laist.com/events. Hey,

0:18

I'm Antonia Seregido, and this

0:20

is Imperfect Paradise from LAist

0:22

Studios, the show about hidden

0:24

worlds and messy realities. You're

0:27

listening to a special redrop of

0:29

Imperfect Paradise, the Forgotten Revolutionary, from

0:31

our second season. Last episode, we

0:34

learned about Oscar's college years and

0:36

his road to activism. You

0:39

know, the jolly kid that came up

0:41

to me that freshman year, he became

0:43

very serious, like angry.

0:47

This episode, Adolfo follows his

0:49

first lead, a theory

0:52

that one of Oscar's friends may have had

0:54

something to do with his death. Here's

0:59

LAist correspondent Adolfo Guzman-Lopez.

1:04

I found a video of Oscar

1:06

Gomez being interviewed after a rally

1:09

at UC Santa Barbara in 1991.

1:13

Right now we're interviewing people to see

1:15

their reactions after the events of today.

1:19

Can you state your name and where you're from? Okay,

1:21

my name is Oscar Gomez, aka El Bandido, from

1:23

UC Davis. What

1:25

are your reactions to Deja, and what

1:27

do you think was accomplished? A

1:30

lot of things were accomplished as far as, as

1:32

UC Davis coming all the way from

1:34

where we're at to come down and

1:36

to our Poyara, Mr. Acuna. It brought a

1:38

sense of union, a moment of raza,

1:42

to let them know. Oscar's surrounded

1:44

by a few other student activists. He's

1:47

the tallest, bending down a little to speak

1:49

into the microphone, wearing sunglasses

1:51

and a brown Baja hoodie.

1:54

This is actually the first time I've heard

1:56

him outside his radio show. Here he says...

2:00

More casual. Relaxed. In

2:02

some ways to more personable is is about

2:05

as a little digging on as far as

2:07

Mitt and other other us to get another

2:09

undetected excellence going into the twenty first century

2:11

with more in Vienna to censor says and

2:13

I think that the rudeness gonna be a

2:16

power in a causes us where are our

2:18

pride isn't and races are and on live

2:20

in long they've been there is stance on

2:22

long as. I

2:24

can affect your name and were at

2:26

first my eyes are glued to Oscar.

2:30

But. Then I'm looking at his crew.

2:32

And. I realize. For. Someone important

2:34

standing behind Oscar and

2:36

the interviewer. another to

2:39

gonna activist. He's. Quiet

2:41

in this video and he's a little

2:43

shorter with a thin black moustache and

2:45

of bribery. It's. Know

2:47

when? Where's that? He.

2:51

Was ask us good friend. Is

2:53

also my first person of interest and the

2:56

semester case. After Oscar

2:58

staff the lot of Oscars family

3:00

and friends saw no in a

3:02

suspicious that's according to ask us

3:04

friend apple tablet who we heard

3:06

from last episode at Oscars. Great.

3:08

Sakara because Noel by his nickname

3:11

naming and an old killed then

3:13

know who killed asked. Was

3:15

buddies from a hazard? Big.

3:17

Hazard is an infamous gain from

3:19

the Ramona Gardens public housing development

3:22

in Boyle Heights. Is it

3:24

was military gathered he was in a big

3:26

hazard but all his family, his friends he

3:28

grew up in that area. Oscar.

3:31

Was kind of have made a big

3:33

impact on then. I thought he was

3:35

our friends. Like. Oscar.

3:37

Noel was also a chicken. A

3:39

Student activists, according to the gutted

3:42

or Oscar marched with Noel on

3:44

November sixteenth, Nineteen Eighty Four. the

3:46

day before Oscar died. He.

3:48

Was supposed to stay at know his place in

3:50

Santa Barbara. Said God to

3:52

believes there was a party that night

3:54

the all gather up as a their

3:57

his house or as Buddy's house or

3:59

somebody else. There

4:02

was two girls. they're. Both

4:05

two girls with a girl friends

4:07

have to his buddies from from

4:10

hazard. Oscar

4:12

have an as is as KP

4:14

Quarter, so he's interviewed email about

4:16

what's going on and that's one

4:18

of the to the two guys

4:20

walk. According to the God

4:22

of them, these two guys are mad at

4:24

Oscar. Why? Did they get all pissed off? Fiverr

4:28

do Oscar He was tall.

4:32

He was pretty cut up. Good

4:34

luck in. they probably thought he's

4:36

moving in on a girl. Why

4:38

you intervene or girls. This

4:43

is the first time I'm hearing about

4:45

the possibility of during involvement in Oscars

4:47

death was it was telling me broadly

4:49

does match up with what we know

4:51

from the Coroner's report from the Santa

4:53

Barbara Sheriff's Office the reports has asked

4:55

her was last seen alive on November

4:58

sixteenth, around nine thirty pm in the

5:00

Isle of is the neighborhood of Santa

5:02

Barbara. I love this does

5:04

Right next to campus and a lot of

5:06

students live there. The report says the victim

5:09

was intoxicated and indicated to his friends that

5:11

he wanted to get out of the apartment

5:13

to walk around for a while. Why

5:17

Oscar left the apartment and what

5:19

happened to him after. That

5:21

still a mystery, but regardless, saying

5:23

at least one of those friends

5:25

was no way. Many. Because

5:28

It Bleeds. Oscar was killed and he

5:31

believes members a big hazard were involved.

5:33

Wouldn't want us to find out. It'll

5:36

give some comfort to know. Oh

5:38

yeah you know what we were right or hey to

5:40

what we were wrong. I can be blaming and a

5:43

for something he didn't do. That

5:45

or I would like to know and

5:47

if it's my if it's my bad

5:50

you know my fault my air my

5:52

apologize to the sound of my apologies

5:54

in or but I need to know

5:57

such as to be clear minutes whole

5:59

do. There were friends of

6:01

his from Big Hazard, their.

6:05

City. Goodness say that they killed

6:07

Oscars Know he didn't say that.

6:10

He tried to defuse in try to. Ah,

6:14

make me believe that nothing happens.

6:19

If you know anything about those

6:21

kind of people, something. On

6:26

ah those who who's hello best

6:29

him. This is imperfect paradise, the

6:31

forgotten revolutionary. Were

6:35

about to get closer to the

6:37

night that asked died and gets

6:39

way more complicated than I could

6:42

have imagined. This

6:44

episode west know is do.

6:59

I wish I could as know when were

7:01

tied directly. What happened that night. What?

7:03

He knows. That he

7:05

died in two thousand and seventeen. He

7:08

was forty five years old. Trick

7:10

audible Tapia is not the only

7:12

ones who is suspicious of noise.

7:14

After Oscars desk, the Gomez family

7:16

felt like Noel avoided them. When.

7:19

We talked Mr and Mrs. Gomez said

7:21

they believed the well kept secret about

7:23

their son's death. Mr. Gomez

7:25

even keeps a copy of know as a

7:28

bit wary as a possible clue. It's

7:30

written by know as brother Alberto, who's

7:32

now an accomplice to kind of scholar.

7:35

Mr. Gomez brings the obituary up

7:37

pretty early in our conversations. We've

7:40

we've seen as and I just

7:43

saw that it as soon as

7:45

I read up ccs. what did

7:47

you see in there that interested

7:49

use I see I see like

7:51

don't like though. His

7:53

role assistance is too young. And

7:56

then is him. He's trying to

7:58

write it. It it

8:00

off as soon to get it off

8:02

wherever. Mr. Gomez the same know when

8:04

must have said something to Albanel. something

8:07

that Albert was trying to hint at

8:09

in the Wins obituary in there and

8:11

says as the of us that asked

8:13

her was like a big influence and

8:15

zoom. Zoom

8:17

and saying I guess or whatever with her

8:20

have. A Heated Here's

8:22

what the obituary says: One

8:24

know an experienced witness violent events

8:27

in the projects in Santa Barbara.

8:29

Nothing could prepare him for the

8:31

tragic and mysterious death of one

8:33

of his best friends. Or

8:35

Scott has been digital gomez in Nineteen

8:38

Eighty Four. While.

8:40

We'll never know what happened to

8:42

was got smart, talented and handsome

8:44

young to garner. This tragic incident

8:47

had a major emotional mental impact

8:49

on the when until the end.

8:52

Was holding Santa Barbara know and

8:54

withdrew from activism mainly due to

8:56

the death of his homeboy. If

8:58

I remember correctly, he says that.

9:01

Oscars death was the most

9:03

significant. Effect

9:05

it has his brother yeah for the rest

9:07

of his life. Yeah. So the question is

9:09

how? because he didn't say how I think

9:11

you've been. Easier

9:14

you see houses are

9:16

school. As a citizen

9:18

affected he obviously did

9:20

because do. The last received.

9:25

A letter was a professor sore point of

9:28

contact. Info online quit. I emailed

9:30

him asking if we can talk

9:32

to my surprise who oppose An

9:34

hour later, Saying. He remembers me.

9:37

He tells me I interviewed him for story more than

9:39

a decade ago. He writes

9:41

me that he's tried to avoid this issue,

9:43

but that he wants to set the record

9:45

straight about his brother. When.

9:47

I give him a call. he sounds

9:49

threatening angry that they're still blame laid

9:52

on know when. If you're

9:54

choosing my brother he says. We. Have

9:56

a problem. Deaths.

10:00

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But if you ask some people... Producer.

12:07

Napoli to now skyn. I mean I'll about

12:09

aware that it is townhouse in the west

12:11

side of Los Angeles. It's. Clean

12:13

and spaces. White walls,

12:15

high ceilings, as we

12:17

turn our phones off on but of take the

12:19

opportunity to crack a joke. Which

12:22

is which one is there are twelve am

12:24

I So let it get him a for

12:26

the first. Album

12:31

was a skinny man well dressed in

12:33

a suit jacket as if he's going

12:35

to do a Tv interview is much

12:37

less intimidating then He was on the

12:39

phone cracking jokes about teaching classes resume

12:42

in his pajamas. He has a small

12:44

chubby white dog named mobile. Wealth.

12:46

And Spanish lobo powders over whenever Alberto

12:48

raises his voice or gets emotional. Let's

12:50

act as you say your name on

12:52

what to do Please. Okay,

12:56

I'm up. The. Doctor All about a

12:58

weapon. Her mom. A

13:00

fellow at Harvard Divinity School, and

13:02

I'm an associate professor at Cal

13:04

Poly Pomona. I. Ask Alberto

13:07

about how his family came to Ramona

13:09

Gardens and he starts the story way

13:11

back in Mexico. He. Says his

13:13

grandfather fled of by only family feud and

13:15

me talk on. A few that

13:18

rivaled the Hatfields and Mccoys. They moved

13:20

to the planner and work the fields

13:22

in San Diego. Then. Moved to

13:24

Hollywood into a home with thirty people.

13:27

From there on a says his mother applied

13:29

for public housing. That's. How

13:31

they move to Ramona Gardens. Now.

13:34

Ramona Guard is happens to be one of the

13:36

most violent neighborhoods and in the United States. Also

13:39

known as bait hazard. The

13:42

big has a project. A

13:45

friend of mine grew up in remote gardens

13:48

around the same time the web as did

13:50

and he knows all about the big Hazard

13:52

day. He

13:54

saw lot of island spirit which is in

13:56

part why he doesn't want me to use

13:58

his name. Told me

14:00

about teenagers attack with machetes and

14:03

drive by students with rival gangs

14:05

and also a time when police

14:07

officers threatened to shoot him simply

14:09

for being a Ramona Gardens resident.

14:13

Has similar memories. So when we

14:15

got there in the seventies. You.

14:18

Get to the neighborhood and the have to

14:20

fight is me that the initiation in a

14:23

fight against who. The neighborhood kids.

14:26

So. They welcome you and they beat you

14:28

up and then they hug Yoyo you're one

14:30

of us know in I grew up in

14:32

national city Mexican food pin on Abraham the

14:35

I hadn't but not my pants took me

14:37

out of that community to for schools and

14:39

everything side and never really had to cross

14:41

gang territory and had to deal with him

14:43

and everything but the person you've heard this

14:45

that to get jumped in and and then

14:47

you're in high places. I

14:50

mean yes and no. That and the thing

14:52

was when their kids is different So when

14:55

their kids there's just like plane you know

14:57

speak tent. And.

14:59

Then I'm. And then some. take

15:01

it seriously, and then they go in that direction. So.

15:03

You always have like one guy was his older

15:05

brothers are in the gang. And. They're

15:07

killers. Ah, and they've been

15:09

in not a prison so a lot of times. Even

15:12

though they're smarter than you, they like their bullies and.

15:14

They pick on you. Could they not? You can do anything to

15:16

them. A cow was

15:18

always like nervous and because I

15:20

was skinny on my life and

15:22

to the present side in have

15:25

like a physical abilities to fight

15:27

ah solver time I had a

15:29

could be passed mechanism was funny

15:31

Mr Lamb and buffer being a

15:33

login. And. Saw. A.

15:36

Lot of times I would I would. Make.

15:38

Does. The local

15:40

kids are like the bully the main guy like

15:42

laugh and the he liked me. Even

15:45

though I didn't grow up in a place like

15:47

Ramona Gardens. I. Can relate to what I'm about

15:49

to say. When there's violence around

15:51

you, You. Have to figure out ways

15:54

to defend yourself. National. City.

15:56

Where. I grew up. Is. Also home

15:58

to some historic day. And

16:00

twelve I decided to start working out. Because.

16:03

I wanted to look strong every time I saw

16:05

a man on the street. I. Sized. I'm

16:08

I'm. Trying. To figure out if he was

16:10

a threat. It was

16:12

dysfunctional. Are.

16:15

You know, growing up in a place like that, in

16:17

the inside, the household, an outside. But

16:20

I've been as a day is somebody messes with one

16:22

of us. Than that, they're gonna get it from

16:24

all of us. So we

16:26

we we live in environment where you know the

16:28

the used to pick up my brother's a lot

16:30

and my sister his eyes to go beat up

16:32

the kids they become. Those

16:34

this you're obligated to do that. So.

16:37

Violence has always been part of our our,

16:39

our, our family, And

16:42

is not something that were afraid of. A

16:45

lot of says their father didn't talk much.

16:48

Didn't. Share motions and wasn't the type

16:50

to say hey son, let's go outside

16:52

and play catch. In

16:54

a house with a kids? it sounds

16:56

like Alberto took on a parental role

16:58

toward his little brother. know as. A

17:01

hero fatherly pride as on photo

17:03

talks about how know in found

17:05

ways to excel despite the violence

17:08

and dysfunction around him. He.

17:10

Got into like gob pop, lock him in in

17:12

and break dancing. The when you got into

17:14

that, he was really good at it. Saw

17:17

was taken places and then he would compete against

17:19

the kids. And. In

17:21

sports. When he would play baseball, he was

17:23

the pitcher. When you play football he was

17:25

abused or the quarterback. Albatrosses.

17:28

Noel was a better student at school

17:30

that he was as a teenager know

17:32

and read the writings of thinkers like

17:34

Malcolm X. He got accepted into both

17:36

U C L A and U C

17:39

Berkeley when he was seventeen. Men

17:41

ends up from donors U C

17:43

Santa Barbara Did he take a

17:45

step further and get involved or

17:47

one start an organization or joined

17:49

any organizations? A D C Santa

17:52

Barbara. Know. I was already

17:54

politicized that that fourteen. So by time

17:56

you've gotta Santa Barbara he became involved

17:58

in a congressional. In. Congress or

18:01

is U C Santa Barbara's version of

18:03

Metra? Did you done? A student organization?

18:05

That's actually how Noel met another friend

18:07

of Oscars who did say good a

18:10

mortar She's the one who recruited Oscar.

18:12

The Mets are at U C Davis.

18:15

We. Heard from her last episode. See.

18:17

I know as dated on and off for

18:19

two years around this time. So

18:21

she has another perspective on who

18:23

he was during college and what

18:25

happened after Oscar died. With.

18:28

When need to know about noise works as

18:30

a as a as a person as an

18:32

intellectual person. All his theory am.

18:35

Like a historian, Deeply

18:38

involved in the details of the chicken

18:40

or movements from the sixties honor which

18:42

was part of the reason why I

18:44

was attracted to that. Like the intellectual

18:47

curiosity. Who. Deeds and know well

18:49

we're no longer dating when Oscar died,

18:51

but they were still close enough that

18:53

he told her about that night. Hoodies

18:56

says no as told her there was a party. Like

18:59

we've heard about before. A tense exchange

19:01

over a girl. And then

19:03

asked her last to chill out. But.

19:06

After Oscars death many of his

19:08

family and friends like Oscars parents

19:10

like retired who started wondering is

19:12

there wasn't more to know when's

19:15

version of what happen. Instantly.

19:18

The. Suspicion started going against.

19:21

Know is. Why? Would he let

19:23

him walk off by himself? When

19:25

he was. Pushed.

19:29

Out of the party, And

19:31

that create a lot of tension for

19:34

me because. On on the

19:36

one hand, On not annoying and I

19:38

were not. In a relationship By

19:40

that time that I was still very much

19:42

have. Committed friends.

19:45

I trusted him. I knew that he

19:47

would never did anything to hurt pasta.

19:50

But it was. Possible. Negligence.

19:53

To Not. Like. To

19:55

be under the influence in a

19:58

party and then your friends. Is

20:00

having conflict with someone and has

20:02

been. Forced

20:05

to leave. And.

20:09

Noel been at the party. The

20:12

party is more important. For

20:14

the moments. Than the

20:16

bigger commitment to things in all

20:18

substance and happened to my friends.

20:22

I could have a different opinion about what

20:24

happened because also was also one who was

20:26

not going to be told what to do.

20:28

So let's let's assume that. Elm

20:31

know is telling him hey man believed

20:33

only things would be cool things cool

20:36

but asked of now didn't sell welcome

20:38

and he said nah and I'm getting

20:40

this is I'm getting out of here

20:42

and walked on the ones. I

20:45

could see the scenario as well. Either

20:51

way, about fifteen hours later, Cosco was

20:53

down. Life was on the shore, a

20:55

mile and a half away, Him

20:58

as the person closest to ask her that

21:00

night know it does seem to be the

21:03

one most likely to know what happened. The

21:07

Saw raises a lot of questions for me. And.

21:10

The was brother Alberto has some

21:12

answers. That's. After the break.

21:17

I'm Tiny Mosley and Nineteen Eighty

21:19

Seven. My sister in need of

21:21

vanished without a trace. decades later.

21:23

thanks to Dna we found her.

21:25

But that's only the beginning of

21:28

the story. And She has a

21:30

Name is a new audio documentary

21:32

that explores the search for redemption,

21:34

confronting trauma and healing in the

21:37

face of unimaginable loss. Subscribe. Now

21:39

the Truth be Told Presents See

21:41

has a name for every revelation

21:43

brings us closer to the truth.

21:49

About a whisper remembers Oscar

21:51

Gomez well. He. Was one

21:53

of his brothers good friends. Nowhere

21:56

is started hanging out with with

21:58

Oscar through the congress. The on

22:00

you know congress I met the this

22:02

is really the same thing I'm only

22:04

met Oscar once. in a one of

22:06

those big rallies. the guy he's your mind me a

22:08

lot of my my brother you know he had everything

22:10

is good looking dude. Ah,

22:13

He was smart. Talented.

22:17

And then he loved music. In.

22:19

In him and I think that's what brought him

22:22

in. My bra had a lot in common cause

22:24

they both live music. And and

22:26

been Shukarno. Been. In

22:28

of predominately white school big gravitate towards each

22:30

other so it's is three the next a

22:33

spaces for each other. You. So

22:35

Oscars body was found November

22:38

seventeenth. Ninety Four. When did

22:40

many point? I

22:44

don't remember like the exact me back then. There

22:46

were no cellphones right? the my dad saw I

22:48

don't remember the exact them except for some I

22:50

talked them about it. But.

22:53

I'm here's what happened. So

22:55

there was like four guys. That. Were

22:58

drinking. And.

23:00

The Oscar got into a fight with one of them.

23:05

And king. And. Then then

23:07

he broke it up. And.

23:10

And. at this point attorney remember ever was night or

23:12

not him and might have been. And.

23:15

Then Oscar left as he was pissed off. So

23:20

by the time, many. In

23:23

the and the guys are looking for him to

23:25

the word they couldn't find them. So.

23:28

Far. This. Version of the story

23:30

is similar to what we've heard before. For.

23:33

Those Four guys. Non. On like

23:35

two other guys know about you before you said.

23:38

Then. A oscar and two guys. Oh,

23:42

after you meant there were four

23:44

guys in addition to okay. There's.

23:46

Four total toy with many. Asked.

23:50

Her. And two guys.

23:53

Yeah. I was confused because I'd heard

23:55

that were more. The reason I'm stuck

23:57

on this detail is that I wanna

23:59

find out. Who else was there the

24:01

night Oscar died? For. The

24:03

two guys. Door for Matches

24:05

Sternum doors stood as easy Santa

24:07

Barbara. Adam

24:09

rather names and I never ask. A

24:12

childhood friend of Oscars who he

24:14

taught to recently said that many

24:16

called the him the day after

24:18

ah asked was home and told

24:21

him that they were friends of

24:23

name is from Big hazard. That

24:26

nazi. His life. Does.

24:32

Not so. Those

24:37

were students. I asked them to

24:39

i some point blank what happened to me Tommy? So.

24:43

Everybody see this. A lot of rumors out

24:45

there. Okay

24:47

and I put everything I say: I'm the name, my

24:49

mother, my son. And everything I

24:51

find sacred New. My.

24:54

So. There's no reason for me to lie. Or

24:57

most loyal more than anything to

25:00

my family. So

25:02

if there's something that like. It's

25:05

gonna hurt my family, my gonna

25:07

protect them yes and my gonna

25:09

talk about enough to not for

25:11

my gun is like. Smits.

25:14

All my family or say something out of it. Now I'm never going

25:16

to do that. In a that

25:18

that kind of like what we're from. What what we

25:20

have that mentality like if somebody does something bad you,

25:22

you deal with it in house you don't You don't

25:24

turn him over to the carbs, you don't do that

25:26

or the homey understand the sun. Little just a moment

25:29

of ago though, I can have heard you say that.

25:32

They also seen are looking up at who the

25:34

card after from. yeah you you insane is something

25:36

that would put your family is right right? right?

25:38

right? From. The way I can

25:40

hear them say this is a was uses his his

25:42

they were don't laugh at how and why wouldn't you

25:44

wouldn't say that know But it was about. Or

25:47

was it. I

25:50

understand what you're saying, but I like I live,

25:52

I'm just I'm giving this. I was young. This

25:54

is the codes that I live under in. A

25:57

Lot. How said Howard?

26:00

The guy from the project's gonna be an

26:02

apartment that a stupid best. The stupidest thing

26:04

that the university. There was no two

26:06

guys from Hazard that us natural. Why?

26:09

Would they even go to the project? My brother my brother

26:11

was in from hazard. Why? Would

26:13

they hang out guys them hazard only hang out with other

26:15

guys from has it doesn't work that way to this what

26:17

I mean will be be logical. If

26:22

you're not in a gang, you're like a civilian. You

26:25

don't hang out with the gang members. If

26:27

those guys were from Hazard, don't get the

26:29

mess around. With

26:31

i don't get them as or on that would have jumped on writer.

26:34

At the House vs those gentlemen that said that

26:36

he literally like not that they would it kill

26:39

them but they want to just beat him up

26:41

and. Was or

26:43

ever their a woman and one where away from them

26:45

that the Saudis given. Their

26:49

years there are there's an apartment or

26:51

their their party so there's not so

26:53

that that a whole thing that whole

26:55

has to be like stricken for the

26:57

record that doesn't make sense at all

26:59

there's there's no ground there's no basis

27:01

for it men and never told you

27:03

about a particular know with into the

27:05

citing saying he goes back to the

27:07

as we just don't ask questions like

27:09

when things happen in the neighborhood you

27:12

don't ask questions. Selective

27:14

somebody gets onto a fire

27:16

or somebody says somebody's draws.

27:18

And something goes wrong. We don't ask like would feed, it

27:20

would have, like it's just part of. You

27:23

know how you grew up in. Those.

27:25

Are the questions that was most concerned about

27:28

were. What?

27:30

Happened in terms of like with the

27:32

cops in on. Because. What

27:34

ends up happening was that the cops

27:36

interrogated everybody. That. Would have been part of

27:38

the reporting. So. Gang of believe we didn't

27:40

it until your by when they interviewed. By.

27:43

The Awesome: The same questions that

27:45

everybody everybody's asking. Is like what

27:47

happened. And. In exactly

27:50

the story that I'm Tania does the exact.

27:52

That's what happened as what he told the

27:54

cops not a there was something suspicious and

27:56

the Cavs would have would have arrested. Nobody

27:58

said he was involved. I've never heard that

28:00

so. For the record and look at it

28:03

I mean honestly have been like the he knew good

28:05

it in a. That's. That's the rumor.

28:07

and then with this guy saying that the guys from has

28:09

or whether that's not true a brother he didn't he was

28:11

in and the gang never again. He didn't hang out with

28:13

the guys from as. But. That's a life. After

28:22

Oscars know when withdrew from Oscars

28:24

family and friends oscars family said

28:26

they would not able to sit

28:28

down and talk to the with

28:30

about where happen. They

28:33

saw it as a sign that

28:35

he was hiding something but I

28:37

got a were assessed withdrawn was

28:40

actually about something else. regret. Regret.

28:43

That Noel didn't stop Oscar

28:45

from leaving the party. Would

28:47

really affect the game is that. It

28:50

was like he was the last one to see him

28:52

and then in his mind like I could have done

28:54

something. Like I can to

28:56

prevent his death. Those kind of this guilt their. Do

28:59

remember him telling you something to that effect

29:01

was when he said. He'd

29:04

laugh like that. My. Brother: He did

29:06

go after him, but it was too late. Right

29:10

I was gonna like i don't know of it

29:12

was a mandate or to utter know avast ran

29:14

you know what I mean Sea bass the on

29:16

know we don't know. Some

29:19

speculate once he lives, nobody

29:21

knows what happened. So.

29:24

Even if it wasn't true, just a quest has

29:26

been. Ah, I'm.

29:30

Like last Item or a alike

29:32

dude like their been attacked from

29:34

different directions in effect on his

29:36

mental. In

29:39

the years after. Noel. Siblings

29:42

sound success. Alberto

29:44

as a professor and harbored fellow. Another

29:47

brothers Solomon is a nationally renowned

29:49

painter and unbought oh says no

29:51

in was the smartest of them

29:53

are. But Alberto says

29:55

no one's life took a turn. Because.

29:58

Of these accusations. A

30:00

turn that affected him for the rest

30:02

of his life. Was gonna with

30:04

many were was a living was into the whole

30:07

down to.org on oh yeah my going to get

30:09

into that it goes back to what I'm saying

30:11

about the da protecting his are that the past

30:13

the ways I don't wanna i don't wanna sunlight

30:15

on the act as if he was alive by

30:17

what I would let him like speak for himself.

30:20

By the like at the end of the day

30:22

where a family so little as a family we

30:24

always like. Protect ourselves

30:26

And protect each other. All

30:29

I can say without is like that. that. The

30:33

Oscar in Sit In A A

30:35

was. Like a

30:37

traumatic. Incident

30:39

that. That

30:42

affect them through the rest of his life. And.

30:47

And part of it had to do with like

30:49

his own guilt liking him thinking to himself i

30:51

could have done this I couldn't than that you

30:54

know like you want to go back and but

30:56

you can go back and you're a bitter a

30:58

you didn't say how he died know. How

31:01

did he does? Not

31:04

know goes back to hims mm the going into that

31:07

will die when i sit in that in the wake

31:09

he like he died of a broken heart. The

31:19

I was. I

31:22

can put it. To

31:28

grow up the way we didn't You have to be. You

31:32

have to lose your humanity. In

31:36

order to to withstand that

31:38

into come out alive. If

31:42

you have your humanity be have your your

31:44

the new. You're not going to make. But

31:48

it's not normal for anybody to see violence.

31:51

Like. As a kid. Is.

31:53

Not normal for like to see that your friend

31:56

got killed or none a second but ask him

31:58

but can be farther. About

32:00

yourself. My. Whole family. You've

32:03

seen people get killed. Yes, And

32:05

you're seeing you in is that many also witnessed or

32:08

since Yankee? When is that all? My whole family that.

32:11

And so lot of times with the

32:13

homeboys, the channel that and they become

32:15

that if nobody gives a fuck about

32:18

me. Why? Should I do a fuck about it?

32:22

But. The thing with any of that? he was too

32:24

sensitive. That was his problem. When

32:27

something happen it it impacted him

32:29

more. Than the

32:31

average person. And gay

32:33

and or or like as

32:35

to cardinals as males. In

32:38

a we're not a cost of. Like

32:41

to say I love you. Know

32:44

like I never told my father I love them. For example,

32:46

When. He never told me. But

32:48

then it was a like a loving. Name.

32:52

Would say that to you. Didn't.

32:56

He taught you to say that. Yeah.

32:59

That's what I said at the funeral. I'm

33:03

feeling. What about of same here? I

33:07

say I love you to my wife and two kids.

33:10

But. It's. Hard. For me to say.

33:13

The Army. Digital.

33:16

To my own mother. Had

33:19

cousins in Mexico were openly a

33:21

sex in it. So.

33:24

Where did I just kept from? I

33:27

remember my mom saying i love you when it

33:29

was a limited. But

33:32

then I also remember when

33:34

to stop saying. It

33:38

was when we moved in with

33:41

my stepfather. I

33:43

knew she loved me. One. Way

33:45

she expressed her love. Was. As

33:48

he threw me birthday parties every year

33:50

even into my late twenties, he was

33:52

like she had saved up all her

33:54

love from the year into that one

33:57

day. She'd

34:01

make yellowcake with cool whip

34:03

I see and strawberries. She'd

34:05

get opinion that M C

34:07

the events are some family

34:10

members to take multiple photos.

34:13

But I remember feeling there was something

34:15

missing. Looking back

34:18

now what was missing.

34:20

Was. Saying the words out loud.

34:25

My feelings about it now

34:27

her complicated. And

34:30

which was different. But

34:32

I believe she did the best he could. Mike

34:35

Alvarado. And. Like many. She

34:38

came from a legacy of violence and

34:40

and stability. Her father

34:42

was murdered when she was the reason.

34:46

She. Was a field work as a

34:48

little kid. And

34:51

I wanted so much more

34:53

complicated. When you understand we're

34:55

someone is really coming from.

34:59

It's just that people, The. Problem

35:02

with most people the like I said

35:04

they they just don't understand and then

35:06

they don't have sympathy. they'd their they

35:08

just it. Is easy a quick to

35:10

judge. For

35:13

nobody that goes on a problem of the normal. They

35:18

are myself included. Rather

35:21

people who judge or to try to figure

35:23

out why minute lived his life that he

35:25

did or the however he lived. Then.

35:28

That's why say die from a broken heart because.

35:34

He that with where people like that as like.

35:45

They're like to cater. To

35:48

get the be mean Jack get that. I mean

35:50

sites you like your friend that he died of

35:52

I can live on. He wasn't like that. I

35:57

came into this interview with my own pretence.

36:00

Notions, A promoter, Gardens and

36:02

Big Hazard. and about

36:04

know is. Where. Imagine Does is

36:06

rough kid who grew up in the

36:09

projects. I

36:11

came in sinkings. Noel was a

36:13

suspect, but now I think he

36:15

might have been another victim. In

36:18

Oscars Death. You

36:21

know reporting We reached out to other U

36:23

C Santa Barbara friends with the with from

36:25

this time. Including his roommate

36:27

and they also don't remember know

36:29

will hanging out with members from

36:31

Big Hazard in Santa Barbara or

36:33

mentioning them in relation to Huskers

36:35

Death. So. While

36:38

I can't totally discount the bid hazard

36:40

theory, I can tell you that we

36:42

have not found any evidence to support.

36:45

For. Keep it in the back to my mind, but

36:47

it feels less likely to me. Knew. What

36:51

feels more pressing is to go

36:53

to Santa Barbara to watch the

36:55

campus am, the shoreline and to

36:57

find out what know when himself

36:59

toward law enforcement when he was

37:02

questioned. When. I looked

37:04

through Oscars death Report from the

37:06

Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department says there

37:09

was intense investigations for major crimes

37:11

investigators. If so, there

37:13

must be some documentation that

37:15

survived. Maybe interviews with suspects?

37:17

some details but I haven't

37:19

seen yet. Las

37:23

correspondent other for with my Lopez.

37:27

Where is that report and what

37:29

is in it sticks? The whole

37:31

file is over sixty. And

37:36

or that. Was

37:38

the years problems so enemies

37:40

answer for solicitous? What is

37:43

what his eyes looking into

37:45

this for. That

37:48

in the next episode. Of Imperfect

37:50

Paradise The Forgotten Revolutionary. Others

37:59

I was my. Wrote reported and

38:01

hosted season two of Imperfect Paradise.

38:03

The Forgotten Revolutionary Oh writing and

38:06

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38:08

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38:10

City He's a host of Imperfect

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President of Potash or associate producers

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copulation funded by the American People. Oscar

39:49

romance with a rising star, a

39:52

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assume activists and kills his sudden

39:56

and mysterious death his friends and

39:58

family didn't have. Those are in order.

40:02

Was the your throat? What do

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40:07

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40:11

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