Memorial honors murder victims

Detective Capt. Mike Barclay, who had been one of the key investigators in the murder case, places a flower on the new memorial.

It was a somber gathering a few hours after Jorge Lopez-Orozco was convicted last week of the murders of Rebecca Ramirez, 29, and her two children, Miguel, 2, and Ricardo, 4.

The trio were killed some time between July 30 and Aug. 1 of 2002. Their bodies were found in a burned-out car in southeastern Elmore County. It had taken 10 years to find him in Mexico and extradite him to the United States to face charges in the three deaths.

In the years between those deaths and last week's conviction of their killer, a makeshift memorial of small wooden crosses had grown at the site where the three had died. But weather and fires that ran through the area in the last decade had damaged those memorials.

Rebecca Rameriz's mother, Guadalupe Alvarez, finds a peaceful moment with Noemi Rameriz at the impromptu memorial service.

Last week, a few hours after the verdict had been read, the family of the victims, law enforcement officers involved in the case, firemen who had responded to the scene, and others involved in the investigation and prosecution, gathered to erect a more permanent memorial at the site -- three crosses, made of steel and bound forever together. Painted with the white of purity, the crosses had been made by fireman Bud Corbus.

Several members of the family helped dig the foundation for the memorial, then stepped forward to offer rosaries, flowers and teddy bears, placing them at the base and in the arms of the cross.

The event had not really been planned. It seemed to have just "come together," after the family went to lunch following the verdict and then met with officers later at the law center. Although there had been general plans for a memorial service later this year, "it was sort of a last-minute thing," Sheriff Rick Layher said. "The family decided they wanted to go there." A caravan of cars took approximately 30 people to the scene, where the old crosses were removed and the new one -- better able to survive the elements -- was put up.

There were several short but emotional impromptu speeches. Martin Hernandez, who had taken responsibility for raising all of Rebecca's children, opened the remarks for the family. Sheriff Rick Layher, Fire Chief Alan Bermensolo and county prosecutor Kristina Schindele also offered brief remarks.

Many prayers were said, both out loud and privately.

"It was a very nice day, very nice ceremony," Layher said. "I think it helped all of us with a little closure."