The Vara Family's Story
On April 9, 1999, Anabella Vara was kidnapped and held at gunpoint by her estranged husband, Daniel Perez, for four hours. Her life was repeatedly threatened. Anabella was able to temporarily reach a place of safety and call 911 on her cell phone. This enraged defendant Perez who pursued her fleeing vehicle with his vehicle and ran her off the road causing her to run for her life. Perez caught up to Anabella and shot her in the back of the head, leaving her for dead.
Perez was quickly apprehended and charged with attempted murder. He bailed out on $1,000,000, probably illegally posted. Two days before the trial ended, on the day that Anabella, her sister and her father testified, August 27, 1999, Perez broke into the family home at 3:00 a.m. and opened fire hitting her father, Carlos Vara, seven times, killing him instantly. Anabella had been relocated to a "safe house" that evening. Perez has threatened to come back and finish the job on Anabella. She lives in constant fear of his return.
Daniel Perez was convicted of all counts and sentenced in absentia to 33 years, 8 months to life, plus life on Anabella’s case. Carlos Vara’s murder took place in Fontana, California and San Bernardino County District Attorney has filed one count of murder with a P.C. 12022.5(a) and 12022.53(d) allegations. Although no special circumstance has been filed to date, it is clear that P.C. 190.2(a)(10) applies.
Kenny Caldera
On August 24, 1991, Rodolfo Gallegos, a "Blythe Street" gang member, mistakenly believed that his victims were from a rival gang. He murdered sixteen-year-old Kenneth Caldera and shot two other young men simply because he believed they were rivals driving through his territory. Gallegos fled to Mexico after committing these crimes. He has not been prosecuted for murdering Kenneth Caldera or the attempted murders of Johnnie Prieto, Robin Rowan, Reinaldo Morales and Rubin Perez.
Dad's Letter to a Murderer
Turn yourself in, I want to talk to you.
This letter is on behalf of my son Kenneth Anthony Caldera. You murdered him ten years ago, he was sixteen years old at the time, you were about the same age. This person was a sweet young man, a son any parent would be proud to have. A normal kid who smiled a lot, he liked to play football. The year he died he had been voted most valuable player by his teammates and the Home Coming Court Prince for Burbank Union High School. What a proud day, one of the most memorable times in his short life.
Another thing I want you to know about Kenny, he was my friend. He told me everything about himself and his daily travels in life. I appreciated and respected him a lot for that. One day he told me, "Dad, I read the bible." I doubted him, he looked me straight in my eyes and said you never believe me. I swear I saw the truth jump right out from his soul. He was a Christian and had a firm belief in God.
I apologized for doubting him, we never spoke of it again. My son really loved me. One day I asked him, "Kenny, what do you plan on doing for the rest of your life?" He just smiled and said, "I want to be just like you, Dad." I almost fell to my knees. He was an honest kid. I am a Vietnam era Vet and received an AA degree from L.A. Mission College in San Fernando, California. I consider myself to be an honest law abiding American Dad who has had his ups and downs in life. That's what you destroyed. A physical emotional lifetime between a father and his son. You ripped through the emotional balance of my family.
Now that you know a little about me and your victim, let me talk about what I know about you. The first thing I want you to know, Rodolfo, my grief is over. My hate for you has turned into a passion for justice against you. If it takes the rest of my life, I yearn for the day I meet you. I don't want to kill you, vengeance is the Lord's doing. I'm not like you and I truly don't want you to die before I have the chance of looking you in the face and bestow upon you the title of Murderer. Although, as a Christian, until that day, I refuse to forgive you. Until then you owe me. I hope you can't sleep at night and you better look over your shoulder every time you step out of your house.
You see if you haven't already heard things have changed here in the Good Ol' USA. America doesn't like murderer or any other souls that belong to evil, and you're one of them, Rodolfo. You killed a son, a brother, and a friend. You killed an American's son and your not going to get away with it. No matter how far you run, until my last breath, I will carry your picture with me and show it to everyone who will listen. Glory be to God, justice will prevail.
Have you read the article in The Daily News dated Monday, June 10, 2002? You are #2 on the Valley's Most Wanted. Another thing, authorities know where you are. They even know what you eat. You're now 27-years-old; a grown man. But, you're hiding, you won't even show your face in this country. Well, I'm going to show your face time and time again until they catch you.
At sixteen-years-old, you were old enough to pull a trigger at a car full of kids. Did you know one of them was 14-years-old? You shot him in the leg. Yes, you will have to answer to that one, too. He was Kenny's cousin. They were coming home from a swimming party, one of the passengers told me that you shouted, "Where you from?" before you stuck your thirty eight revolver out the window. I'm asking you, Rodolfo Gallegos, "Where are you going? Heaven or Hell?" You make up your mind. You see there is man's law and God's Law. You're going to answer to both whether you like it or not. My advice to you... the truth will set you free. Your are not from Mexico, Rodolfo. You're from the US, so the way I look at it, you're on the run from the truth.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Caldera, Sr.