Episode 179: Montana Lopez

Montana Lopez was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 6, 1998. He was a Freshman at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Although Montana grew up in foster care, he didn’t let that stop him from pursuing his dream of earning his college...
Montana Lopez was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 6, 1998. He was a Freshman at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Although Montana grew up in foster care, he didn’t let that stop him from pursuing his dream of earning his college degree and finding a career. He was also especially close to his 3 siblings. He had a twin sister named Juanita, a brother named Nick and his oldest sister Santeanna. Although the siblings didn’t all live together under one roof, they tried to keep in touch with each other.
Friends and family who knew Montana described him as a kind and considerate young man. He was athletic and loved going to the gym and listening to music. He had made a lot of friends while in college and had lived in a nice home with roommates just outside the Ball State campus.
On Friday June 18, 2021, Montana hosted a party at his home located at the 1300 block of West Abbott Street in Muncie. The party got loud and police were called to the scene. Montana was told to keep the noise down. Law enforcement left the home without making any arrests or shutting down the party. This wouldn’t be the last time law enforcement would visit. They would return to the residence on June 19, 2021, just after 2 a.m.
Law enforcement had received a call that someone had been shot at the residence. Montana died after being shot in the neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A 15-year-old teenager would be taken into custody for being involved in the shooting. However, he has since been released and faced no punishment.
According to Montana’s sister Santeanna, several people at the party had taken photos and recorded video of the carnage. Several witnesses at the party told Santeanna that they saw the 15-year-old teenager shoot Montana to death. She has had conversations with law enforcement and asked why the 15-year-old boy isn’t in custody. She said law enforcement knows the teen shot her brother, but they haven’t charged him with the killing.
If you have any information about this unsolved homicide, please contact the Muncie Police Department's criminal investigation division at 765-747-4867; Muncie Crime Stoppers at 765-286-4050, or city police dispatchers at 765-747-4838. And if you would like to view Montana’s thoughts on foster care, please visit https://fostersuccess.org/montana-lopez-the-one-thing-they-cant-take-is-my-name/
Please also visit my website for more information about my true crime and paranormal newspaper columns at www.themarcabe.com. You can also help support my podcast by purchasing a cup of $5 coffee every month. To help support the podcast, please visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/catchmykiller. If you would like to contact me about this podcast, please visit my websites www.catchmykiller.com or www.themarcabe.com where you can submit a case.
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Hello, and welcome to the Catch
My Killer Podcast. Thank you for listening.
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My name is Mark. For nearly
eight years, I've written a weekly
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newspaper column about true crime and missing
people for the Clare Muslin newspaper in Ohio.
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With a column and podcast, my
objective has always been to try to
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bring attention the cases that haven't received
much media attention, if any at all.
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This week's story involves a twenty two
year old Indiana man named Montana Lopez,
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who was a beloved Ball State College
freshman student who had changed his major
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from exercise science to social work.
While hosting a party at his home,
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Montana was shot to death some time
after two am on June nineteenth, twenty
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twenty one, in Mudzy, Indiana. The two year anniversary of his homicide
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is coming up, and as of
this recording, law enforcement has made no
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arrests. Montana Lopez was born in
Indianapolis, Indiana, on November sixth,
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nineteen ninety eight. He was a
freshman at Ball State University in Mudsey,
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Indiana. Although Montana grew up in
foster care, he never let that stop
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him or pursuing his dream of earning
his college degree and finding his career.
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He was also especially close to his
three siblings. He had a twin sister
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named Juanita, a brother named Nick, and his oldest sister, Simtiana.
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Although the siblings didn't all live together
under one roof, they always tried to
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keep in touch with each other.
Brinson family, who knew Montana, described
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him as a kind and considerate young
man. He was athletic, loved dogs,
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and enjoyed going to the gym and
listening to music. He had made
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a lot of friends while in college
and had lived in a nice home with
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roommates just outside the Ball State campus. On Friday night, June eighteenth,
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twenty twenty one, Montana hosted a
party at his home, located at the
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thirteen hundred block of West Abbot Street
in Muncy. The party had gotten loud
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and police were called to the scene. Montana was told to keep the noise
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down. Law enforcement left the home
without making any arrests or shutting down the
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party. This would not be the
last time that law enforcement would visit this
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party. Later that evening, law
enforcement had received a call that someone had
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been shot at Montana's residence. After
the police returned to Montana's residence for a
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second time, they would find him
shot in the net. He was pronounced
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dead at the scene. A fifteen
year old teenager would eventually be taken into
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custody for being involved in Montana's shooting. However, the teenager has since been
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released in his face no punishment.
According to Montana's sister, Santiana, several
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people at the party had taken photos
and recorded video of the carnage. Several
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witnesses at the party told Santiana that
they had witnessed the fifteen year old teenager
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shoot Montana to death. Santiana has
since had conversations with law enforcement and asked
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them why the fifteen year old teenager
is an in custody. She said that
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law enforcement knows the team shot her
brother, but they have not charged him
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with a homicide for now, the
team hasn't ever been officially named as a
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person of interest, so he must
be considered innocent of wrongdoing. While doing
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research for Montana's story, I found
an article on a website about Montana's thoughts
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on growing up in the foster care
system. I would like to share his
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comments to show just how passionate he
was about foster's children maintaining their roots while
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in foster care. The following piece
can be found on the Foster success dot
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Org website for Montana, being Hispanic
brings a large sense of pride. However,
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with that pride comes experiences of racism. Because of this, Montana has
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felt the need to suppress his culture. Almost half of Who's Your Children exiting
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foster care in twenty eighteen had at
least three placements. While each placement brings
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its own challenges and adjustments, for
young people in foster care or Montana,
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each placement presented a constant struggle to
stay connected to his Hispanic culture. My
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experience growing up as a youth of
color in America was already difficult, but
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on top of that, I'm a
youth that has been through the foster care
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system as well. When it comes
to Hispanic heritage, month yes, there
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is cultural impact. But because I
moved between foster homes, little by little,
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pieces of my Hispanic culture were stripped
for me. The one thing that
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they could not take for me is
my name, Montana Lopez, a name
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embedded with rich culture. I love
my ethnicity and I love the heritage,
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and it is something that I have
begun to embrace daily. However, from
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one look at me, people sometimes
think they know who I am, where
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I came from, and the hardships
that I have endured. One of the
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hardships includes my interaction with law enforcement. When I get pulled over by a
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police officer, I immediately suspect the
worst and assume that just because I am
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a person of color and have tattoos, that they will think that I am
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a bad person. I always think
they are not there for my safety,
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but rather to harass me. I
tend to think that if I needed help,
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police officers would first assume to arrest
me rather than get me resources like
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proper aid or help. They may
never even realize that even though I have
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tattoos and I am a person of
color, I am a student pursuing my
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bachelor's degree. Montana would like to
see youth of color at the table when
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decisions are being made about changes to
the foster care system. Montana said,
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I would like to see dcs approach
this issue with more diversity. Instead of
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asking a couple of youth of color, ask them all let their voices and
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struggles be heard and known. Additionally, he stated that dcs should require parents
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to take diversity classes as well to
ensure that no matter what color or part
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of the world or state a child
is from, that they will all be
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treated equally and fairly. According to
Montana's family members, the loss has been
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devastating. Montana and his sister Juanita
were twins, and anyone familiar with twin
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siblings understands the closeness that they often
share. Montana was also best friends with
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his brother Nick. For Montana's story, I spoke to his oldest sister,
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Santiana Soriano and now on with Montana's
story is told by his oldest sister,
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Santiana. I guess when when we
were younger. He has a twin,
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Erney his twin his name Juanita.
I'm the oldest out of all four of
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us that we have a younger brother. Also, our mom was addicted to
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drugs and then we end up being
placed with a family friend for a couple
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of years, and then she went
to prison for selling drugs and then we
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got back with our mom lived with
her for five years. We moved around
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a lot. We lived in Mexico, Texas, different places in Indiana where
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we ended up in Munthsey and he
didn't take us into this into all the
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time, and I remember we were
at the bus station and he was fighting
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with my mom and my mom end
up smacking him in the face and they
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called the cops and we ended up
getting removed in place in foster care,
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which we talked out of when we
were eighteen, so like we were in
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it from I would just turned fourteen. They were thirteen and my youngest was
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twelve. My youngest brother and we'd
lived in foster care until we were eighteen.
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We talked out. We were actually
split up. Me and my sister
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lived in one home in Munthsey,
and then my brother lived Gaston, Indiana,
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and then from there me and my
sister topped down. We lived in
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the same home the whole entire time. My brothers eventually moved around to three
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or four different foster homes, but
they went to Westdale. They were a
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football player. He was a football
player. I'm pretty sure. There's like
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a lot of pictures because they're really
good at it. But after he graduated
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and think my brother were in a
really bad crack and he ended up breaking
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his back and so the bottom half
of his back was metal like place.
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I'm pretty sure. So he had
a rough time after that because he couldn't
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do much. He loved to be
at the gym, loved he loved to
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be with his friends. Honestly,
I'm pretty sure I found like a lot
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of articles where people made because he
went to not one ball state, but
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think he went to Purdue in Fort
Wayne. He had so many friends that
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there were so many posts about how
everybody just loved him, like so many
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more people than I ever even thought
of, Like I even knew I didn't
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know half the people at his funeral
while in foster care. Were you all
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able to keep in touch with each
other during your separation, Yeah, we
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were. It was just kind of
hard for the simple fact that schedules didn't
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match up, or one foster parent
didn't want to take us or the other
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one when we were to have our
meat and stuff like that. So we
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were able to, but it was
something that wasn't like something that would I
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guess you say, should have happened, didn't really happen like our regular cake
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being in touch. It would be
like sometimes a month or two that we
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didn't get to see our brothers at
a time or sometimes more, but we
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would go to obviously talk on the
phone and things like that, but it
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just honestly just depended. Now I'm
guessing that living in foster care changed the
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family dynamics because let's say, with
you all being separated and not living together
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under the same roof as a family
liney, you had to changed away things
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were in your family. Is that
correct exactly? Yes, because we grew
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up together. Yeah, we were
so close, and then we got from
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Boster Carret And I'm guessing that the
separation must have been really difficult for Montana
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because from what I understand, he
was really close to his brother and his
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twin sister, and then of course
he has a relationship with you. But
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it sounds like he was really family
oriented, so to be separated from those
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that he loved the most must have
been a really traumatic experience for him.
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Because he was fairly young when this
happened. It was very difficult, especially
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for him because he always felt guilty
though it was all his fall. I
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actually found the paper after he possibly
only went to his stuff like a letter
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like just that he had written like
a paper he had written where he just
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was like he had put in there
that he was sorry and that he felt
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like us being separated family being separated
was all his fault, and he thought
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that everybody put the blame on him
because it was him and my mom got
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into a fight which caused us all
to get separated. Was he correct in
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his line of thinking? I mean, I know you all were kind of
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young, So did you all blame
him for the separation? I'm thinking his
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adults with looking back. Of course
she wouldn't blame him, but it's a
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time you all were kids, and
you know how kids can be petty,
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So did you all blame him for
being separated and place into foster care?
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Honestly, no, like we were
kids, so obviously when we were younger,
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we probably did put the blame on
them. But if I would have
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known he still thought that way,
I would let him know that my life
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is a lot better since the simple
fact that we were putting foster care because
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our mom was an alcoholic, she
did drugs, she was very abusive,
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and I was going down the wrong
path. Because I didn't have parents that
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cared. Being put in foster care, I was able to so much more.
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My life is so much more now
than what it would have been if
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I would have stayed at home.
Honestly, thanks to him I have a
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good life, and I didn't know
he felt that way, or I would
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have let him know, like,
don't feel that way. You honestly saved
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us that at one incident. Now, tell me about his experience and foster
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care. Did he ever share with
you any of his thoughts about it,
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I mean whether it was a good
experience or bad experience. So I know
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the first foster home that he was
in, they still are very close to
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my other brother, and they were
really close to him, and he called
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the parents mom and dad. But
I don't know. I know that being
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there, he got involved with a
lot of different drugs and alcohol. Because
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even though my mom was a bad
mom, she does one thing she didn't
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really like. It wasn't something that
was allowed. I guess you should say
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they allowed a lot more than what
should have been allowed as a kid.
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I guess you said there as a
team. But I know they were removed
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from that home, and I didn't
know they didn't have that good of experience
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the other home. I don't know
all the details because I don't really ask.
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They don't tell everything, and we
weren't really close either because since they
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were allowed to do drinking. Oh
call I don't do nothing like that.
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So and then everybody they looked at
me like their mom. I guess you
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said. That's even my brother,
even says Alex. They looked at me
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and were a mom figure than they
view as a sibling. So they don't
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really tell me that much. Now. Has Montana's death brought you and your
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other two siblings closer or have you
all become distant with each other? Because
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in many cases, when there's a
death of the immediate family, it really
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makes a lot of changes in the
family structure. Whereas sometimes it will bring
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an entire family together, it can
also tear the family apart and drive everyone
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away. So when somebody dies in
the immediate family, it could go either
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way. Did this bring your family
together closer or did it push you all
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away from each other? Yeah,
so it does. It's not too much
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of a difference. We all still
have our own lives. I know.
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It's like really messed with our lives
a lot. Like my sister obviously,
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that was her twin, that was
that's the other half of her and my
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brother that was his best friend.
That's the one person that they were together
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all the time, no matter what. So it's hard to explain, like,
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I feel like we all have our
own different feelings, and me and
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my sister we don't always show our
feelings. So my brother, I feel
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like hurt him so much more than
it's hurt the rest of us. But
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I I feel like it's the same
for us. We just we all just
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have our own lives. I guess
you say, And how was your brother
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when he passed away? I mean, he was a pretty young guy,
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wasn't he like twenty one or twenty
two something like that. I know he
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was in his early twenties. He
was twenty I think twenty one when twenty
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twenty one when he passed away,
because I'm twenty Yes, I think that's
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right. I'm pretty sorry twenty or
twenty one. And where do you consider
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home? Do you consider munths He
home or is it some other place in
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Indiana? We were technically more from
Anderson. So were you all born in
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Anderson? Then? I was,
Me and my sister and my brother were
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born in Indy. But I think
that had to something to do with the
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because they were like twins and stuff
like that. But most of our life
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we were in Anderson. Oh,
Okay, Andy, I'm very familiar with
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it. I grew up there.
Yeah, yeah, so I'm real familiar
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with Andy. I grew up on
the East Side. I went to high
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school out there, and when I
was able to leave, I left.
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So I ended up going to Ohio. But my family still lives in Indianapolis
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and they seem to be content there. But it just wasn't for me.
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I couldn't wait to leave. Yeah, understandable. I mean even today,
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the East Side of Indie is considered
one of the most dangerous areas in America.
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It was like that when I lived
there, and from what I understand,
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not much has changed. So for
me, definitely, moving away was
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the best choice for me and my
family. Yeah, I've seen things about
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that. And let me ask you
about Montana. From high school, he
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played football. I believe is that
correct because I saw pictures of him wearing
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a high school football uniform. So
was that something he really enjoyed doing?
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Playing football? Yeah? Was there
any interests in him playing college football?
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Oh? That, I don't know. We had a relationship. It was
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his back closest rounds like those times
of the years. I know. He
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played soccer until his senior up to
his seat wall. He graduated play he
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did wrestling also, him and both
of my brothers did. I honestly don't
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know if he wanted to play in
college, and I'm guessing that even if
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he did want to play college football, he may not have been able to
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because now he did suffer a major
back injury, correct from a car accident?
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Was this stur in college or did
this happen before college? I don't
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think he was in college yet.
I think it was after they had graduated,
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not too long. Well, a
major back injury will definitely keep you
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from playing football. Yeah, yeah, I can't do a lot of stuff
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after that, right, And what
brought him to Ball State? Was there
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a particular reason why he wanted to
go there? I mean, you haven't
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in university out there, which is
a pretty good school as well. So
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why Ball State that? I don't
know. I think it's I had asked
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Santiana about why her brother decided to
remain in Indiana to attend college. We
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will take a short break and return
with her thoughts on her brother's college experience
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and what led him to choosing Ball
State University as his college of choice.
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Oh, okay, so he wanted
to stay in Munsey and just stay in
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the local area. When a lot
of kids graduate from high school and they're
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ready to go to college outside of
their state, you know, they want
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to get as far away as their
family as possible. I mean, we've
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all knew those people. But then
you have some that want to stay home
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and to the local school, like
for instance, my youngest son when he
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finished high school, he went to
University Cincinnati, which is local and where
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a lot of the kids go after
they get out of high school. But
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you do have those who want to, you know, travel, maybe go
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to a college outside of the country. But I see with your brother,
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he just wanted to stay local and
probably be near his friends and family.
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That's what sounds like. Yeah,
I know he wants to Fort Wayne for
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a while, and I know it
he really, honestly, deep down didn't
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only like it for the simple fact
that he wasn't around nobody like family wise,
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because I know one year I picked
him up for I think it was
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Thanksgiving, because he hadn't won,
no way to get home for Thanksgiving,
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and too nobody was lipped them because
everybody had already left to go with their
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families. So me and my husband
and our kids strat into the car and
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we drove all the way up there
and picked him up and he spent Thanksgiving
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with family with us. That so, I think that when he came back
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from Fort Wayne, he just I
think family is what kept on close.
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And what did your brother want to
study at Ball State? Through my research,
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I saw something about some type of
sports, and then I saw something
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about social work. So he had
maybe changed his mind about what he wanted
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to do, or maybe he wasn't
quite sure. What do you think he
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wanted to do or what did he
want to go to school for. I
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think it was physical therapy. I
think it was because I know he was
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doing with criminal justice for a while
and then he ended up switching, and
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I think it was physical therapy.
I can't even remember. It was something
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like that, something that had to
do with like therapy, I'm pretty sure.
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And tell me about where he lived. I read that he had lived
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just off the campus in an apartment
or something like that. Actually it was
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a house. It was all state
rental, Okay. And did he like
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those accommodations? I think he did. His house was really nice. He
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was really happy when he moved in
there. He was talking us all about
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it. He got so excited.
I got a nice house with his friends.
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Yeah. I watched an interview with
a couple of his neighbor friends and
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it was two girls, and they
said that they just absolutely loved him.
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They said he was one of the
kindest young men that they had ever known,
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and he was a great neighbor.
Yeah. Yeah, everybody loved him.
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Honestly, he could be a jerk. I'm gonna why if you were
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asked me my brother was nasshol Well, to be fair to your brother.
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We can all be jerks at some
time or another. We can't be lovable
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all the time, right, But
he was super fleet and everybody loved him.
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When we had his funeral, there
were so many people that and I
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everybody sit into the room as a
funeral, there are people sitting on the
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floor. I didn't know half of
them. It was just all people that
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he came across the life that truly
seeing the good side of him and seeing
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like he's a good person. I
was happy that so many people like he
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was had so many people in his
life. But I was just like,
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honestly super surprised, like just exactly
how many, Like I mean, half
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the people don't even get to show
up because there are obviously not everybody can
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come. Now, when was the
last time that you actually had a chance
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to speak to your brother before he
died? Honestly, the weekend before,
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I'm pretty sure it wanted we all
got together at Mollends Park and we had
290
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sandwiches and let the kids play outside
or out in the park and we all
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just sat down and just had a
good time at Mallaens Park. And I'm
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pretty sure it was the weekend before
because you're making plans to do fathers because
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he passed their Father's Day weekend.
We were planned on getting together that weekend
294
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and doing something together because it's what
our plan was because honestly, with life,
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we honestly of all just like we
didn't get together as much as we
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used to because we used to always
try to get like Sunday breakfast at my
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house or something. We always try
to get together somewhere, and we had
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him been able to with everything we
had so much going on. So our
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00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:18.559
plan was to start doing something on
the weekend Saturday or Sunday, and that's
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what we are planning to do the
next weekend, which is Father's Day weekend.
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Do you remember there being anything significant
in your last conversation with him,
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00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:36.759
was or anything that he wanted to
get off his chest or anything important like
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00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:42.640
that, Maybe something he wanted to
confide in you about. I'm pretty sure
304
00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:48.279
we were talking about getting together.
Oh. I think we may have had
305
00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:52.400
text messages throughout that week because we
have a family group trat that we text
306
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in all the time. Now,
do you know if your brother had anything
307
00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:03.440
going on? Is the law life
whereas maybe something that he was concerned about,
308
00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:07.720
or did he have any type of
fears that he may have told you
309
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about, For instance, maybe there
was someone out there who had threatened him,
310
00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:15.519
or he was worried may try to
harm him, or anything along those
311
00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:22.079
lines. It's not really. I
think the week before he died, he
312
00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.680
did get into a fight with a
couple of the kids, with the guys
313
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that he was always with that he
lived with him because he was kicking them
314
00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:33.640
out or something because they weren't paying. And then I know they had cameras
315
00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:38.759
put up because his house was robbed. But other than not, not really.
316
00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:45.400
So you're saying that it wasn't anything
that was so bad that he needed
317
00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:52.519
to go to law enforcement for help
with nothing like that. No, just
318
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to the fact that I think he
did obviously make the reports when his house
319
00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:59.480
was robbed, but I think when
the other guys they got into a fight
320
00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:04.039
with him idel and they called the
cops. Okay, and how did you
321
00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:08.799
find out that your brother had passed
away? Tell me about that. I
322
00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:11.680
think it was like three or four
in the morning, and my phone kept
323
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bringing and it finally woke me up, and it was my sister and my
324
00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:19.000
brother. They kept calling me.
My sister was at work at the time,
325
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and my brother actually was on his
weight to his house. And because
326
00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:32.200
I guess my brother, he had
called my brother and said they're something about
327
00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:37.279
they're gonna jump him or something to
come help, that he needed help.
328
00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:41.039
So my brothers jumped in his car
and was headed there. And when he
329
00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:44.480
had got there, he had seen
police, so he said he got the
330
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police game and shut down the party. He said he went to the gas
331
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station and they came back, and
that's when he realized it was what had
332
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happened, that somebody had got shot
or something like that, and they put
333
00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:56.920
him in the back of a police
car and took him to the police station.
334
00:26:56.960 --> 00:27:00.079
Even though he was even there when
all that happened. Be pulled up
335
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when the cops are already there.
They were calling me and calling me,
336
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:08.279
and then I finally heard my phone. I answered, and they or trying
337
00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:11.799
to tell me that my brother was
shot in the next that I need to
338
00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:15.079
figure out where he was or what
was going on, because me, I'm
339
00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:18.519
the big sister like they like.
They always told me, I'm the mother
340
00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:25.480
like to them almost. So I
started calling the hospitals. Nobody had him.
341
00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:29.079
I didn't know where he was,
and all I couldn't do. I
342
00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.480
was like, Oh, I had
to get get to Munthy. So I
343
00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:34.079
went and picked up the lady we
used to live with her kids. I
344
00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:37.680
went there to pick my little cousin
so she could watch my kids so my
345
00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:41.359
husband could take me to Munthy because
I was in the state to drive.
346
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So she end up going with us, and on the way there, I
347
00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:48.079
was calling around trying to figure out
what was going on, and then my
348
00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:52.799
brother was at the police station,
and I was on the phone with my
349
00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:57.720
aunt trying to get her she lives
in Ohio, trying to tell her what
350
00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:00.039
was going on, to try and
figure out what it like. She was
351
00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:03.559
starting. She said she was gonna
try and start calling and We're trying to
352
00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:06.960
figure out what was going on.
And my brother finally called me back again
353
00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:10.440
and he was just like told me
that he he was like, I'm sorry,
354
00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:15.599
sis, but they study's dead.
And I don't know, like there
355
00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:18.359
was something already in me that knew
that before I even was on my way
356
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to Monthe. When I got the
phone call, I just I just knew.
357
00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:23.359
It was just like a feeling in
me, like I didn't want it
358
00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:26.680
to be true, but I knew
it just I don't know, is I
359
00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:32.799
just knew. So I told my
aunt, and my aunt drew badway here
360
00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:37.519
from Ohio and by the time I
got to the police station, the corner
361
00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:41.880
had already was just and walking up
as I was walking up, and he
362
00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:45.920
was showing my brother a picture of
my blur's hand with a tattoo and was
363
00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:51.200
having my brother identify him. And
that's how I found out. And they
364
00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:53.799
had a whole bunch of people there
because it was a party, and from
365
00:28:53.839 --> 00:29:00.680
what I have read during my research, basically everything's started from that party.
366
00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:06.160
On that Friday night that your brother
had, people were jumping off the roof
367
00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:11.200
and jumping into the pool, and
they were getting loud and then the police
368
00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:15.359
showed up and asked him to turn
the music down. Does that sound about
369
00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:22.440
right? Yeah? After Montana was
killed, law enforcement would eventually arrest a
370
00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:29.200
fifteen year old teenager for being involved
in the shooting death of Montana. The
371
00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:34.200
teenager would be released and not officially
charged with Montana's death. We will take
372
00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:40.960
a final break and return with San
Piana's final thoughts on the suspected killer and
373
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life without her brother. Can you
tell me more about the initial call that
374
00:29:56.880 --> 00:30:02.039
law enforcement received. Why were they
sent to the party? Based on my
375
00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:07.960
research, I have deducted that it
was based mostly on noise in the typical
376
00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:12.519
things that you would expect to see
at a party with college students. Well,
377
00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:18.319
supposedly the police came and they then
they home turned down the music or
378
00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:22.519
something, which, Honestly, if
the police would have done their jobs,
379
00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:25.920
then I don't think any of it
would have happened, because there was under
380
00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:29.000
age drinking there. If they would
have shut down the party, my brother
381
00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:32.400
probably would have got arrested, but
at least you wouldn't be dead. But
382
00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:37.200
I'd feel the police failed him then
because they didn't do their job. Like,
383
00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:41.200
as a police and you're coming to
a party. Why aren't you checking
384
00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:47.960
id seeing that there's alcohol, seeing
that like there's it's ball states they're partying,
385
00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.559
Like obviously there's so many parties ball
where they get they're under age drinkers
386
00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:56.720
there, Like I just like at
that point, like when I found that
387
00:30:56.759 --> 00:31:00.640
out, I felt like police Monty
police failed him there for the fact that
388
00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:04.079
they didn't do their job and putting
this party to stop. But they did
389
00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:08.599
arrive then and then I don't know
what all happened between them, and I've
390
00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:15.039
been told so many different things.
Supposedly, these kids came and they went
391
00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:18.519
inside my brother's house and my brother
told them to get out because the party
392
00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:22.200
was out because he had been recently
robbed and he didn't want to let it
393
00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:26.000
inside the house. And that one
of the kids pulled a guns in and
394
00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:29.200
they, like I guess, so
the couple people got him to calm down,
395
00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:32.400
they put the gun away, and
those people called more people to come.
396
00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:34.960
The police know who killed my brother. They've already arrested him. One.
397
00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:41.400
So the alleged shooter was a fifteen
year old teenager I believe. Oh
398
00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:45.160
he's either fifteen or sixteen. Yeah, they know who he is. Yes,
399
00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:52.160
the media has described the arrest of
a fifteen year old boy, but
400
00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:56.279
they don't reveal his name. Yeah, we lived named the day he died
401
00:31:56.400 --> 00:32:00.000
because everybody came to us and told
us there. I have so many message
402
00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:06.559
and phone calls then people like was
telling me everybody's name that was involved with
403
00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:12.240
my brother's killing. I've watched the
videos, so there were definitely witnesses.
404
00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:15.759
Then there was tons of witnesses.
And that's why I don't get why nothing's
405
00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:17.440
being done, for the fact that
they have names of all the witnesses.
406
00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:21.640
The girl came to me and my
brother's blue release them was like, I
407
00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:23.440
watched them kill your brother. I
watched your brother fall to the ground and
408
00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:29.039
recorded with names and everything and given
to the police. And I asked them
409
00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:30.799
about it and they're like, oh, we don't know what you're talking about.
410
00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:35.799
How do you not know? You
were given the recording of this girl
411
00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:39.039
literally saying she watched it all happen. I've watched the video when they killed
412
00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:43.160
my brother. There's kids running to
them, like when they were fighting.
413
00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:45.319
To supposed it was a fight and
my brother had bruises and stuff all over
414
00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:49.799
him. They ran over there.
I watched the video and the next you
415
00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:52.359
know, they're shooting and all the
kids are running away from the shooting.
416
00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:55.559
There were so many witnesses and nothing's
being done. They're just throwing under the
417
00:32:55.599 --> 00:33:00.319
bush like nothing. And they know
who did it. That's the part.
418
00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:04.000
They know who did it. They
let him go. He was the one
419
00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:07.640
that everybody said that actually killed my
brother. He was the one that was
420
00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:12.799
arrested. And everybody that came to
us that was supposedly witnesses, there's supposedly
421
00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:15.920
no witnesses that's seen it happen.
His name was the one thing that kept
422
00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:19.720
coming up. They would want to
actually killed my brother. He's the one
423
00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:22.960
that did it. He's the one
that did it. And they arrested him
424
00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:27.880
and they were supposed to be played
the day before his court hearing to be
425
00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:30.519
charged as an adult. They had
to go through the court to be able
426
00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:35.039
to charge him as an adult,
to charge him go the day before.
427
00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:39.680
Why was he released? They said
that the judge thought there wasn't enough evidence.
428
00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:43.400
But like I said, how is
there not enough evidence when you have
429
00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:49.240
tons and tons of witnesses. There's
videos, so many videos. Everybody knows
430
00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:52.160
he did it. That's the problem. And they don't care like they know
431
00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:54.759
everybody that was involved, because there
was more than one person involved, and
432
00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:58.880
I literally knew that their names the
day he died. Like I said,
433
00:33:58.880 --> 00:34:01.039
I have so many messages on phone
calls that day. This is the person
434
00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:04.519
who killed it, this is the
people that were with them. I have
435
00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:07.360
the video footage of my brother's camera, like I watched, and I like
436
00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:12.159
people of lives, there was also
live like the only one person there that
437
00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:15.119
my brother and my brother said he
knew was only one person that my brother
438
00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:21.760
could identify, like truly identify.
And he even lied conpe to what everybody
439
00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:24.199
when this video footage that he told
everybody that he watched the cops try to
440
00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:28.760
revive my brothers the boat. In
the videos, he literally left before the
441
00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:30.679
cops got there. He didn't even
go look we did in the video he
442
00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:35.280
said, oh, where's Montana want
to corn? They left, didn't even
443
00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:37.400
look from to me. The one
person that would have been there and that
444
00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:40.559
should have been there to help him, he just stood there way everybody was
445
00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:45.599
watching him get beat up and get
killed. He stood there in front of
446
00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:50.000
my brother's garage like nothing's happening,
and I was like, there's soon.
447
00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:52.039
But every you can watch in the
video, you no one looked there starting
448
00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:57.480
to fight because everybody starts running towards
them, and then next thing you know,
449
00:34:57.679 --> 00:35:00.159
you just hear all these shots and
you see him in the video and
450
00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:07.840
everybody's running away. Now, have
you personally seen video images of the shooter
451
00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:14.159
and all the videos that you've watched, have you actually seen the suspected teenager
452
00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:22.039
in any of those of the sugar
I honestly didn't. I don't really see
453
00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:24.239
them in there because I, like
you said, it's like of the videos
454
00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:28.760
I have are mainly of when it
all was going down, and it wasn't
455
00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:31.079
like the camera wasn't exactly on that, but there was a lot of people
456
00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:37.679
recording, so somebody has the videos
out there because there everybody has so many
457
00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:42.159
recording There are so many naptab videos, so many recordings, and I'm sure
458
00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:45.639
if the cops really wanted to,
they probably could get the videos if they
459
00:35:45.719 --> 00:35:49.719
really were do their jobs. At
this point, they're not doing their job
460
00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:53.039
because they don't even care about the
eye witnesses with the recording the names.
461
00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:57.360
Oh, you asked them and they're
like, oh, I've heard about it.
462
00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:59.559
I've had one one of the detectives
say, oh, I heard about
463
00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:01.320
it, but this girl came in
front of me and my brothers and she
464
00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:04.960
told me stritched my face. I
watched her brother fall to the ground.
465
00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:07.239
Like, how do you not have
it? Have you been able to keep
466
00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:13.920
in touch with anyone that actually witnessed
your brother's shooting? No, I don't.
467
00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:15.480
I don't know a lot of his
friends. I don't know any of
468
00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:20.360
them that was there. I only
know one person that was there at the
469
00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:23.679
time it happened, and he lied
to people, and I didn't know it
470
00:36:23.719 --> 00:36:27.960
was a lie until like the actual
video footage, because he told everybody that
471
00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:30.920
he was there the whole entire time. He was next to my brother for
472
00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:35.400
whatever when they were doing cops tried
to do CPR or something on him,
473
00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:39.079
like the people from the ambulance,
And it's not true because he in the
474
00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:43.760
video that clearly shows he didn't even
tried to help my brother, not one
475
00:36:43.800 --> 00:36:47.280
way. He literally just stood there
in front of the garage, and then
476
00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:51.880
he got into his car and left
before the cops even showed up. And
477
00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:55.800
then a year later he messaged me
and tried to tell me that he didn't
478
00:36:55.800 --> 00:36:59.280
think this. It was this person
it was this person. I'm like,
479
00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:00.920
he won't and helping my brother,
and you lied about it, like I
480
00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:07.199
don't believe you, no credibility in
your eyes. No, And my brother
481
00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:10.239
literally got to a fight with him
the week before. So sometimes it just
482
00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:14.639
makes me wonder if maybe he had
something to do with it. It does
483
00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:19.119
like it has ever since, Like
my brother died and was murdered, and
484
00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:22.960
I watched that video after I heard
what he said he was telling everybody,
485
00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:25.360
and then I watched that video.
It just makes me wonder if he had
486
00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:29.760
something to deal with it. Since
I watched that video, just something in
487
00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:34.400
the back of my mind. He
has to know something. There's no way
488
00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:38.280
that you call my brother your friend, you who lived with him so many
489
00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:42.760
years together, we're friends, and
you just let him get beat up.
490
00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:45.679
And this was another way around.
My brother would have helped and defended him.
491
00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:52.199
He didn't even care. Did you
tell me anything else about what caused
492
00:37:52.199 --> 00:37:58.880
the altercation? I know you had
said something about people entering your brother's home
493
00:37:59.039 --> 00:38:04.519
and he asked them to leave and
they got angry at him. Is that
494
00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:09.599
the main reason why this happened,
or is there maybe something personal that happened
495
00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:14.320
before the party. What we've been
told it was because they went and they
496
00:38:14.360 --> 00:38:17.400
went to the house and my brother
didn't want anybody in the house. That's
497
00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:22.400
all we really know. There hasn't
really been another story is why it could
498
00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:24.800
have happened. That's the a story
that we've been told is that kids went
499
00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:28.079
gone to the house. He told
him they need to get out. They
500
00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:32.119
pulled a gun, They calmed him
down. The kids went out and they
501
00:38:32.199 --> 00:38:37.599
caused up friends and supposedly they're in
a gang in month see, like one
502
00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:42.119
of the gangs that are supposedly around
months see. So it definitely doesn't sound
503
00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:45.719
like there was a good reason for
your brother to be killed. But then
504
00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:51.840
there's never a good reason to kill
anyone. No. Never, can you
505
00:38:51.880 --> 00:38:57.119
tell me about any recent conversations with
law enforcement? Have they given you any
506
00:38:57.199 --> 00:39:02.280
updates or anything useful about the case? Every time I call, very either
507
00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:07.239
not an office or they don't know
or they don't have an update. So
508
00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:10.960
depends on who I talk to you, if I talked to the victim's advocate,
509
00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:14.920
which if who they always send meet
to you. Can I never get
510
00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:17.440
a call back And it's the same
thing over and over again. They don't
511
00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:22.519
tell me nothing. I've talked to
you one detective who I was able to
512
00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:25.760
ask questions too, and he didn't
know when I even asked about the recordings
513
00:39:25.800 --> 00:39:30.119
of the eye witness that was telling
us all the names, that was like
514
00:39:30.239 --> 00:39:35.119
literally was standing there and talk to
me at my brother's blue and Release and
515
00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:38.039
had told me that she watched my
brother get killed. And he was like,
516
00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:40.719
oh, I heard about it,
but I don't know. That's all
517
00:39:40.760 --> 00:39:45.719
they can give me. Do you
have that young lady's contact information? I
518
00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:49.440
don't, and I don't have the
and I don't have the recording. Other
519
00:39:49.480 --> 00:39:52.800
people recorded it and I've asked for
the recording, but the girl that recorded
520
00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:55.079
it, so she don't have it. She doesn't have it anymore. But
521
00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:59.880
it was taken to the police.
And what is the name of the lawn
522
00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:06.159
enforcement agency that is handling this case? Monthy it's a Monthy police department.
523
00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:10.360
It would be them. Yeah,
but they don't ever even tell me anything.
524
00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:14.079
I asked him all the time,
like and I just get all the
525
00:40:14.119 --> 00:40:15.760
same answers, and I just like, like, that's what makes me feel
526
00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:20.320
more too, that they just have
thrown down the back burner and like they
527
00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:22.079
get no fleshing the fact because they
know who did it, and they have
528
00:40:22.159 --> 00:40:24.519
so many witnesses, and I feel
like this is a case I should have
529
00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:29.239
already been closed. So many witnesses, they know who did it, and
530
00:40:29.280 --> 00:40:31.880
it wasn't drive by shooting or something, and they were literally or out.
531
00:40:32.039 --> 00:40:36.760
They were biding my brother, and
like I was, like more than one
532
00:40:37.159 --> 00:40:40.159
my brother well honestly could have just
kicked him in the back and left him
533
00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:44.400
at that because he would have volunt
around. That's how Maddie were like he
534
00:40:44.519 --> 00:40:50.840
had a broken back as they literally
beat him and then shot him. So
535
00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:53.960
tell me about what you have been
doing on your own to try to get
536
00:40:54.039 --> 00:40:59.400
justice for your brother. Do you
contact your local media? Do you have
537
00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:02.360
a Facebook page? Do you have
a TikTok account? Tell me about what
538
00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:08.320
you've been doing to bring attention to
this case. We have a Facebook page,
539
00:41:09.079 --> 00:41:13.920
I have a family, and I
work by myself, so it's hard
540
00:41:13.960 --> 00:41:15.199
for me. I do a lot
of things. So the most fact that
541
00:41:15.239 --> 00:41:17.360
I don't really have much. I
feel like I don't how much sport.
542
00:41:17.840 --> 00:41:23.320
We've been in a parade in months. See I've made flyers when I passed
543
00:41:23.320 --> 00:41:29.360
a lot of flyers out around the
parade, I do a Facebook post.
544
00:41:30.039 --> 00:41:34.920
I've been trying to raise money for
a reward for anybody that does come forward
545
00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:38.920
with any type of information or anybody
that was actually there. I don't really
546
00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:42.360
care who you are like this,
as long as you can help us get
547
00:41:42.400 --> 00:41:47.400
them put behind bars. And what's
the title of your Facebook page? It's
548
00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:54.079
a Justice for Montana, okay.
And my suggestion for you would be to
549
00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:59.920
do everything you can to keep your
brother's story alive, as you are already
550
00:42:00.119 --> 00:42:04.440
doing. Go to the media,
your local papers, your local news media
551
00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:09.079
outlets, and just request that maybe
on certain anniversaries they bring up your brother's
552
00:42:09.119 --> 00:42:14.840
case, for instance, the anniversary
of his death which is coming up soon,
553
00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:19.800
or on his birthday, most type
of things. But it's important for
554
00:42:19.840 --> 00:42:24.280
you to reach out to people and
just try to make sure that no one
555
00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:29.639
ever forgets about your brother, because
you never want your loved one to ever
556
00:42:29.719 --> 00:42:34.440
be forgotten. You want to keep
that name out in the media constantly.
557
00:42:35.239 --> 00:42:40.159
I've messaged the Stars Pressed before and
they they didn't really message me back.
558
00:42:40.679 --> 00:42:45.960
They even put information in the newspaper
and I messaged him to let them know.
559
00:42:46.119 --> 00:42:50.039
You obviously don't have to update information
because it on there said he was
560
00:42:50.159 --> 00:42:52.800
arrested. I said, the kid's
been released, like he's on the roads,
561
00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:58.679
like doing who knows what, attending
school probably who knows. They had
562
00:42:58.679 --> 00:43:01.960
a couple of people to tell me
that he shot up a house, so
563
00:43:02.800 --> 00:43:07.320
hughting like he's dangerous, like dat
decided like he's a arrested. He's not
564
00:43:07.400 --> 00:43:10.679
arrested. He's running the streets.
And that's what I did in the paper,
565
00:43:12.039 --> 00:43:15.159
firing for It's a Monty parade,
like I put in there. Your
566
00:43:15.239 --> 00:43:17.840
kids should be sitting next to this
kid in school and you don't know it
567
00:43:19.239 --> 00:43:22.679
because I recally can't say his name
because he's a kid trachnically, but he's
568
00:43:22.679 --> 00:43:30.599
not an adult, right because unless
he's been publicly named by law enforcement as
569
00:43:30.639 --> 00:43:37.280
a suspect, then you really can't
say that person's name because you could face
570
00:43:37.639 --> 00:43:42.280
legal ramifications if you do. And
I have seen that happen. I know
571
00:43:42.400 --> 00:43:46.519
families get emotional and they feel like
they know what happened to their loved one,
572
00:43:47.239 --> 00:43:55.719
but making accusations without proof can be
detrimental to that person's name, So
573
00:43:55.760 --> 00:44:00.519
you always want to keep that in
the back of your mind. Exactly,
574
00:44:00.119 --> 00:44:02.880
you can't say his name, and
they released him the day before he was
575
00:44:02.960 --> 00:44:06.840
going to be an adult court.
If they would have got him to adult
576
00:44:06.840 --> 00:44:10.159
court, he would still probably walk
up still. But his name was Poppy
577
00:44:10.199 --> 00:44:15.360
public because the fact that he has
been tried to as an adult. Well,
578
00:44:15.599 --> 00:44:21.519
statistically speaking, when these kind of
guys commit murders, they don't always
579
00:44:21.519 --> 00:44:28.039
stop at one. So it's highly
likely that to do it again. Right.
580
00:44:28.360 --> 00:44:31.639
Unfortunately, the way the law works, you have to kill someone before
581
00:44:31.719 --> 00:44:37.960
law enforcement will actually do anything.
It's like with restraining orders, they're basically
582
00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:42.239
just paper. You can follow all
the restraining orders that you want against someone,
583
00:44:42.960 --> 00:44:45.039
you can lock the guy up for
violating it, it doesn't matter.
584
00:44:45.679 --> 00:44:52.519
But until that person actually kills you
or kills someone else, law enforcement really
585
00:44:52.719 --> 00:44:59.239
can't do anything about it. Even
if they suspect that the guy's going to
586
00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:04.679
probably way commit a murder, can't
arrest anybody for thinking about it. And
587
00:45:04.840 --> 00:45:07.760
that's sad because the cops know who
he is, the cops know he did
588
00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:12.079
it. The cops have the evidence, and they have witnesses, but they
589
00:45:12.119 --> 00:45:15.440
don't want to use them to put
them back. And what's sad is all
590
00:45:15.480 --> 00:45:17.960
these school shootings and he's probably attending
sport. I'm just like when I feel
591
00:45:19.039 --> 00:45:22.880
hopefully he doesn't try to shoot somebody
at school or do something like that if
592
00:45:22.880 --> 00:45:25.239
he is going to school and just
it's just scary because he's you're messing with
593
00:45:25.280 --> 00:45:30.159
other kids's lives. We're not putting
him behind bars where he belongs, because
594
00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:34.480
if he's shot, somebody killed,
somebody wants he supposedly, if it is
595
00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:37.760
true, shot a house a week
or two weeks before this, which I
596
00:45:37.840 --> 00:45:42.320
was told by multiple people that was
giving the information. They were telling the
597
00:45:42.320 --> 00:45:45.119
information even where he was hiding,
like I knew it on Like I had
598
00:45:45.119 --> 00:45:50.119
the information probably before the cops,
because everybody was messaging me abow to that
599
00:45:50.199 --> 00:45:52.000
day and like people I don't even
know, they just knew that I was
600
00:45:52.039 --> 00:45:57.960
his sister. I would recommend that
you save any correspondence that you have received
601
00:45:58.039 --> 00:46:01.519
from different people about your brothers on
the side, because you never know it
602
00:46:01.599 --> 00:46:06.840
could come in useful one day.
I did. I have screenshots and I've
603
00:46:06.880 --> 00:46:12.119
sent them to them, but I
do I have everything well, and I
604
00:46:12.159 --> 00:46:15.440
hate to say this, but even
though you gave everything that you have to
605
00:46:15.679 --> 00:46:22.880
law enforcement, they are known to
lose things. So if they were to
606
00:46:22.199 --> 00:46:28.239
have lost whatever you have sent them
and worked to come back to you later
607
00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:30.920
and say that they lost it,
and they need to know if you have
608
00:46:30.079 --> 00:46:36.360
copies. That's a reality. Just
keep everything. And that's what the frustrating
609
00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:40.480
part is. They does act like
they're not interested to put away a criminal.
610
00:46:42.320 --> 00:46:45.639
Yeah, that's bad because there's so
many witnesses, so many people.
611
00:46:45.679 --> 00:46:50.000
I have the videos, so many
people were there. I have videos they
612
00:46:50.000 --> 00:46:53.760
were taking. Why the part is
going on from Snapchat I've had. I
613
00:46:53.880 --> 00:46:58.679
have the video from the chemera one
that happened. Like I just there's just
614
00:46:58.760 --> 00:47:01.440
so many videos, so many for
there to many people that could have stepped
615
00:47:01.440 --> 00:47:05.880
in and try to stop. They're
called the cop. Nobody did anything.
616
00:47:06.480 --> 00:47:10.679
They just watched it all happen.
Unfortunately, in today's society, that's a
617
00:47:10.760 --> 00:47:16.800
reality. Whenever a train wreck happens. Instead of trying to help anyone,
618
00:47:17.239 --> 00:47:21.800
people will just get out their phones
and start recording. And that's why I
619
00:47:21.880 --> 00:47:23.679
know there's a recording somewhere, because
there's no way. There are so many
620
00:47:23.719 --> 00:47:29.079
people that were there and they were
recording all these other videos. There was
621
00:47:29.119 --> 00:47:32.639
no way that there's not recording of
them killing my brother somewhere around. Yes,
622
00:47:32.800 --> 00:47:42.599
And that's why I'm hoping that someone
will hear this podcast and feel the
623
00:47:42.679 --> 00:47:49.199
pain that your experience and the loss
of your brother, and that individual will
624
00:47:49.239 --> 00:47:54.559
come forward and talk to the police. I mean someone with really intimate knowledge
625
00:47:55.119 --> 00:48:01.519
of what happened, and someone who
possibly know the alleged shooter on a more
626
00:48:01.599 --> 00:48:07.159
personal basis. I truly hope so. And that's what's great about podcasts.
627
00:48:07.679 --> 00:48:15.800
You never know who's going to listen, and you never know what person might
628
00:48:15.920 --> 00:48:21.960
have important information who never shared it
before, but after hearing the podcast,
629
00:48:22.320 --> 00:48:28.239
they might realize that maybe they know
something that was important. You just never
630
00:48:28.280 --> 00:48:31.280
can tell with people. And another
thing I didn't want to ask you is
631
00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:37.800
can you share a favorite moment with
your brother? Honestly, it's a hard
632
00:48:37.840 --> 00:48:42.400
one because we always try to do
stuff as family, and our biggest thing
633
00:48:42.679 --> 00:48:46.960
was trying to always get together for
someday breakfast. Okay, well, then
634
00:48:47.039 --> 00:48:52.760
let me rephrase that question. Tell
me something that he did that was really
635
00:48:52.639 --> 00:48:59.400
so funny or just goofy that you
will never forget about it. We are
636
00:48:59.480 --> 00:49:04.199
kids. He got into one of
my outfit, my dresses, and he
637
00:49:04.559 --> 00:49:07.760
posed with my dress. I have
the picture and I will never forget it.
638
00:49:08.159 --> 00:49:15.440
And dressing up even I think even
put lipstick only I'll never forget it.
639
00:49:15.480 --> 00:49:17.039
We were kids, yeah, I
mean, I'm sure that if you
640
00:49:17.119 --> 00:49:22.119
asked a lot of people about things
like that, that's probably not uncommon.
641
00:49:22.559 --> 00:49:27.039
I mean, I think I can
remember when I was a kid putting on
642
00:49:27.199 --> 00:49:30.880
my mom's wigs. My brothers and
I would do that. We would put
643
00:49:30.920 --> 00:49:34.639
on our wigs or put on my
mom's clothes and act goofy. We did
644
00:49:34.639 --> 00:49:37.920
those kinds of things. It was
always fine. So it's good that you
645
00:49:37.000 --> 00:49:42.079
have something really funny to remember your
brother buy that you can always share with
646
00:49:42.119 --> 00:49:46.599
your kids one day. So and
the last question that I would have for
647
00:49:46.679 --> 00:49:52.559
you is for anyone out there that's
listening to the sound of your voice,
648
00:49:52.199 --> 00:49:58.039
if they know anything about what happened
to Montana, what would you say to
649
00:49:58.119 --> 00:50:04.239
that person or person if you could
speak to them. Honestly, I've always
650
00:50:04.239 --> 00:50:08.320
said if they know anything, to
contact the police or even contact me.
651
00:50:08.400 --> 00:50:13.880
And my information is out there,
especially if you follow my brother's page that
652
00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:16.719
I've made, or even his Facebook
page. I post on it all the
653
00:50:16.760 --> 00:50:21.960
time. Just contact somebody, let
them know. And honestly, like I've
654
00:50:21.960 --> 00:50:24.679
told everybody, if you don't I
hope it doesn't let you sleep, because
655
00:50:24.719 --> 00:50:29.719
this is something that's ruining people,
our family's live. It's daily like,
656
00:50:29.719 --> 00:50:32.639
it's something that it's a heartache that
will never go away. So I've told
657
00:50:32.679 --> 00:50:36.519
everybody, if you know something,
I honestly hope it interrupt your sleep every
658
00:50:36.599 --> 00:50:39.880
night interview too, because you're in
they're going to hurt somebody else, and
659
00:50:40.199 --> 00:50:44.199
that's going to be on the people
that don't turn it in anything. You're
660
00:50:44.199 --> 00:50:49.360
gonna feel guilty for not turning it
in because if you could turn it in
661
00:50:49.400 --> 00:50:52.360
now and save somebody else's life,
like, that's all we really want.
662
00:50:52.960 --> 00:50:58.400
We want put ups and this doesn't
happen to somebody else. And that concludes
663
00:50:58.559 --> 00:51:02.920
Montana Lopez, who's shot and killed
this young man nearly two years ago.
664
00:51:04.679 --> 00:51:08.320
He was beloved by so many friends
and family members. He didn't have any
665
00:51:08.440 --> 00:51:14.599
enemies or serious disputes with anyone that
could have led to his death. If
666
00:51:14.599 --> 00:51:19.320
you're listening to this podcast and have
a tip, I encourage you to please
667
00:51:19.440 --> 00:51:23.360
contact law enforcement and help remove a
killer from the streets. If you have
668
00:51:23.480 --> 00:51:30.920
any information about this unsolved homicide,
please contact the Monsey Police Department's Criminal Investigation
669
00:51:30.960 --> 00:51:37.880
Division at seven six five seven four
seven four eight six seven, or contact
670
00:51:37.960 --> 00:51:45.760
Monthy Crime Stoppers at seven six five
two eight six four zero five zero or
671
00:51:45.920 --> 00:51:52.440
city police dispatchers at seven six five
seven four seven four eight three eight.
672
00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:57.679
And if you would like to view
Montana's thoughts on foster care, please visit
673
00:51:58.039 --> 00:52:01.920
the Foster success dot org website.
I will be sure to provide this information
674
00:52:02.159 --> 00:52:07.719
in the case story notes. And
if you are a parent, law enforcement
675
00:52:07.760 --> 00:52:12.199
official, friend, or relative seek
and justice for an unsolved commicide case,
676
00:52:12.880 --> 00:52:16.599
please visit my website and complete the
contact form. You can also contact me
677
00:52:16.639 --> 00:53:30.000
through Facebook. Thank you for listening
































