Doris Espinoza settled into a lawn chair on a downtown Colorado Springs street corner Thursday, squinting into the setting sun.

Around her, about 18 people stood holding up laminated blown-up photographs of people who were the victims of unsolved homicides in El Paso County.

One photo showed her youngest son Ricky Espinoza, a 37-year-old whose naked body was discovered in a landfill in June 2001.

“He was my baby. We were really close,” she said, recalling how her son, who had training as a stylist, used to cut her hair.

Espinoza and her daughter Jacqueline gathered at the corner of Vermijo Avenue and South Tejon Street as members of Mothers of Murdered Youth gathered to hold a vigil and remember their loved ones.

The vigil was held to kick off National Crime Victims Week, which begins Sunday. The rally’s location was chosen because it was between the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s office and the Terry R. Harris Judicial complex.

Jennifer Romero, the founder of the group, said they try to rally each year in the neighborhood, hoping that people in the justice system, including people accused of crimes, can see them.

“We’re out here to raise awareness of – hey guys, there are people out here who are hurt by the murders and the violence that is occurring in our city,” Romero said.

“We’re hurting and we’re tired and we’re asking people please, please, please stop killing our children,” she added.

District Attorney Dan May and Assistant District Attorney Dan Zook came down from their office to chat with members of the group.

“I just wanted to come down and pay my respects,” Zook said.  

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said of the rally. “They’re just trying to keep alive the memories of these people and help people who are in the same situation.”

Espinoza said she comes to the rally to keep up the heat on solving cold cases and see that the killers are caught.

“They could be doing it to somebody else,” she added.

For video on this story, visit “The Sidebar” blog at gazettedev.gazette.com

Deborah Ann Heriford, 51 has been missing since March 31. Photo by

ALL