As you are aware, many mothers and fathers have lost their children to the violence on the streets. Recently while I was in Chicago taping an appearance on an upcoming Jenny Jones show about gangs, I met Bobbie Gorena from Perris, California. Her son Troy was murdered in March of 1996. He was killed only 11 months after his father died unexpectedly from natural causes. To say that the family has suffered immensely is an understatement.

Recently Ms. Gorena contacted us asking for help. It seems the witness to the killing has now recanted (after suspected intimidation)and the persons who had been arrested have been released. 

Ms. Gorena has asked for help in raising a reward fund to help bring her son's killers to justice. I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone who reads to send along any amount you can. The address and name of the fund will follow a letter from Ms.Gorena printed verbatim but first I would like you to read a prayer young Troy wrote just before he died...it was meant for his friends on the street: 

Troy had just turned 16 in December of 1995. He had so much to live for and died innocently. I feel very strongly that you should know about him as you are very influential. Troy's father died in April of 1995 of a brain hemorrhage. When he was alive, we lived in Fullerton Orange County, California; a nice, safe respectable neighborhood. We had lived there for 18 years. My sons knew no other home. When their father died I could no longer afford to keep the home. I lost the home and moved my three boys; Anthony 21, Todd 18 and Troy 16, to Perris California. It was very difficult dealing with the emotional suffering we were all experiencing caused by the death of my husband and the readjustment to a new neighborhood for my boys. They were not happy but they "hung in there" like the real troopers that they are.

One weekend, Troy's friends came out to Perris and they all had a wonderful time. Troy and Anthony took the boys home that Tuesday afternoon around 1:00 PM in the afternoon. When he left, he hugged me and one of his friends snapped a picture of us. He kissed me good-bye, told me he loved me and would see me later. I never again saw him alive. The next time I saw him was in a mortuary; he had been murdered. It was truly the most horrible moment of my life. I just fell apart.

The chronology of events follows:

His older brother dropped Troy off at his friend's house. He walked to his girlfriend's house and the two of them decided to go to the store. She went into her house for approximately two to three minutes to get some money and he preferred to wait outside. While she was inside, two white male "skinheads" (as they are known by this slang expression) called him over. He went because he had no reason not to, nor did he have any fear of any kind of trouble occurring. When he got to the two young males, they stabbed him in the head. When he turned to flee, they stabbed him in the back four times. There was simply no reason that they committed this heinous crime. They just did. He stumbled to his friends house who called 911 and me. He seemed to be very alert. He was conscious enough to take off his Emmitt Smith jersey which I had given him for Christmas because he didn't want blood to get on it. He had his friend save it for him until he was released from the hospital; he was never released from the hospital (alive). He was transported to UCI Medical Center because they were the only trauma unit in the area. The doctor told me that when they surgically opened his chest that his stomach had literally exploded with blood. His heart failed and they performed open heart massage - to no avail. He bled to death. They said he had drowned in his own blood.

The tragedy is that there are no leads I this case. I feel that my son is not just another statistic. He was a wonderful boy with a long and fruitful life to look forward to.

I had my son buried in a new Emmitt Smith jersey which the Dallas Cowboys sent to me when I approached them with my story. I couldn't have him buried in the one he was murdered in. My friends and I have decided to have several different types of fund-raisers so that we can offer a monetary reward to anyone who is able to help us capture and try his murderers. I feel so frustrated and alone as I go to businesses asking for donations and don't get a compassionate ear. I have called all the talk shows, radio stations, newspapers in the area; no one is willing to help me find the murderers of my son. I would like to tell you that the Dallas Cowboys have been wonderful to me. As a result of my calling their promotions manager to thank him for sending me the jersey I buried my son in, he offered more support when he found out that I was unable to get any help from any local people. It is amazing to me that someone who is 2,000 miles away would have such a big heart and reach out to help me by sending me Cowboys' memorabilia that we will be able to auction off to help raise money for the reward.

Please help me. I know that you realize that we are all in danger of this happening to our children. It is such a heart-breaking feeling. I want people to know about my son. He is just as important as Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. He was a decent human being just as they were. His life was tragically taken like them, he was innocent of any wrongdoing.He was the helpless victim of this madness which is allowed to exist in our world. My son was my own young hero. I am sorry you didn't know him; you really would've loved and respected him. He had a warm heart and a big smile for everyone. Please let people know that innocent lives are being taken everyday on our streets. We must all band together and do something to stop this madness. Thank you for anything you can do for Troy.