Mary Cummins is an Investigative Reporter, Writer, Speaker and Victims Rights Activist. Cummins is also a Real Estate Appraiser in Los Angeles, California and President of Animal Advocates. marycumminsrealestatemarycummins.blogspot.com WEBSITEFACEBOOK
Victims of hurricane Harvey 2017 in Texas. Travis Callihan, Ola Mae Crooks, Lisa Jones, Ruben Clifford Jordan, Sft Steve Albert Perez, Donald Ray Rogers, Rochelle Rogers, Belia Saldivar, Daisy Saldivar, Devy Saldivar, Dominic Saldivar, Manuel Saldivar, Xavier Saldivar, Agnes Stanley, Colette Leigh Sulcer, Alexander Kwoksum Sung - by reporter Mary Cummins
CHECK BACK AS THE LIST WILL BE UPDATING AS THE NAMES ARE RELEASED. Around the cities of Port Arthur and Beaumont, authorities say they will not release details of storm-related deaths until all bodies are recovered. There are at least 70 dead. As waters recede they are going door to door. Many more names will be added daily. These are confirmed dead. There are a few unknown and still many missing. FTR we are taking confirmed deaths from multiple coroner offices across the entire state of Texas and now Louisiana. We only get name, date of death, possible age and location. We use this information to make them an obituary best we can based on ancestry research and public documents. Most of the people who died alone had no living family.
Names of the victims which have been released to date after notification of family in alphabetical order: Travis Callihan, 45, Ola Mae Crooks, 81, Joshua Feuerstein, 33, Lisa Jones, 60, Ruben Clifford Jordan, 58, Jorge Perez, 33, Sgt Steve Albert Perez, 61, Donald Ray Rogers, 65, Rochelle Rogers, 59, Belia Saldivar, Daisy Saldivar, 6, Devy Saldivar, 16, Dominic Saldivar, 14, Manuel Saldivar, Xavier Saldivar, 8, Agnes Stanley, 89, Colette Leigh Sulcer, 41, Alexander Kwoksum Sung, 64, Keisha Wiliams, 32, Yahir Rubio Vizuet, 25, Ronald Zaring, 82.
Interesting update. The Vizuet and Saldivar family members were found by family who went on a private search. The brother-in-law of Vizuet and son of Saldivar found their relative's bodies in the bayous.
Acevedo, Victor Manuel b. Apr. 24, 1950 d. Aug. 28, 2017
Adams, Arthur Curtis b. Oct. 12,1977 d. Aug. 25, 2017
Arthur Adams had stayed behind in Rockport to board up homes in the area and was hoping to leave before the storm made landfall, which it later did as a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds of about 130 mph. When Christi and the couple's son left the day before to take shelter with family, Arthur let them know he was hoping to borrow a truck to evacuate on Friday. That did not happen. "He said, 'I'm going to be fine,' " Christi Adams said. "We just can't believe he's gone," she said. "It's just a terrible tragedy."
Christi Adams said she and Arthur had been together for nearly 18 years. The couple were married by common-law, and Christi went by Arthur's last name, though her legal last name is "Rhodes." They planned to have a commitment ceremony on their 20th anniversary, she added. He leaves behind his wife and five children.
After a mandatory evacuation was issued on Aug. 24 for Rockport and the surrounding area, Arthur told Christi and their son to head to San Antonio to stay with another son, Josh, and his family. After learning that Arthur was unable to find transportation out of Rockport, Christi Adams said the family offered to turn around to go get him. Arthur refused, citing the heavy traffic north from the coastal areas, she said. Arthur was the first victim of hurricane Harvey. His parents were Curtis Henry Adams and Cathy Jean Stinson.
Angel, Efrain b. 1991 d. Aug. 29, 2017
Anonymous, Baby b. Jun., 2017 d. Aug. 28, 2017
Avila, Mary Elizabeth b. Jul. 7, 1937 d. Aug. 30, 2017
Barnes, Ginger Finney b. Oct. 16, 1973 d.Aug. 31, 2017
Ginger and her husband Russell both died when a tree fell on their truck. They lived in Alvin, Texas.
Ginger Finney Barnes, 43, of Alvin, Texas died Wednesday, August 31, 2017. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Monday, September 4, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Beech Grove Baptist Church with interment to follow at Ebenezer Cemetery in Tyler County. The family will greet friends on Sunday, September 3rd at Shultz Funeral Home from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. in Jasper. Ginger was born on October 16, 1973 to Patrick Finney and Betty Johnson in Honolulu, Hawaii. A long-time resident of Jasper and a member of the Jasper High School Graduating Class of 1992, she was a resident of LaPorte, League City and Alvin, and worked as an insurance agent for State Farm Wayne Faircloth’s Office. She is survived by her father Patrick Finney of Sargent, Texas; parents Larry & Betty Williams of Jasper; son Chase Menocal of League City, Texas; daughter Kaylee Snider of Alvin, Texas; and a sister Jessica Williams of Jasper. She is preceded in death by her daughter Haylee Snider and she died with her husband Russell Barnes. A sweet soul, a loving daughter and a caring mother, she will be remembered for her sweet spirit and contagious smile and will be missed by all who were blessed to know her.
Barnes, Russell Lan b. Jun. 2, 1966 d. Aug. 29, 2017
Tree fell on his truck. He and his wife Ginger were killed. They lived in Alvin. His father was Olen Leon Barnes.
Bhatia, Nikhil b. 1993 d. Aug. 30, 2017
A 24-year-old Indian student who died after he was rescued from a swollen lake in the hurricane-hit US state of Texas, has been cremated in Houston. Nikhil Bhatia, a PhD student at the Texas A&M University, was rescued from the Lake Bryan, where he along with another Indian woman student Shalini Singh had gone swimming, last Saturday. According to their friends and some witnesses, the two were swimming in the lake when a sudden current of water pushed them deeper. Bhatia, from Jaipur, along with Singh, 25, from New Delhi, was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition. Bhatia died on Wednesday while Singh continues to be in a critical condition, according to officials at the Indian Consulate in Houston. Singh was pursuing Masters degree in public health from the same university. The funeral of Bhatia took place on Friday in the presence of his mother and close friends. According to the consulate office, Bhatia's mother Suman Bhatia will returning to India on 4 September and will carry his ashes with her. Bhatia, originally from Jaipur, had completed his schooling from Jaipur and did his engineering in Vellore. He recently graduated from Texas A&M University in water management and hydrological science and had enrolled in a Phd programme for the fall session. Bhatia was the only child of Suman, a lecturer in a government college, and Pradeep Bhatia, a defence staffer. Around 13 million people were battling "catastrophic" flooding and torrential rains in the storm-ravaged Texas where Hurricane Harvey has wreaked havoc, claiming at least 47 lives.
Brown, Clevelon b. 1953 d. Sep. 3,2017
Callihan, Travis Lynn b. August 11, 1972 Dallas, Texas d. Aug. 28, 2017
A 45-year-old man, Travis Lynn Callihan, left his vehicle and fell into floodwaters in Houston. He was taken to a hospital, where he died Monday.Mr. Callihan lived alone, his brother said. He kept to himself and quit working after he broke his back a few years ago in a boating accident. Before his injury, he was a different man. He spent his weekends hunting, fishing and scuba diving. He worked in information technology and pored over computers in his spare time. A science geek, his brother said. “He changed dramatically after he hurt himself,” Troy said. “But he’d still come over and visit my kids. We helped him recuperate. And even if we couldn’t see each other, we’d talk.” His parents were Lonnie Lee Callihan and Gail May Gilbreath.
Capers, James "Jimmy" b. Dec. 11, 1947 d. Aug. 28, 2017
A San Jacinto County resident died in floodwaters near his residence on Aug. 28, mysanantonio.com reported. Deputy constables have confirmed the death of Jimmy Capers, the uncle of Sheriff Greg Capers. Capers was reportedly herding cattle away from the floodwaters toward higher ground alongside friends and family members. Precinct 3 Capt. Peter Sparta said Capers was possibly swept underwater by the current. Efforts to revive him after about he spent about 5 minutes underwater were unsuccessful.
James Lynn “Jimmy” Capers was born December 11, 1947 in Huntsville, Texas to Julius L. Capers and Mary Ellen Hitt Capers and died August 28, 2017 in San Jacinto County, Texas.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, C.D. “Pete”, Thomas “Buddy”, Charles and Robert Joe Capers; sisters, Mamie Mayer Southern, Mollie Mae Currie, Clara Nettles and Lula Currie.
Jimmy is survived by his wife of 39 years, Becky Capers; daughter, JymeBeth McBride and her husband Brade McBride; grandchildren, Jacelynn Head, Brade “Bub” McBride, II. and Bobbie June McBride; brother, Julius Murle “Jay” and wife Charlene Capers; sister, Mary Lou Pridgen; sister-in-law, Dorothy Capers; nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, “adopted” kids, family and friends too numerous to name that he dearly loved.
Jimmy was in the United States Army and proudly served our country in the Vietnam War. After discharge he worked for Champion Paper Co., Wirt Davis, Hunt Construction then Texas Dept. of Transportation for 27 years. After retiring he worked some part time for Colby Construction and San Jacinto Co. Pct. 3. Jimmy loved to steer rope, hunt and fish.
He loved his daughter and grandchildren endlessly and always tried to help them accomplish their goals. His pride and joy was his daughter and granddaughter who, like him loves to ride, rope and fish. They spent many hours working on these activities.
Jimmy had many very special people in his life, again too many to name, that he helped and encouraged in their life and goals. Although many thought him to be a gruff person in reality he had a heart of gold. He helped take care of his mother-in-law for a number of years who preceded him in death 15 days earlier.
From your wife and family thank you and rest in peace til we see you again. We love you.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday, September 4, 2017 at Pace Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at Pace Stancil Chapel, Cleveland, Texas. Interment will follow at Montague Cemetery, Cleveland, Texas.
Carreon-Esquivel, Tomas Jr. b. 1992 d. Sep. 1,2017
Accidental flood drowning caused by hurricane Harvey. Found floating in Cypress Creek flood water. 25 year old male Hispanic.
Cavazos, Benito Juarez b. 1975 d. Aug. 29, 2017
The body of the 42-year-old auto-body shop worker, who came to the U.S. from Mexico illegally 28 years ago, was found Tuesday in a parking lot near a Houston freeway after floodwaters receded.
Cavazos had recently received a work permit, and was scheduled for an appointment the next day to help him get permanent residency, his cousins said at the service.
“It’s very unfortunate that right when he finally had hopes of being able to maybe go to Mexico soon to go see his family it all went downhill,” his cousin, Maria Cavazos, said. Funeral was September 1, 2017.
Crooks, Ola Mae Winfrey b. Dec. 26, 1935 d. Aug. 29, 2017
Ola Mae Crooks died as a result of hurricane Harvey at the age of 82. She was trying to drive across a bridge and was swept into the flood waters. Crooks is preceded in death by her husband, Norris Crooks, who passed away Aug. 18. Funeral services for him were held Saturday. She is survived by daughters: Cynthia Oliphant and Myra Crooks; grandchildren: Colby Oliphant and Latifah Eaglin, a host of nieces, nephews, additional relatives, and friends. Her funeral service is September 2, 2017.
Ola Mae Winfrey-Crooks, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt; died suddenly on August 29, 2017, in Walker County. Ola Mae, 82, was born on December 26, 1935, to Herbert, Sr. and Irene Winfrey, in Huntsville. She is survived by her devoted family that includes her daughters: Cynthia Oliphant and Myra Crooks; grandchildren: Colby Oliphant and Latifa Eaglin; sisters: Mary Hall, Gladys Oliphant, and Lou Ella Willis (Charles); brothers: Charles Winfrey and Fredrick Winfrey; sister-in-law: Nettie Crooks; her Galilee C.O.G.I.C. family, and a host of nieces, nephews, additional relatives, and friends. Viewing will be Friday, September 1, 2017, 12:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Cox Funeral Home Chapel. Family and friends will gather to remember Ola Mae life, Saturday, September 2, 2017, 11:00 A.M. at Galilee Church of God in Christ. Burial will immediately follow in the Galilee Cemetery, in Huntsville, Texas.
Dailey, Casey b. 1979 d. Aug. 29, 2017
Delgado, Noah b. Sept. 2008, Sept. 3, 2017
An 8-year-old boy died of an asthma attack after Hurricane Harvey after he couldn’t get treatment in time, according to his family.His mother, Tina Galan, used Noah’s inhaler to try to calm the attack but to no avail. Galan said that her repeated calls to 911 went unanswered as authorities fielded thousands of calls during the deadly storm. “I went outside with him to try and get him some air, thinking it would help. I thought, because the power was out, maybe it was too stuffy inside,” Galan told the New York Post. Once outside, however, she realized Noah wasn’t breathing. “I was doing CPR, and trying to get him to inhale the medicine, and the air, trying to get him to inhale anything at all,” Galan told the paper. A stranger in a truck passing by their home reportedly stopped and picked them up and began driving to the hospital. On the way, they spotted an ambulance, which took them the rest of the way, reports said. While receiving CPR, one of Noah's lungs collapsed, the family’s GoFundMe said. Noah was life-flighted from North Cypress Medical Center to Texas Children's Hospital, but there was no room on the helicopter for Noah's mom so a friend drove her to the hospital, she said. Galan got stuck in the floods along the way but the National Guard assisted them. Once she arrived at the hospital, doctors told her Noah's diagnosis looked grim. Even if he lived, he’d be brain dead, they told her. Noah was in a coma and on life support for three days before he died. Noah Delgado, who was just one week shy of his ninth birthday, was in his Houston home last Monday when he was stricken with a severe asthma attack, reports said.“Noah was loving and energetic, and lit up the room with his presence," he family wrote on the fundraiser."He was loved by all of his teachers and friends. He was a brave young man and loved a challenge. He loved playing video games, watching scary movies, home cooked meals and Pokemon.”
Dowell, Joseph b. 1969 d. Aug. 27, 2017
Ellis, Wilma Ratcliff
b. Fed. 18, 1944, d. Aug. 28, 2017
Feuerstein, Joshua b. Sep. 23, 1984 d. Aug 28, 2017
Joshua Feuerstein, 33, of Conroe, died when he disregarded a barricade and drove his pickup into standing water Monday, according to authorities. Witnesses saw his pickup's reverse lights illuminate, indicating that Feuerstein was attempting to back out of the water. But the pickup was carried into deeper water by hurricane Henry. The witnesses swam to help, but Feuerstein had already drowned.
Guillen, Alonso b. 1986 d. Aug. 30, 2017
Alonso Guillen, a 31-year-old disc jockey from Lufkin, disappeared on Wednesday around midnight along with two friends after their boat hit the bridge over the creek and capsized. One of them was rescued after clinging to a tree in the rushing water, but days later, after the rains let up and the creek level receded, Guillen and Tomas Carreon Jr. were still missing. Searchers spotted Carreon's body floating down the wide, swift-moving creek on Friday around 1 p.m. On Sunday afternoon, Guillen's body floated past a sandy berm where family members had been keeping watch for days, staring out at the murky water. A relative dove in and pulled him to the shoulder of the creek until they were able to bring a boat over to get him onto shore. Guillen's father, Jesus Guillen, said he'd asked his son not to try and rescue people in the storm, but he insisted, saying he wanted to help people. He cried and prayed on Sunday afternoon as they pulled his son's body from the water. "Thank you, God," he said, "for the time I had with him." The recovery of his body brings the number of people who have died or are feared dead from Harvey to nearly 60, and officials warn that more could be found. Guillen, who was born in Piedras Negras, Mexico, and moved to Lufkin as a teenager, headed south with his friends toward Houston after Hurricane Harvey, towing a borrowed boat. They were near Interstate 45 and Beltway 8 and trying to reach an apartment complex when they hit the bridge, relatives said. Alonso Guillen was a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which temporarily lifted the threat of deportation for immigrants brought to the U.S. before they were 16, family members said. His father is a lawful permanent, but his mother is still in the application process for legal status. Reached at her home in Piedras Negras, Mexico, across the border from Eagle Pass, Rita Ruiz de Guillen, 62, said she is heartbroken. "I've lost a great son, you have no idea," she said, weeping softly. "I'm asking God to give me strength." She said she hoped U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials would take pity and grant her a humanitarian visa so that she could come to Houston and bury her son, but she was turned back at the border. "When we are with God, there are no borders," she said. "Man made borders on this earth."
Head, Ronald Darrell "Ronnie" b. Jun. 13,1960 d. Aug. 25, 2017
Head was last heard from August 25, 2017 as hurricane Harvey hit. He died in Port Aransas. He is survived by his mother. His parents were/are Robert Edward Head and Jo Doris Blair. He graduated from Lamar High School and the University of Texas at Austin in 1983. His dog died days before the hurricane hit. He was 57.
Hernandez Rodriguez, Gustavo b. 1977 d. Aug. 31, 2017
40 year old Hispanic male found on the banksof the Greens Bayou. Flood drowning accident caused by hurricane Harvey. Year of birth is approximate based on age.
Hurley, Patrick b. 1958 d.Aug. 27, 2017
Jones, Lisa Marie b. Nov. 24, 1956 d. Aug. 28, 2017
Lisa Jones, 60, died in the bedroom of her trailer when a large oak tree fell over onto the residence, likely due to saturated ground resulting from Hurricane Harvey. The woman's husband said she had been taking a nap in the bedroom. He was unable to get to her or get her to respond, so he left the home to get help.
Jordan, Ruben Clifford b. Jul. 3, 1959 d. Aug. 26, 2017 Friendswood, Harris, Texas
Ruben A longtime south Texas coach and former John Tyler graduate died in the devastating Houston floods. A tweet from Clear Creek ISD confirmed the death of Coach Ruben C. Jordan on August 29 by the Friendswood Police Department. Jordan was reported missing August 26 by family members, who put out a plea on social media to help find him. According to the Houston Chronicle, Coach Jordan was a longtime coach for Clear Creek High School, and had retired in 2016. Mr. Jordan taught sociology and coached track and football; he was the “in-school suspension monitor,” chosen for his ability to talk down a misbehaving teenager. After he retired from teaching and coaching last year, he ran his own business teaching driving classes. Jordan grew up in Tyler and was a football player at John Tyler High School, according to the Chronicle.
Lacobie, Dorothy Helen b. Apr. 10, 1929 d. Aug. 31, 2017
Montalbano, Calvin Oran b. Sep. 29, 1962 d. Aug. 29, 2017
Murphy, Bobby b. 1963 d. Aug. 27, 2017
Osorno, Colby Henry b. 1993 d. Aug. 31, 2017
Accidental drowning caused by floods from hurricane Harvey. Parents are Henry Osorno and Gloria "Glo" Hernandez." He worked at American Cargo Assurance in Houston, Texas.
Parsutt, Bonnie Sue b. Jan. 25, 1948 d. Aug. 27, 2017
Pasek, Andrew Joseph b. Dec. 6 1991 d. Aug. 29,2017
Andrew was electrocuted while trying to rescue his sister's cat in her flooded house. He was just in two feet of water when power leaked out of a lamp pole. The shock paralyzed him and he fell putting his hand on the pole. He was shocked and drowned. No rescue attempt could be made until power was turned off to the subdivision. He is survived by his mother Jodell Pasek who wants to warn people about the dangers in flood waters with live power. His parents are Albin Joseph Pasek and Ann Ajodell Tamborello.
Andrew Pasek, 25, was always bringing home stray animals. There was Mali the puppy, his mother recalled, a tabby he called Blu and a Tibetan spaniel named Coco.
So it surprised no one that on Tuesday, Andrew set out to retrieve his sister Alyssa’s cat, D’Artagnan, who had been left behind as the floodwaters rose in Houston.
Andrew drove to the home with his childhood friend, Sean Stuart, and they began wading through several feet of water toward his sister’s two-story house.
Suddenly, the two felt the jolt of an electrical current in the water, said Andrew’s mother, JoDell Pasek.
“Years ago, Andrew had had an accident and broken his ankle severely, and he had plates and pins in his ankle,” she said. “All of that electricity started going to everything in his ankle and he started jumping around.”
Andrew fell into a mailbox on a metal post. “He told Sean, ‘Get away from me, I’m dying,’” Ms. Pasek said, through tears. “He knew immediately that if Sean touched him, he would be electrocuted too.”
Officials in Harris County attributed his death to accidental electrocution, the ninth confirmed storm death in the county.
Sean’s mother called Ms. Pasek to tell her what had happened. “I get that phone call, my son is no longer alive,” she said. “I just started screaming. We’ve been friends since the kids were in kindergarten, so I know it was the hardest thing she had to do.”
Gathered at home in Houston, Andrew’s family was left wondering if they could have stopped him from trying to rescue D’Artagnan.
“We’ve all decided that no matter what we would have said, he would have gone anyway,” Ms. Pasek said. “That was just his nature.”
Shocked by underwater electrical wire and drowned. He was trying to rescue his sister's cat. Funeral September 2, 2017.
Pellerien, Peter b. 1934 d. Aug. 27, 2017
Perez, Jorge Raul b. 1984 d. Aug. 29, 2017
Perez was a volunteer rescuer. He was with others in a boat going to rescue an elderly woman in a wheel chair. The current of the flood pushed them into submerged live power lines. Everyone in the boat jumped into the water. He was 33 a married father of two.
Perez, SGT Steve Albert
b. Aug. 31, 1956 d. Aug. 27, 2017 Houston, Texas
Steve Perez, a 34-year Houston police officer, drowned in his patrol car in hurricane Harvey floodwaters on his way to work to help hurricane survivors. Perez, days shy of his 61st birthday, was in his patrol car driving to work downtown Sunday morning when he got trapped in high water. He was a native of Porter, Texas. He is survived by his adult son and daughter and his wife, Cheryl.
Qasem, Batool b. 1941 d. Aug. 26, 2017
Batool Qasem, 76, was found dead in high water beside her vehicle in Houston on Saturday. Mrs Batool Al Shakaa is the wife of Mr Jamil Qasem in Houston Texas. Victim of hurricane Harvey.
From the Arab American Cultural & Community Center.
It is with great sorrow and sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend, Mrs. Batool El-Shakaa Al-Qasem, Wife of Mr. Jamil Al-Qasem, Mother of Firas and Tamara Al-Qasem. She was loved by everyone who knew her and will be dearly missed by all. May God rest her soul in peace and give solace and comfort to her family and friends.
عظم الله اجركم ورحم فقيدتكم واسكنها فسيح جناته. انا لله وانا اليه راجعون.
Renick, Jill b. 1969 d. Aug. 27, 2017
Rogers, Preacher Donald Ray b. Apr. 5, 1952 d. Aug. 30, 2017 Fulshear, Fort Bend, Texas
When officers found the truck, it was completely submerged. Norvell identified the couple as 65-year-old Donald Rogers and 58-year-old Rochelle Rogers. They lived in a rural area of the county southwest of Houston and they were headed to a relative's house nearby.
Rogers, Rochelle wife of Donald above b. Oct 1, 1958 d. Aug. 30, 2017 Fulshear, Fort Bend, Texas
Salazar, Martin b. 1968 d. Aug. 30, 2017
Saldivar, Belia Rosas b. May 7, 1935, San Diego, CA d. Aug. 26, 2017, Houston, Texas
Belia and her husband Manuel died along with four of their great-grandchildren in flood waters in their van which was washed off a bridge. Survived by sons Sammy, Ric. Married to Manuel for 60 years. Manuel and Belia both had Alzheimer's. Belia is survived by her five sons, Jose Manuel, Samuel, Ricardo, and Danny, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The mother of the children who died is Blanca "Mona"Maribel Ibarra Saldivar. The father is 36 year old Jason Manuel Saldivar son of Daniel Salvidar. He is in Federal prison in Beaumont set to be released 09/11/2017.
Saldivar, Daisy b. 2011 d. Aug. 26, 2017
Daisy, 6, hoped to become a teacher one day and had a great first week in Ms. Jackson's first-grade class at Williams Elementary. She loved princess dresses and animals, with a particular affection for the neighborhood cats she fed, according to Mona Saldivar, a 34-year-old dental assistant. "She was bubbly, (a) social butterfly; she just talked to everybody and anybody. She would brighten up the room when she would come in the door," her mother said. The mother is Blanca "Mona" Maribel Ibarra Saldivar. The father is Jason Manuel Saldivar son of Daniel Salvidar.
Saldivar, Devorah "Devy" b. 2011 d. Aug. 26, 2017
Devorah, 16, was a straight-A student in the 11th grade at Pasadena High School, her mother said. She loved reading and sang alto in the choir. She had talked about becoming a veterinarian. To her mother, Devorah was like sunshine. "She would walk into the room - her laugh was contagious. She was always joking around, and her favorite color was yellow. She was always wearing something really bright," her mother said. The mother is Blanca "Mona"Maribel Ibarra Saldivar. The father is Jason Manuel Saldivar son of Daniel Salvidar.
Saldivar, Dominic b. 2002 d. Aug. 26, 2017
Dominic, 14, played trombone and had already had a spot on the Pasadena High School marching band. Like his little brother, he aspired to join the military and loved Legos. The boys kept their Lego collections separate, but Dominic would help his brother build. Dominic was a rowdy, goofy jokester who was protective of his mother's time and attention, she said.The mother is Blanca "Mona"Maribel Ibarra Saldivar. The father is Jason Manuel Saldivar son of Daniel Salvidar.
Saldivar, Manuel b. Oct 28, 1932, Neuces, Texas d. Aug. 26, 2017
Survived by his sons Sammy, Ric. Married to Belia for 60 years. Manuel and Belia both had Alzheimer's. Manuel is survived by her five sons, Jose Manuel, Samuel, Ricardo, and Danny, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The mother of the children who died is Blanca "Mona"Maribel Ibarra Saldivar. The father is Jason Manuel Saldivar son of Daniel Salvidar. Saldivar, Xavier Adam b. 2009 d. Aug. 26, 2017
Xavier, 8, had just started third grade at Williams Elementary. He loved swimming, turtles, family game nights and building Lego Ninjago sets. He liked the color green, and every Halloween he dressed up as a soldier, his mother said. He greatly admired his great-grandfather, who perished with him and was one of several military veterans in the family.The mother is Blanca "Mona"Maribel Ibarra Saldivar. The father is Jason Manuel Saldivar son of Daniel Salvidar.
Sanchez, Gary Wayne b. 1959 d. Aug. 31, 2017
Singh, Shalini b. 1992 d. Sep. 3, 2017
A 25-year-old Indian student has died here, days after she was rescued along with another Indian man from a swollen lake in the US state of Texas where Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc. Shalini Singh, a student pursuing Masters degree in public health from the Texas A&M University, was rescued from the Lake Bryan along with another Indian student Nikhil Bhatia last Saturday. While Bhatia died in hospital+ on August 30, Singh, who continued to be in a critical condition, was declared dead late last night. Her younger brother and maternal uncle, who flew in from New Delhi on August 30, were with her at the time of death. Singh, originally hailing from Delhi, came to the US only last month to pursue the two years Masters program after her degree in Dental Surgery from I T S Dental College in Greater Noida. She will be cremated in Bryan on Tuesday or Wednesday next week, according to the consulate sources. Singh continued to be on life support till intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, according to the Consulate officials, who were in regular touch with the family members in hospital. According to their friends and some witnesses, Singh and Bhatia were swimming in the lake when a sudden current of water pushed them deeper. The friends accompanying them noticed that the duo were in distress and flagged down nearby police officers. Bryan Police officers were able to rescue and provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victims until medics arrived, according to Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson. Consul General of India in Houston, Dr Anupam Ray had been monitoring her medical needs and situation closely.
Stanley, Agnes b. 1928 d. Aug. 29, 2017 Houston, Harris, Texas.
Agnes died at the age of 89 in her home during hurricane Harvey. She was found floating in four feet of water in her home. She was a volunteer with Houston Audubon's Docent Guild, where she worked with a program that introduced children to birds and botany, according to the Chronicle. "She was fierce and determined. She was small in stature, but strong-willed and invincible," Helen Drummond, executive director of Houston Audubon, told the newspaper. "She just meant so much to us and she will definitely be missed." Survived by son Gregory Stanley.
Sulcer, Colette Leigh b. Apr. 5, 1976 Jefferson, Texas d. Aug. 29, 2017 Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas
Sulcer died a victim of hurricane Harvey in Beaumont, Texas. Her three year old daughter Jordyan was found alive clinging to her mother's body. Sulcer worked as a Surgical Technologist at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas. She graduated from West Brook Senior High School and Lamar State College Port Arthur. Her parents were Eddie Lee Sulcer and Joyce Ann Hunt. Sulcer was 41.
Sung, Alexander Kwoksum b. Jul. 18, 1953 Hong Kong, China d. Aug. 26, 2017 Texas
Sung was born in Hong Kong, China. He owned and operated a clock store. He died in the store when the flood hit. He is survived by his daughters.
Thomas, Clementin b. 1956 d. Aug. 30, 2017
Clementine Thomas, 61, died Wednesday afternoon when the car she was driving was swept from Texas 87 south of Newton, about 60 miles northeast of Beaumont during hurricane Harvey. Newton County Sheriff Billy Rowles said witnesses reported that several people risked their lives to rescue Thomas but were unsuccessful. Her body was recovered Thursday afternoon. Tucker, Michael b. 1951 d. Aug. 29, 2017 Vizuet, Benjamin b. Nov. 11,1983 d.Aug. 31, 2017
Found on the banks of the Greens Bayou. He was last seen helping save victims of the flooding. Cause of death accidental flood drowning caused by hurricane Harvey. He was 33. Graduated from Wheatley High School. Lived in Cloverleaf, Texas. Survived by wife Perla Jaquez, two sons, Benjamin, Nathan and a daughter.
Vizuet Rubio, Yahir b. Oct. 6, 1991 d. Aug. 29, 2017
Bizueth was 25 and unmarried. He with others were going to rescue an elderly women from home. Their boat was caught up in the current of the flood and ran into submerged live power lines. Everyone on the boat jumped off.
Williams, Keisha Monique b. Sep. 2, 1984, d. Aug. 29, 2017
Williams graduated from Houston's Furr High School and worked as a certified nursing assistant. She was a single mother of two girls. She drowned in hurricane Harvey flooding. Williams was 32. Survived by daughters Kiaja, 13 and Kinaya, 11 who were left with their aunt while Williams returned to save her two dogs, Tiger and Doughboy. Her dogs survived. Williams did not know how to swim.
Zaring, Ronald L b. Apr. 12, 1935, d. Aug 29, 2017
Ronald Zaring, 82, was being transported on a charter bus organized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency when he went into cardiac arrest during hurricane Harvey. The elderly man, who suffered from heart disease and pneumonia, was being cared for at the Friendswood Health Center before the patients were evacuated to Friendswood High School. Zaring was a native of Galveston County. He was also a Navy veteran. “He was just a super nice guy. He didn’t know a stranger,” his son Devin Zaring said. “Everybody loved him.” They were being transported to Huntsville on Tuesday when he passed away. He worked at Manikin Repair Center of Texas. Survived by wife Judith Carol Main Zaring.
Below is a virtual cemetery of the victims of hurricane Harvey in Texas in 2017 which I made. I made most of the memorials though not all.
Here is the list of dead per Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Other counties have their own coroner. Most are too busy to do autopsy on the dead due to many reasons. This is only Harris County list.
Storm-Related Deaths Hurricane Harvey Current as of: September 1, 2017 @ 9 p.m. Line # ME Case # Identification Status/Name Race/ Ethnicity Sex Age Place of Death Date/Time of Death Circumstances Cause/ Manner of Death Confirmed Storm-Related Fatalities 1 ML17-3076 Alexander Kwoksum Sung Asian M 64 years 915 College Ave South Houston, TX 8/27/2017 2:40PM Found in workplace with 1.5 ft debris line Flood-Drowning/ Accident 2 ML17-3067 Batool Qasem Asian F 76 years 7 Warrenton Dr. Houston, TX 8/26/2017 9:15PM Found floating in flood water near vehicle Flood-Drowning/ Accident 3 ML17-3093 Travis Lynn Callihan White M 45 years Memorial Hermann Hospital-Memorial City 8/28/2017 3:11PM Exited vehicle and fell into flood waters, transported to local hospital Flood-Drowning/ Accident 4 ML17-3097 Agnes Stanley White F 89 years 4311 Meyerwood Dr Houston, TX 8/27/2017 10:30am Found floating in 4ft of flood water in residence Flood-Drowning/ Accident 5 ML17-3102 Steve Albert Perez (Houston Police Department Sargent) Hispanic M 60 years 800 N Sam Houston Pkwy Houston, TX 8/29/2017 9:00am Found by HPD Dive Team submerged in 14ft of water Flood-Drowning/ Accident 6 ML17-3104 Pending Black M Unknown 7414 Claiborne Houston, TX 8/29/2017 10:53am Found floating in high waters on a residential street Flood-Drowning/ Accident 7 ML17-3106 Benito Cavazos Juarez Hispanic M 42 years 12420 E Freeway/Holland Houston, TX 8/29/2017 11:00am Found face down in parking lot after flood waters receded Flood-Drowning/ Accident 8 ML17-3107 Calvin Oran Montalbano White M 54 years 13401 EastTX Freeway Houston, TX 8/29/2017 12:39pm Found in a grassy area near the E Tx Freeway Flood-Drowning/ Accident 9 ML17-3111 Andrew Pasek White M 25 years 4638 Hickory Downs Houston, TX 8/29/2017 12:00am Witnessed to step on live electrical wire in flood waters Flood-Electrocution/ Accident Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences Page 2 of 3 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, Texas 77054 | 832-927-5215 | ifs.harriscounty.gov 10 ML17-3114 Jorge Raul Perez Hispanic M 33 years 12800 Texaco Rd Houston, TX 8/29/2017 3:45pm Found floating in flood water by HFD Flood-Drowning/ Accident 11 ML17-3115 Yahir Rubio-Vizuet Hispanic M 45 years 12800 Texaco Rd Houston, TX 8/29/2017 3:45pm Found floating in flood water by HFD Flood-Drowning/ Accident 12 ML17-3129 Belia Rojas Saldivar Hispanic F 81 years 1400 Green River Dr Houston, TX 8/30/2017 4:00am Found in van off the roadway in high water Flood-Drowning/ Accident 13 ML17-3130 Manuel Q Saldivar Hispanic M 84 years 1400 Green River Dr Houston, TX 8/30/2017 4:00am Found in van off the roadway in high water Flood-Drowning/ Accident 14 ML17-3131 Xavier Adam Saldivar Hispanic M 8 years 1400 Green River Dr Houston, TX 8/30/2017 4:00am Found in van off the roadway in high water Flood-Drowning/ Accident 15 ML17-3132 Daisy Saldivar Hispanic F 6 years 1400 Green River Dr Houston, TX 8/30/2017 4:00am Found in van off the roadway in high water Flood-Drowning/ Accident 16 ML17-3133 Devorah Saldivar Hispanic F 16 years 1400 Green River Dr Houston, TX 8/30/2017 4:00am Found in van off the roadway in high water Flood-Drowning/ Accident 17 ML17-3134 Dominic Saldivar Hispanic M 14 years 1400 Green River Dr Houston, TX 8/30/2017 4:00am Found in van off the roadway in high water Flood-Drowning/ Accident 18 ML17-3070 Pending White M 65 years 4903 Airline Dr Houston, TX 8/27/2017 9:53 am Witness to collapse in flood waters Flood-Drowning/ Accident 19 ML17-3150 Colby Henry Osorno White M 24 years 2651 S Hwy 146 Baytown, TX 8/31/2017 12:35 pm Found in Greens Bayou/Ship Channel Flood-Drowning/ Accident 20 ML17-3094 Wilma Ratcliff Ellis Black F 73 years LBJ Hospital 8/28/2017 6:29 pm Found floating during Coast Guard search and rescue operation Flood-Drowning/ Accident 21 ML17-3105 Ruben Clifford Jordan Black M 58 years 3000 W Bay Area Blvd Houston, TX 8/29/2017 12:30 pm Found floating in tree in flood waters Flood-Drowning/ Accident Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences Page 3 of 3 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, Texas 77054 | 832-927-5215 | ifs.harriscounty.gov 22 ML17-3137 Victor Manuel Acevedo Hispanic M 67 years 507 Arkansas St South Houston, TX 8/28/2017 1:00 am Found in alleyway after flood waters receded Flood-Drowning/ Accident 23 ML17-3140 Martin Salazar Hispanic M 49 years 5125 Preston Ave Pasadena, TX 8/30/2017 2:44 pm Found in ditch after evacuating his residence Flood-Drowning/ Accident 24 ML17-3122 Michael Tucker White M 66 years 6820 FM 1942 Baytown, TX 8/29/2017 9:30 pm Found floating in 4 ft of water after leaving residence Flood-Drowning/ Accident 25 ML17-3124 Keisha Monique Williams Black F 32 years 12473 Woodforest Blvd Houston, TX 8/30/2017 8:37 am Found lying across fence after flood waters receded Flood-Drowning/ Accident 26 ML17-3157 Gustavo Hernandez Rodriguez Hispanic M 40 years 12503 Province Pt Dr Houston, TX 8/31/2017 1:54pm Found on the banks of Greens Bayou Flood-Drowning/ Accident 27 ML17-3162 Pending Hispanic M 33 years 12801 Wallisville Rd Houston, TX 8/31/2017 8:00pm Found on the banks of Greens Bayou Flood-Drowning/ Accident 28 ML17-3108 Efrain Angel Hispanic M 26 years Salt Grass Trail Way Katy, TX 8/29/2017 10:32am Found in a drainage ditch near Harris County Katy Park Flood-Drowning/ Accident
From the Justice Department. He's in Federal custody. He was found guilty of the following charges:
"At the conclusion of a nine-day trial in July 2021, a federal jury found Buck guilty of two counts of distribution of methamphetamine resulting in death, four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and two counts of enticement to travel in interstate commerce for prostitution."
While he was not found guilty of murder, he was found guilty of providing drugs which resulted in death.
07/28/2021 Ed Buck found guilty. "A federal jury on Tuesday convicted a wealthy California political donor on charges he injected gay men with methamphetamine in exchange for sex, leading to two deaths and other overdoses. Ed Buck, 66, was found guilty of all nine felony counts in federal court, which could lead to a life sentence. The verdict came exactly four years after one of the victims, 26-year-old Gemmel Moore, was found dead of an overdose in Buck's West Hollywood apartment."
01/17/2020 Lacey dismissed from lawsuit from Gemmel Moore's mother. The mother is being allowed to replead. I think the Judge is doing that so the mother won't attack him like she did Lacey. I also believe that the Judge added negative remarks against Lacey to placate the mother. I don't blame Lacey for not allowing a large group of belligerent people with video cameras into her office for an unscheduled meeting. That would only end negatively.
01/09/2020 Ed Buck sued by the family of the second man to die in his apartment. These people must not realize that Ed Buck no longer has much money. Ed Buck can file for bankruptcy.
12/21/2019 Someone falsely added Ed Buck's name to a list of Elizabeth Warren supporters. This article clears up that false addition to the list. People will do anything to smear Dems.
11/27/2019 Felony charges against Ed Buck. Bail increased to $4 million. As Ed Buck has a public defender for the criminal case I doubt he could make any bail at this point.
11/03/2019 Trial moved to August 2020 per stipulation. STIPULATION to Continue Trial from November 26, 2019 to August 4, 2020 filed by Plaintiff USA as to Defendant Edward Buck (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Harris, Brittney) (Entered: 10/24/2019)
10/30/2019 I thought it odd they didn't prosecute Ed Buck when Moore died. I assumed there was insufficient evidence. Turned out the Sheriff bungled the investigation. While you are allowed to use evidence that you see out in the open, you cannot search closed items such as the toolbox. I don't know anything about meth to know if the amount they found would indicate dealing or if it was only enough for self use.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA (Western Division - Los Angeles) CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 2:19-cr-00595-CAS All Defendants
Case title: USA v. Buck Magistrate judge case number: 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY
Date Filed: 10/02/2019
10/02/2019 From the federal case.
09/26/20199 NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR DETENTION filed by Plaintiff USA as to Defendant Edward Buck (Harris, Brittney) (Entered: 09/26/2019) 09/26/201910 MINUTES OF Detention Hearing held before Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh as to Defendant Edward Buck, The Court Orders the defendant permanently detained. Defendant submits on detention. The government shall inform the Court if defendant's state bond has been exonerated. If it has been exonerated, the Court will order defendant to pay $2000 a month for his legal representation. Medical abstract issued. Court Smart: 9/26/19. (mat) (Entered: 10/01/2019) 09/26/201911 ORDER OF DETENTION AFTER HEARING by Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh as to Defendant Edward Buck. (mat) (Entered: 10/01/2019) 09/26/201912 ASSERTION OF FIFTH AND SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS filed by Defendant Edward Buck (mat) (Entered: 10/01/2019)
Ed Buck indicted today. There is a mistake in the below article. Ed Buck is no longer wealthy. He submitted a financial statement and now has a public defender. That means he's indigent.
"Wealthy California political donor Ed Buck was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury for two overdose deaths in his West Hollywood apartment and charged with providing methamphetamine to three other men, one of whom survived two overdoses.
The indictment returned in U.S. District Court charged Buck with distributing meth resulting in the deaths of Timothy Dean in January and Gemmel Moore in 2017. Buck had previously been charged in Moore’s death after his arrest last month."
09/27/2019 Federal gov requests that Ed Buck be detained until the pretrial. Here is the request. Ed Buck didn't try to challenge it. As he is only paying $500/mo for legal fees from a public defender, I assume he has no money for bail anyway.
09/26/2019 Jasmyne Cannick paid for John Doe's hotel room and support. This may have destroyed the witness in the case. "Cannick paid for a hotel room using money from a GoFundMe campaign established to help Buck’s alleged victims, as they work toward a permanent solution. He is currently working with activist Jasmyne Cannick, who has been an integral voice in calling for Buck’s arrest."
PETA and others reported a circus to government officials. It turned out PETA paid for hotel fees for the main witness in the case. They had been working with the witness. For this reason PETA lost the case. PETA had to pay millions to the circus. Jasmyne Cannick may have destroyed the main witness in the case.
09/23/2019 This is from the federal case. It appears Ed Buck may be out of money. He filed a financial statement under seal. Generally that means they may be indigent. He will be paying $500/mo for legal representation. I'll try to figure out what this is about. He is currently being represented by a public defender. I believe that means Ed Buck has no more money. Looks like Gemmel Moore's mom and others won't be getting any money out of Ed Buck. Can't get blood out of a turnip.
09/18/20191 COMPLAINT filed as to Defendant Edward Buck in violation of 21:841(a)(1),(b)(1)(C). Approved by Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh as to Edward Buck (1). (ja) (Entered: 09/20/2019) 09/18/20193 NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR DETENTION filed by Plaintiff USA as to Defendant Edward Buck (ja) (Entered: 09/20/2019) 09/19/20194 REPORT COMMENCING CRIMINAL ACTION as to Defendant Edward Buck; defendants Year of Birth: 1954; date of arrest: 9/19/2019 (ja) (Entered: 09/23/2019) 09/19/20195 MINUTES OF INITIAL APPEARANCE ON LOCAL COMPLAINT held before Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh as to Defendant Edward Buck. Defendant arraigned and advised of the charges. Defendant states true name as charged.Attorney: Claire M Simonich for Edward Buck, Deputy Federal Public Defender, present. Defendant remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. Preliminary Hearing set for 10/3/2019 04:30 PM before Duty Magistrate Judge. Post-Indictment Arraignment set for 10/10/2019 11:00 AM before Duty Magistrate Judge. Detention Hearing set for 9/26/2019 01:30 PM before Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh. Pay $500 a month for legal representation beginning October 1, 2019. Court Smart: CS 9/19/19. (ja) (Entered: 09/23/2019) 09/19/20196 FINANCIAL AFFIDAVIT filed as to Defendant Edward Buck. (Not for Public View pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002) (ja) (Entered: 09/23/2019) 09/19/20197 ADVISEMENT OF STATUTORY & CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS filed by Defendant Edward Buck. (ja) (Entered: 09/23/2019) 09/19/20198 NOTICE DIRECTING DEFENDANT TO APPEAR for Preliminary Hearing and Arraignment on Indictment/Information. Defendant Edward Buck is directed to appear for Preliminary Hearing on 10/3/19 at 4:30 PM and for Post Indictment Arraignment on 10/10/19 at 11:00 AM before the Duty Magistrate Judge. (ja) (Entered: 09/23/2019)
09/20/2019 October 11, 201908:30 AMClara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center030ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEA
Below is a link to the indictment of Ed Buck on federal charges. This is very damning. If you use this document which took me a bit of doing to obtain, please, link back here. Based on this doc there is no evidence that Buck injected Moore with meth. Both Buck and Moore's DNA were on the syringes. That's why Buck wasn't charged for Moore's death in West Hollywood. You can also see Moore begging to go to Buck's home saying he'll be a "good slave." As Moore had a meth drug charge without Buck the civil death case may be iffy. The case with the current 9/11 victim looks pretty solid. This may be a case like OJ's where he got off the murder charge yet was later found guilty of kidnapping and armed robbery. The federal charge is for "distribution of methamphetamine resulting in death" 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 (a)(1), (b)(1)(c). Buck giving Moore drugs may be enough for the civil case. Of course we haven't heard anything from the defense. Maybe there is more to it. The indictment looks really bad.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA (Western Division - Los Angeles) CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY All Defendants
Case title: USA v. Buck Date Filed: 09/18/2019 Assigned to: Duty Magistrate Judge
Defendant (1) Edward Buck
Complaints Disposition Defendant in violation of 21:841(a)(1),(b)(1)(C)
Plaintiff USArepresented byBrittney Michelle Harris AUSA - Office of US Attorney General Crimes Section 312 North Spring Street Suite 1200 Los Angeles, CA 90012 213-894-0488 Fax: 213-894-0141 Email: brittney.harris@usdoj.gov LEAD ATTORNEY ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED Designation: Assistant US Attorney
Date Filed#Docket Text 09/18/20191 COMPLAINT filed as to Defendant Edward Buck in violation of 21:841(a)(1),(b)(1)(C). Approved by Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh as to Edward Buck (1). (ja) (Entered: 09/20/2019) 09/18/20193 NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR DETENTION filed by Plaintiff USA as to Defendant Edward Buck (ja) (Entered: 09/20/2019)
Ed Buck is in Federal custody. He faces up to 20 years if convicted of being a drug house. From inmate search bop.gov
EDWARD BUCK78687-11265WhiteMaleUNKNOWNLos Angeles MDC
From the LA Times, "Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Buck earlier this week with operating a drug house, but the federal charge could prove far more perilous. If convicted of providing the drugs that led to Moore’s death, Buck faces a minimum of 20 years in prison.
Buck made a brief appearance in federal court Thursday afternoon and was ordered held without bond. Calls to his attorney seeking comment were not returned.
“Investigators have identified 10 additional victims — nine of whom [Buck] administered drugs or strongly encouraged them to ingest narcotics as part of agreements to be compensated for sexual services,” U.S. Atty. Nick Hanna told reporters Thursday."
"Buck “obtained a power saw from a closet, turned it on and approached” the man, the complaint says."
09/19/2019 Update from TMZ. Things just got a hell of a lot worse for Ed Buck.
2:08 PM PT -- Buck's officially been charged by the feds in California with one count of distribution of methamphetamine resulting in death. The charge stems from the death of Gemmel Moore at Buck's residence in July 2017.
12:28 PM PT -- Buck was wearing a blue protective vest during his hearing. Our law enforcement sources say the vest is reserved for inmates who are violent, suicidal or at risk of being attacked by other prisoners. We're told Buck is not suicidal.
Ed Buck will be arraigned October 11, 2019. Bail is $4,000,000. He appears to be wearing an anti-suicide vest smock. He also appeared to be shaking a little. Could he be addicted to meth? I don't know anything about the drug.
09/18/2019 His arrest record just showed up. I assume he'll be in special housing.
Booking No.: 5748982 Last Name: BUCK First Name: EDWARD Middle Name:
Sex: M Race: W Date Of Birth: 08/24/1954 Age: 65 Hair: GRY Eyes: HAZ Height: 511 Weight: 175
Charge Level: F (Felony)
ARREST Arrest Date: 09/17/2019 Arrest Time: 2000 Arrest Agency: 0901 Agency Description: LASD-W HOLLYWOOD STATION PATROL
Date Booked: 09/17/2019 Time Booked: 2100 Booking Location: WHD Location Description: STA - WEST HOLLYWOOD
BAIL Total Bail Amount: 4,000,000.00 Total Hold Bail Amount: 0.00 Grand Total: 4,000,000.00
Facility: TWIN TOWERS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY Address: 450 BAUCHET STREET City: LOS ANGELES
Facility Visiting Information Schedule A Visit
For County facility visiting hours, Please call (213) 473-6080 at Inmate Information Center.
COURT Next Court Code: Next Court Date: Next Court Time: 0000 Next Court Case:
Court Name: Court Address: Court City:
RELEASE No information on Release Date.
CASE INFORMATION Case No.Court NameCourt AddressCourt CityBail Amt.Fine Amt.Court DateSent. DateSent. Day(s)Disp Code LA***********4,000,000.00 .00 0 Click on specific Case No. for detailed information.
From TMZ. This is even worse! I do find it strange that someone who is showing signs of an overdose of meth would be able to fight off Buck and run to a gas station four blocks away. Below are signs of a meth overdose.
Chest pain Arrhythmias Hypertension or hypotension Difficult or labored breathing Agitation Hallucinations Psychosis Seizures Rapid or slow heartbeat Hyperthermia
"Regarding the recent overdose at his home, Buck allegedly administered a large dose of methamphetamine to the man on September 4, and he left to get medical attention because he was worried he was suffering from an overdose. The docs say the man returned on September 11 and Buck "personally and intentionally" injected him with 2 more large doses of the drug. When the guy began showing signs of an overdose, Buck allegedly thwarted his attempts to get help ... but the guy fled and called 911 from a nearby gas station."
Still, I have to ask. Why did the guy return the second time? Why did he go there the first time? Why didn't he report after the first time? 001% of me thinks it's a setup as payback for what may have happened previously. Still, for Ed Buck to have someone at his home doing drugs is crazy. It must be an addiction.
Below is the criminal case info. The charges are as follows:
1. California Penal Code 243(d) PC, an aggravated battery occurs when: One person willfully touches another in a harmful or offensive manner; and. The person who has been touched suffers a “serious bodily injury” as a result.
2. California Health and Safety Code 11379 HS makes it a California felony to sell methamphetamine or to transport methamphetamine for sale. Other illegal acts under HS 11379 include giving away meth or administering it to another person.
3. California Health & Safety Code 11366 HS makes it a crime to operate or maintain any place for the purpose of unlawfully selling or giving away illegal controlled substances.
He was arraigned this morning.
September 17, 201908:30 AMClara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice CenterCLKDOCKET LINE ENTRY
Case Number: LACBA481154-01 Defendant Name:BUCK, EDWARD PETER Violation Date September 11, 2019 Filing Date: September 17, 2019 Courthouse: Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center Case InformationEventsBailSentencing Information
09/17/2019 LA Times is carrying the story so it must be true. Why would Ed Buck ever let people take drugs in his place after what happened to the other two men? I assume Ed Buck called 911 for the person. This allegedly happened 9/11/19. Prosecutors want a bail of $4,000,000. He was charged with running a drug house and giving drugs to a 37 year old man. If convicted on all charges, Buck faces a possible maximum sentence of five years and eight months in state prison. After he gets out of prison Buck needs to move out of this area and see someone about his compulsion to do these acts and drugs with these men. I assume when they arrested him they had a search warrant to search his entire home. I can only imagine what they find.
From the Los Angeles County District Attorney.
"September 17, 2019: Man Charged With Running Drug Den in West Hollywood Apartment Contact: Greg Risling, Assistant Chief (213) 257-2000 GRisling@da.lacounty.gov A West Hollywood man was charged today with operating a drug house and providing methamphetamine to a 37-year-old man who suffered an overdose last week, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Edward Buck (dob 8/24/54) was charged in case BA481154 with one felony count each of battery causing serious injury, administering methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house. He is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
On Sept. 11, Buck is accused of injecting the victim with methamphetamine at the defendant’s apartment in the 1200 block of Laurel Avenue in West Hollywood. The man suffered an overdose but survived.
“I remain deeply concerned for the safety of people whose life circumstances may make them more vulnerable to criminal predators,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said. “With this new evidence, I authorized the filing of criminal charges against Ed Buck.”
Prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $4 million. If convicted as charged, Buck faces a possible maximum sentence of five years and eight months in state prison.
Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Barnes of the Major Crimes Division is prosecuting the case.
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department."
09/13/2019 The Judge granted the County's motion to dismiss and granted in part and denied in part Ed Buck's motion to dismiss. There will be no hearing on Monday. All the articles merely stated that the County and Ed Buck lost their motions to dismiss. That is not the complete truth.
"For the foregoing reasons, the County Defendants’ motion to dismiss is GRANTED. Defendant Buck’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part."
Below is the Court's order. At this point the Judge will take as fact mere allegations that Buck injected Moore. The coroner's report did not show this. Plaintiff will have to show evidence, facts that prove Buck injected Moore or Plaintiff will lose. The Judge was more than fair. One big issue is that Plaintiff's attorney is a horrible attorney who doesn't know related law or even mere proper procedure. The Judge is giving Plaintiff a second, third, fourth chance to fix errors in their filing. That is the right thing for the Judge to do but Plaintiff's lawyer still did a shitty job.
09/11/2019 Motion to dismiss will be heard 09/16/2019. This article incorrectly states it's a pretrial hearing. While it is a hearing before trial it is not a "pretrial hearing" similar to criminal courts. This is a civil court. The writer is trying to insinuate that this is a criminal case. It is not. Ed Buck has not been tried in a criminal case. It will be interesting to see if all or part of the civil case is dismissed in this hearing. And again, if the mother and all of these people really cared about Gemmel Moore whom they knew was a drug addict sex worker why didn't they help him before he died? His mother knew he was going to meet Ed Buck. Why didn't she tell him not to go? Why didn't she put him in rehab? If Gemmel Moore had OD's in some poor person's place, she wouldn't have made a sound because she knew she couldn't get any money out of it.
08/2019: Lawsuit has been removed to federal court. September 16, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. Ed Buck's motion to dismiss will be heard along with the County's motion to dismiss the case. Based on the complaint and replies which I've read the case will be dismissed and Latisha Nixon will be owing legal fees. Below is Latisha Nixon's complaint. Nixon alleges all these things happened but she was not there. There is no evidence that most of these things happened. There also is no evidence that Ed Buck harmed Latisha Nixon. Gemmel Moore was an adult.
One thing I noticed in the complaint is that Latisha Nixon claimed Gemmel had not taken meth before Ed Buck. That is not necessarily the case. Gemmel Moore was arrested for meth possession with other people and none of them were Ed Buck. That arrest info is below.
Below is the County's motion to dismiss this case.
08/16/201922 Amended NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Dismiss First Amended Complaint , NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Dismiss Case filed by Defendant Edward Buck. Motion set for hearing on 9/16/2019 at 01:30 PM before Judge Cormac J. Carney. (Amster, Seymour) (Entered: 08/16/2019)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA (Western Division - Los Angeles) CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 2:19-cv-04610-CJC-SS
Latisha Nixon et al v. Edward Buck et al Assigned to: Judge Cormac J. Carney Referred to: Magistrate Judge Suzanne H. Segal Case in other court: Los Angeles County Superior Court, 19STCV06782 Cause: 28:1441 Notice of Removal - Civil Rights Act
07/2019 Plaintiff have filed an amended complaint in the civil lawsuit against Ed Buck over the death of Gemmel Moore. They have added human trafficking and revenge porn.
"Human trafficking" is as follows, "Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations."
I am not positive about this but allegedly Ed Buck gave Gemmel Moore money for a plane ticket or gave him a plane ticket to come back to LA where he'd lived. Gemmel came to Los Angeles. Buck did not use "force, fraud or coercion." Again I'm not positive but allegedly Buck gave Gemmel money. There was no "force, fraud or coercion." Gemmel came to LA on his own free will.
"Revenge porn" is "revealing or sexually explicit images or videos of a person posted on the Internet, typically by a former sexual partner, without the consent of the subject and in order to cause them distress or embarrassment."
If Buck took pics of Gemmel, I assume it was consensual. I don't believe Buck posted any of those pics or videos online and definitely not to "cause distress or embarrassment." If those pics were posted publicly, Gemmel's family probably would have shown them. Gemmel was not a "former sexual partner" but a current partner. There was no "revenge."
This sounds like a lot of hearsay. It appears Gemmel's family just wants money. His mother has been asking people for money. If they truly cared about Gemmel, the mother should have told him not to go to LA. Mother should have gotten him into drug treatment if she cared. It will be interesting to see where this ends.
The wrongful death lawsuit.
Case Number: 19STCV06782 LATISHA MARIE NIXON VS EDWARD BUCK, ET AL.
Filing Courthouse: Spring Street Courthouse Filing Date: 02/27/2019 Case Type: Intentional Bodily Injury/Property Damage/Wrongful Death (e.g., assault, vandalism, etc.) (General Jurisdiction) Status: Pending
Click here to access document images for this case If this link fails, you may go to the Case Document Images site and search using the case number displayed on this page
AMSTER SEYMOUR IRVING ESQ. - Attorney for Defendant
BUCK EDWARD - Defendant
GYAMFI NANA SERWAAH ESQ. - Attorney for Plaintiff
HUM CRAIG - Defendant
HURRELL THOMAS CHARLES ESQ. - Attorney for Defendant
LACEY JACKIE - Defendant
LOS ANGELES COUNTY - Defendant
NIXON AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST OF GEMMEL MOORE DECEASED LATISHA MARIE - Plaintiff
TURK HUSSAIN ESQ. - Attorney for Plaintiff
Documents Filed Case Information | Register Of Actions | FUTURE HEARINGS | PARTY INFORMATION | Documents Filed | Proceedings Held
Documents Filed (Filing dates listed in descending order) 05/29/2019 Certificate of Mailing for (Minute Order (Non-Appearance Case Review Re: Removal of State Action to F...) of 05/29/2019) Filed by Clerk
05/29/2019 Minute Order ( (Non-Appearance Case Review Re: Removal of State Action to F...)) Filed by Clerk
05/28/2019 Notice of Removal to Federal Court Filed by Jackie Lacey (Defendant); Craig Hum (Defendant); Los Angeles County (Defendant)
05/28/2019 Demurrer - with Motion to Strike (CCP 430.10) Filed by Edward Buck (Defendant)
05/06/2019 Notice (of Errata) Filed by LaTisha Marie Nixon, as Successor in Interest of Gemmel Moore, deceased (Plaintiff)
04/29/2019 Proof of Personal Service Filed by LaTisha Marie Nixon, as Successor in Interest of Gemmel Moore, deceased (Plaintiff)
04/29/2019 Proof of Personal Service Filed by LaTisha Marie Nixon, as Successor in Interest of Gemmel Moore, deceased (Plaintiff)
04/29/2019 Proof of Personal Service Filed by LaTisha Marie Nixon, as Successor in Interest of Gemmel Moore, deceased (Plaintiff)
04/29/2019 Proof of Personal Service Filed by LaTisha Marie Nixon, as Successor in Interest of Gemmel Moore, deceased (Plaintiff)
03/04/2019 Certificate of Mailing for ([Standing Order re PI Procedures and Hearing Dates] and Standing Order re PI Procedures and Hearing Dates) Filed by Clerk
03/04/2019 Standing Order re PI Procedures and Hearing Dates Filed by Clerk
02/27/2019 Notice of Case Assignment - Unlimited Civil Case Filed by Clerk
02/27/2019 Summons (on Complaint) Filed by LaTisha Marie Nixon, as Successor in Interest of Gemmel Moore, deceased (Plaintiff)
02/27/2019 Civil Case Cover Sheet Filed by LaTisha Marie Nixon, as Successor in Interest of Gemmel Moore, deceased (Plaintiff)
02/27/2019 Civil Case Cover Sheet Filed by LaTisha Marie Nixon, as Successor in Interest of Gemmel Moore, deceased (Plaintiff)
02/27/2019 Complaint Filed by LaTisha Marie Nixon, as Successor in Interest of Gemmel Moore, deceased (Plaintiff)
Proceedings Held (Proceeding dates listed in descending order)
07/18/2019 at 1:30 PM in Department 2, Georgina T. Rizk, Presiding Hearing on Demurrer - with Motion to Strike (CCP 430.10) (to Complaint) - Not Held - Advanced and Vacated
05/29/2019 at 11:14 AM in Department 2, Georgina T. Rizk, Presiding Non-Appearance Case Review
Register Of Actions Case Information | Register Of Actions | FUTURE HEARINGS | PARTY INFORMATION | Documents Filed | Proceedings Held
Register of Actions (Listed in descending order)
07/18/2019 at 1:30 PM in Department 2, Georgina T. Rizk, Presiding Hearing on Demurrer - with Motion to Strike (CCP 430.10) (to Complaint) - Not Held - Advanced and Vacated
05/29/2019 at 11:14 AM in Department 2, Georgina T. Rizk, Presiding Non-Appearance Case Review
05/28/2019 Notice of Removal to Federal Court Filed by Jackie Lacey (Defendant); Craig Hum (Defendant); Los Angeles County (Defendant)
05/28/2019 Demurrer - with Motion to Strike (CCP 430.10) Filed by Edward Buck (Defendant)
03/26/2019 Coroner ruled that the second man died of accidental meth overdose.
03/13/2019 Open letter from LA DA Jackie Lacey. I'm glad she wrote this. Criminal charges must be based on physical evidence. The charges and evidence must be able to stand up in a court of law. Rumor, innuendo, diary entries, hearsay, donations to a political candidate ... are not evidence. It's really ridiculous that people are attacking everyone who ever knew Ed Buck, took a campaign contribution from Ed Buck... It's even more ridiculous that people are begging for money because of Gemmel Moore's death. Moore's funeral was already paid. What are they doing with the money? Moore isn't getting it. Some people are using his death for their own agenda which is pretty gross.
What really gets me is all these people who are allegedly upset about Moore's death. Why didn't they care about him when he was alive? Why didn't they help him before he died? Those who didn't help Moore especially his family members are partially to blame. Today they say he died because he was a drug addict. Well then why didn't they take him to rehab before he died?
An open letter to the citizens of West Hollywood from Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey
"The loss of someone’s child, no matter his or her age or the circumstance, is tragic and heartbreaking.
I empathize with the mother, family and friends of Gemmel Moore, who sadly died last year of a drug overdose inside the home of Ed Buck. I also empathize with the family and friends of Timothy Dean, whose death in Mr. Buck’s home remains under investigation.
I have asked the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to continue to thoroughly investigate the deaths of both men.
I also am calling on the public to come forward with any information that may aid in the investigation and shed light on the circumstances of these tragic deaths.
When any allegation is considered for possible criminal prosecution, the issue is whether there is clear evidence that a crime has occurred and whether that is sufficient to convince a jury of 12 people of a defendant’s guilt. Prosecutors cannot ethically file charges without such facts in hand.
When there is no independent witness nor other corroborating evidence that another person was responsible for a death, prosecutors have few options.
Still, I can understand the desire to want to hold someone responsible.
I am not just an attorney, but a mother and a native Angeleno who has witnessed firsthand the economic and personal struggles that so many in our community face. I cannot imagine losing one of my children, particularly to something as destructive as drugs.
Yet I am the Los Angeles County district attorney, elected by the people to bring criminals to justice and uphold the law in a fair and ethical manner.
I take that responsibility seriously and have dedicated my life and career to this public service.
Some have insinuated that a $100 donation from Mr. Buck to my 2012 election campaign – money that I have since returned – has somehow tainted my ability to impartially consider whether criminal charges are warranted against him in the death of Mr. Moore.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Every life, regardless of a person’s age, race, economic status and even whether they use illegal drugs, has value.
If that life is lost because of the unlawful actions of another, rest assured that my office will do everything possible to bring the perpetrator to justice.
Signed,
Jackie Lacey, District Attorney, County of Los Angeles, California"
02/28/2019 Ed Buck sued for wrongful death over Gemmel Moore. I haven't seen the case.
01/07/2019 Another man found dead. A black male in his '50's. Perhaps Buck should stop allowing drug users to hang out at his apartment. We don't have any facts yet. Maybe Buck was asleep when the person took drugs and OD'd. We don't even know cause of death yet.
07/28/2018 Ed Buck is exonerated, cleared of all wrong doing. No charges will be filed as there is insufficient evidence that a crime was committed. They took a long time to investigate to make sure they fully investigated everything.
Will the mother and other people who extorted money from politicians and others donate that money to Ed Buck's animal causes? That's what you demanded that others do for you. Don't be a hypocrite. Not only will they not return the money, they will probably ask for more money. They should at the very least use any money they took and spend it on getting treatment for drug addicts. They won't.
07/19/2018 The prosecutor's office is looking into the death of Gemmel. I believe they are taking a long time and investigating the case as much as possible to appease the family and friends. I agree with Buck's attorney. There was no evidence that Buck killed Gemmel. If there were, he would have been arrested by now. The police probably fear protests by Gemmel supporters.
As I've said before the coroner and police said it was an accidental death almost a year ago. The coroner and police didn't take any evidence from Buck's apartment. It's now been over a year and any alleged crime scene was not controlled. No evidence was retained. Even if Buck did intentionally inject and kill Gemmel, there is no physical evidence which has been in control of the police since Gemmel died.
Gemmel's journal is not evidence that Buck killed Gemmel. The journal was not in control of the police. How do we know someone didn't write in it after Gemmel died? How do we know Gemmel was telling the truth? I'm sure there will be some protests when the DA states there is insufficient evidence to prosecute Buck.
UPDATE: Justice 4 Gemmel Moore continues to shake down anyone who received a donation from Ed Buck. Leon gave a donation to a sexual assault survivor group in an amount equal to a donation received from Buck. Justice 4 Gemmel Moore said that wasn't good enough. They want the money. They say the money is for "Ed Buck's victims." Who is that exactly? Moore is dead. They are not a non-profit so Leon couldn't have donated to them. It's just a gofundme run by some private person who has raised $6,000 of a $20,000 goal. What are they going to do with the money? If these people really cared about Gemmel Moore they should have cared about him when he was alive. These people are using a tragic situation to shake down people for money. They guilt and threaten people into giving them money. The person behind the website is anonymous. Why is this shake down artist anonymous? When the police investigation is complete and Buck is most likely exonerated, will they apologize to him? I doubt it. Latisha Nixon the mother is running the gofundme. I sent her an email asking what she is doing with the money.
"The resulting scandal has caused several California Democrats, including both Feinstein and de Leon, to return Buck’s donations. However, Moore’s mother, Latisha Nixon, said de Leon had not donated the money to the fund set up for the family. According to representatives from Justice 4 Gemmel Moore + All of Ed Buck’s Victims, de Leon’s campaign had promised to donate Buck’s money to the fund for his victims. Instead, the de Leon campaign donated the funds to WEAVE, a nonprofit that serves domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in Sacramento County."
11/18/2017 Times got a hold of the coroner's report. It still appears to be an accidental overdose. The coroner did note the tool chest with drugs and paraphernalia inside.
UPDATE: The ridiculous gets more ridiculous. Now Moore's family says the Sheriff is dragging his feet! Yes, the Sheriff is dragging his feet for a couple of reasons.
One, he wants the Moore family to feel that he spent a lot of time fully investigating everything, anything and nothing. Sheriff knows there is no physical evidence that Buck killed Moore. There is also no eye witness. Moore's journal could never be used as even circumstantial evidence as the chain of possession is not independent. How would anyone know who wrote that journal. Maybe someone else wrote it after the death in the hopes of shaking Buck down for money. I'm not claiming that. I'm only stating a lawyer could argue that. The words of other sex workers who visited Buck also can't be used. They were not a witness to Moore's actual death.
Two, Sheriff is trying to drag out the time from the death to releasing the results to lessen the reaction from the Moores and activists. The Sheriff will state he has no evidence of a crime. The Moores, activists are going to attack the hell out of the Sheriff, WeHo city council, Buck, anyone Buck ever donated to, anyone Buck ever took a photo with... It's going to be mean and nasty.
Considering both sides have publicly stated that the Sheriff is dragging his feet, and he is, perhaps it's time to release the result of the investigation. It will probably go something like this,
"Thank you very much to all the people who came forward with evidence. Thank you to the Moore family for helping with this investigation. Thank you to the city council. Thank you to the activists for standing up and speaking out for (fill in the blank) struggling members of our society. After a very thorough and long multi-department investigation we have found no evidence of a crime. We're not saying Buck didn't have something to do with Moore's death. We're only saying there is no physical evidence which is what we need in our judicial system to charge someone with a crime. Moore's death is a very sad tragedy for him, his family and our entire community. People need to reach out to others in need, people dealing with homelessness and drug addiction. blah blah blah."
Buck's lawyer says the Sheriff is dragging his feet in the investigation. I'm sure the Sheriff is dragging his feet so he won't be attacked by Moore's family and activists. I doubt Buck will be charged with any crime. There is no physical evidence which could show he killed Moore. There are no eye witnesses present when Moore died.
In the article above Moore's brother states he's also gay and was a drug addict. Moore lived with his brother before he died. So, his brother and mother both knew he was gay, did drugs and was a sex worker. Why didn't they intervene and help Moore before he died? The mother and brother should have helped Moore. Yelling and screaming after he's dead does no one any good.
And again the Moore supporters are asking for money. They want anyone who ever received a donation from Buck to give them that money. Money, money, money. They are attacking everyone who received a political donation from Buck. Buck has not been convicted of a crime. There is no reason for people to give the donation they received from Buck to Moore's supporters. What would they use the money on? Themselves and their campaign to attack anyone related to Buck.
09/28/2017 People are, were protesting at Buck's home. If people cared this much about Gemmel when he was alive, he might not have died. Where were these people when they knew Gemmel was a drug addict sex worker with money problems? Why didn't his mother and all these other people help him them? Because they obviously didn't care about Gemmel. They're making a big fuss now for media attention and money. His mother said this media attention has made her feel famous and people will probably want to make a movie about her. In the gofundme she asked for money for herself. That shows the true colors of these people right there. Shameful behavior. If you have a friend who needs help, help them. Don't wait until they OD and die then make a stink. Gemmel could have gone to rehab for free as I'm sure he qualified for Medi-cal.
09/27/17 Sheriff Dept spoke to media about the case. They are still investigating. They are not interested in hearsay which is what a certain writer has been throwing all over the internet. They want to speak to people with "first hand knowledge of the specific incident." They want to speak to people who physically were there and witnessed what happened. Obviously there was no one else there as a witness.
While the investigators have stated they aren't leaning one way or another their remarks seem to show that there is no physical evidence of murder by Buck. There is no new evidence. Based on what I've seen there has just been a lot of hearsay and innuendo about what might have happened. I will predict that no charges will be filed against Buck.
"Gemmel Moore, Hatchet Attack, Cannabis and the Resignation of Estevan Montemayor: WeHo Public Safety Commission’s Busy Agenda
Tue, Sep 12, 2017 By James Mills Capt. Sergio Aloma, head of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, last night explained the Sheriff’s Department’s approach to the death of Gemmel Moore, a young black escort, at the home of local political figure Ed Buck in July.
“Deputies received to a call for service at the address on Laurel [Avenue],” Aloma said, responding to a question for Estevan Montemayor of WeHo’s Public Safety Commission. “It was a person in some sort of medical distress.
Gemmel “Juelz” Moore (left) and Ed Buck (Facebook) “They responded along with L.A. County Fire and paramedics who, once they got there, were rendering aid to the victim, Mr. Moore. The victim was subsequently deceased at the address. Our deputies who responded, along with the fire department, did not see anything that was obviously criminal in terms of foul play that was involved in his death.”
Aloma, speaking at the monthly Public Safety Commission meeting, said that his deputies contacted the sheriff’s homicide bureau, as is standard procedure. The homicide bureau decided it was an overdose death, which is not something they respond to.
Deputies also contacted the coroner’s office, which is also protocol. The coroner’s office also saw no evidence of foul play.
“Once the coroner’s office responded to the scene, they concurred with the deputies that this was possibly an overdose death and there was no foul play or malice of forethought, which you would need in a homicide for example, so they treated it as such,” Aloma said.
The intense media attention regarding Moore’s death caused the homicide bureau to open an investigation “out of an abundance of caution,” Aloma reported. He also confirmed that the district attorney’s office has granted limited immunity to a certain number of witnesses, “individuals who claim to have information and our homicide detectives are proceeding with interviews of those folks to see what information they have and what type of bearing it will have in the case,” Aloma said.
Although the homicide bureau is presently questioning the people granted immunity, at this time Ed Buck is not considered a suspect, Aloma said.
“We don’t know if there is in fact a crime yet,” he said. “That is still part of the investigation at the bureau to determine whether a crime actually occurred and to whether or not Mr. Buck, or anyone else, is a suspect in this case.”
Moore, 26, was found dead in Buck’s Laurel Avenue apartment on July 27. A report from the L.A. County Coroner’s Office states that the death was an accident and lists its cause as “methamphetamine use.” A Coroner’s Office spokesman has said that drug paraphernalia was discovered in Buck’s apartment.
Moore’s death has sparked outrage among members of the African-American community, many of whom accuse Buck, a white man in his early 60s who is relatively affluent, of exploiting young black men. Jasmyne Cannick, a political and media consultant who is working with Moore’s family, has published pages from the young man’s diary claiming an illicit paid relationship with Buck. Cannick has also published statements from other young black men who say Buck has paid them to use drugs with him. Buck to date has not responded to the allegations. However his lawyer has suggested that Buck simply was helping people in need.
At the suggestion of Commissioner Montemayor, the Public Safety Commission adjourned in honor of Gemmel Moore, a symbolic action taken to note the group’s sympathy over his death."
09/02/2017 DA agrees to give witnesses immunity. I don't think it will cause the DA to press charges as none were witnesses when Gemmel died. They can only provide circumstantial evidence. As the body was already given to the family I don't know if the coroner could tell if Gemmel died from injection or smoke inhalation.
08/29/2017 People coming out of the wood work about Buck. A man by the name of Mark Hefferan said he had to get a restraining order against Buck. He failed to mention that Buck got a restraining order against him first 04/11/2007 case # SS015023. A few other people said they also got restraining orders against Buck in Los Angeles County but no one else did. I searched LA County records. After I called out Mark Hefferan he PM'd me on FB and called me a "Trump supporter" then blocked me while he made nasty personal attacks against me. I voted for Bernie then Hillary. No Trump supporter here for sure. I hate Trump. Trump is harming our nation.
The writer of the "angry ranting woman playing the race card blog" recklessly throwing around innuendo and hearsay called me nasty names for calling out her false statements of alleged facts and conclusions. I even received death threats for posting a pic of Buck at our political convention. I took pics of EVERYONE at our political convention yet this woman said I stuck my "nose up Buck's ass." I posted all the photos in a public album which they saw. I'm not a close friend of Buck. We've had our differences on some issues.
The same blogger continues with her misinformation and attacks on Democrats, friends of Buck, anyone who was ever in a photo with Buck, anyone who ever took a photo of Buck.... I'm being attacked because I took a photo of Buck with Ted Leiu in 2013. I took a photo of EVERYONE at the event. This same lady is now attacking Leiu because he was in the photo. This woman states every politician who received a donation from Buck since 2008 should return it instantly. Buck has not been charged with a crime and most likely won't be charged. This woman believes that everyone should be attacking Buck. She's upset people are not attacking him. San people are waiting for the investigation and facts. This same lady says Buck is a racist because he's hasn't donated much to black politicians. Today we have the highest number of black senators ever in our history. There are 2/100 or 2%. Buck donated less to black politicians because there are fewer black politicians. This writer is one of those people who likes to rant and rave. Yelling at politicians for not attacking Buck does not help Moore or anyone else.
08/27/2017 So many reckless articles are being written about Ed Buck by non-journalists. One person commented "This article is full of innuendo, hearsay and selected factoids. The full investigation is what is needed, not idle gossip, like this article. The young man takes no personal responsibility for his dangerous drug use. He admits he goes back to Buck's place and does drugs. What? Was he kidnapped?" They complain that Democrats aren't calling out Buck as a "murderer" because they got donations from him. They aren't calling out Buck because they are waiting for facts, evidence and the result of the investigation. These people are also attacking all the politicians and PACs which received money from Buck dating back to 2008. Buck had no criminal record. He's not a money launderer or a Russian. Politicians should only refuse donations from heinous criminals, money launderers or people who aren't US citizens.
One blogger goes so far as to say Buck is a racist because he repeated a line from the movie "Blazing Saddles." They posted the below photo from a Facebook post. This woman did not know that "Blazing Saddles" written by Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor is a parody making fun of and calling out racists and their racist behavior. In case young people don't know who these people are Mel Brooks is a Jewish writer, actor. Richard Pryor was a black writer, actor and comedian. They both faced racism which is why they made fun of racism in their movies and acts.
In the 1974 movie "Blazing Saddles" the n word is said quite a few times. Each time it is said it's to show how stupid and racist its use is. The movie calls out racism about African Americans, Mexicans, Indians, Whites, Asian, Jews, women, men... Below is the Facebook communication between Buck and Neil Pople. Buck said he memorized the script of the movie. "It's scripture to me." That means he reveres it's anti-racist idea.
Here is the scene which states paraphrased "back off or the n***** get's it." The black sheriff freaks out the crowd by holding a gun to his own head and saying "Hold it. The next man makes a move the n***** gets it." He goes on to say "drop it or I swear I blow this n****** head all over this crowd. Oh, lordy lord, do what he say! Do what he say!" If anyone thinks this is real and racist, they're an effing idiot just like the blogger. Watch the movie.
And again, one of the main reasons Buck started the recall campaign for the racist, bigoted, misogynist Governor of Arizona Evan Mecham was because of his overt, public racism against blacks, Mexicans, immigrants, LGBTQ and women. Read about how racist Mecham was against blacks. Mecham and his son called black people the n word. The only interesting thing here is that Mecham only became Governor because there was a three way election just like with Bernie, Hillary and Donald, divide and conquer and evil racism wins.
08/26/2017 The mother does intend to sue Buck for money. “I plan to seek justice for my son in every way possible and intend for Buck to face the consequences of the California’s Drug Dealer Liability Act of 2005,” Nixon said. The CDDLA has to do with a drug dealer selling drugs to a person who then becomes addicted and needs treatment. I don't believe Buck was a drug dealer. The anony prostitute stated they went to buy drugs together from a dealer. Maybe Nixon interprets dealer as someone giving it to someone for free? Gemmel was caught with meth in 2015 and arrested. He was caught with pot in Texas in 2014. I doubt Buck was in Compton or Spring, Texas with Gemmel. It'll be interesting to see how this will shake out.
WeHo city council member and criminal attorney Duran stated any potential witnesses should get an attorney before they speak to police. For some reason Steve Cooley stated that Duran should not say anything because he's giving legal advice about immunity. I believe Duran stated that so any potential witness would not be charged with prostitution and use of illegal drugs. I don't think he was trying to frighten witnesses which already have a lawyer. Duran did state that he was Buck's lawyer for a while. For that reason he should probably recuse himself from any city council vote related to this incident.
I still don't think there is any evidence which can prove Buck injected Moore with a drug that killed him. The journal is inadmissible as the journal was not under custody. It could have been altered. It's also irrelevant as the journal relates to Moore's perception of events from 2016. The journal is not about the incident that night.
People need to think about what "if" Buck did not kill Moore. That means all these false statements calling him a "murderer" ... are defamation. That means the sharing of private photos and videos is infringement on Buck's privacy. Moore's mother said people shouldn't attack her son because he was a drug addict and a prostitute. Then why is Moore's mother viciously attacking Buck when we don't even have all the facts.
ORIGINAL: Ed Buck, Edward Buchmelter was born August 24, 1954 into a middle class family in Ohio. His father was Edward Thomas Buchmelter born 1918, died 1993 in Scottsdale, Arizona. His mother is Margaret Julia Tomko Buchmelter living in Phoenix, Arizona. His siblings are Kathleen "Kay," Gorgonia "Georgie," and Lawrence. They all grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. Ed Buck's paternal grandparents are John Adolphus Buchmelter and Anna Margaret Rasko from Slovakia. His maternal grandparents were Mike and Frances Tomko both from Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Austria. Based on the dates the grandparents arrived it sounds like they were fleeing the pogroms.
Buck donates heavily to animal and Democratic causes. He was a main supporter for Southern California Golden Retriever rescue. He ran for West Hollywood City Council in 2007. Here is his position paper.
ed buck, edward buck, edward buchmelter, gemmel moore, death, drugs, meth, west hollywood, weho, california, animal, rescue, democrat, campaign donation, model, laurel
Locals probably remember when Buck heckled Meg Whitman at a WeHo political event then Chris Christie chewed him out. Buck is probably most well known for a recall motion he started when he lived in Phoenix, Arizona to oust Evan Mecham the homophobic, racist, misogynist governor. Mecham called black people "piccaninnie." Mecham approved of the strip search of a 2 year old black child saying black people are from the "lower society." Mecham stated he would rescind MLK day in Arizona. Mecham stated blacks are only "good for picking cotton." People viciously attacked Buck for standing up for gays, people of color, women and animals. Buck supported MLK day. Some people I assume white said they didn't want MLK day "because MLK did nothing for Arizona." Mecham got rid of MLK day once elected. Four years later MLK day in Arizona was re-established. I see why Buck left Arizona and came to WeHo.
I personally remember Buck at the WeHo anti-fur rally and city council votes. He was also behind Social Compassion in Legislation. I remember him initially opposing our cat declaw ban in WeHo. He just didn't fully understand it at the time and later supported us.
May 2017 Ed Buck was named "50 states, 50 heroes." "In 1987, Ed Buck formed Mecham Recall Committee, to force Arizona Governor Evan Mecham from office. A year later, the homophobic governor became the first in Arizona to be impeached. Buck also organized the first HIV education program in Arizona. Since retiring to West Hollywood in 1991, Buck has become a volunteer with animal rescue. “Year after year, Ed has shown us how his commitment to compassion makes the difference. Best of all? Ed’s smart and sassy and gets the job done.” — John D’Amico, West Hollywood Councilmember (WeHo.org) "
July 27, 2017 Gemmel Artae Moore died in Ed Buck's apartment in the 1200 block of Laurel. According to the coroner report #2017-05583 Gemmel Moore's death was an "accident" caused by "methamphetamine use". Case is closed. Body was released. "The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has stated that when Moore’s body was found there were no drugs or drug paraphernalia at Buck’s residence. The Democratic party donor is not under investigation at this time. " See below coroner report which is linked above.
ed buck, edward buck, edward buchmelter, gemmel moore, death, drugs, meth, west hollywood, weho, california, animal, rescue, democrat, campaign donation, model, laurel
Gemmel had a criminal drug history. MOORE, GEMMEL ARTE5CP0532410/01/2015Compton Courthouse (COM) He was charged with California Penal Code 11377. California's Health and Safety code 11377 (HS 11377, for short) is the sentencing and punishment for the possession of methamphetamine, or more commonly known as crystal meth, or just meth.
He was charged with Samuel Lloyd. Compton CourthouseThis is the co-defendant. 5CP0532402SAMUEL GABRIEL LLOYDLimited Jurisdiction. 0111377Health & Safety CodeNolo ContendereGuilty/Convicted11/04/2015 They are facebook friends. The case is pending against Gemmel who had a pre-trial July 2016. They probably couldn't find Gemmel.
Moore had a drug case against him in Spring, Harris County, Texas. He pled guilty and was sentenced to jail for three days and had to pay a fine. He also lost his driver's license for six months and had to take a drug education class.
Case 194762401010 - 2 File Date2/26/2014 Case (Cause) StatusComplete OffensePOSS MARIJ 0-2 OZ Last Instrument FiledMisdemeanor Information Case DispositionDISPOSED Case Completion Date2/27/2014 Defendant StatusDISPOSED Bond Amount$500.00 Next/Last Setting Date2/27/2014 Defendant Details Race/SexB / M EyesBRO SkinLBR DOB1/14/1991 US CitizenYes Height/Weight6'00 / 160 LBS HairBLK BuildLGT In CustodyN Place Of Birth Address14435 VALERIO ST VAN NUYS CA91405 Markings
At the insistence of Moore's mother LaTisha Nixon around August 14, 2017 the Los Angeles County Sheriff began to look into what caused Gemmel Moore to die at the home of Ed Buck on July 27, 2017. "In an abundance of caution, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau has assigned several investigators to review the circumstances of the death to determine if any criminal culpability exists," according to a sheriff's statement." This is three weeks after Gemmel Moore died and his body was released to family. The scene of Moore's death was not secured by sheriff after Moore died. No evidence was secured or taken. Sheriff stated there were no drugs or drug paraphernalia at the home at that time. Even if Buck had injected Moore which caused him to die there is no evidence with which to charge him. The DA would refuse the case as it would only be based on very circumstantial evidence consisting of a personal journal about personal feelings, thoughts about past events and the memories of drug addicted male prostitutes. The anonymous male prostitute "Blake" said his mind was not clear because of the drugs. He said he had blackouts. Moore also said his mind was not clear. I don't see Buck being charged.
Ed Buck's attorney released this statement. "Ed had nothing to do with his [Moore's] death. I think the investigation is the responsible thing to do," Amster adds, "but I think nothing will come of it. Ed is a caring soul who allows individuals to have access to his home who are homeless or who have other social or economic issues, to give them a place to wash up in a safe environment. Unfortunately many of these individuals come in with their lifestyles." Asked if Buck did drugs with the victim, the attorney said, "I don't think his personal lifestyle is the issue. I'm not going to accept an invitation to go into the private aspects of his life. This was a tragedy and that's all it was."
Don't get me wrong, if Buck injected Moore with drugs against his wishes which caused him to die, he should be charged with manslaughter. Because there is no physical evidence from the body or the location of death I don't believe Buck will be charged due to lack of evidence.
Whoever made this page is not helping "Blake" or Moore's case. The info they posted leads you directly to "Blake." The arrest for drugs, school... The blog states “He has friends come over and shoot him up in his neck.” So Buck is not the one injecting people? "The second time he says Buck injected him with crystal meth he said Buck offered him some money to do it and Blake’s admits he agreed to it." So the guy agreed to get an injection. “My arm was red. When I woke up I thought he was doing that too me. But the other dude was over there high too so I didn’t know what was going on." So they didn't know what was happening? Blake keeps saying he was poor and homeless but he has an Apple watch. The story is all over the place.
One thing I noticed in the articles which state Buck should be arrested immediately is they bring up the fact that he's wealthy. They also stated he owns the building where he lives. He does not own the building where he lives. He's a rent control tenant. He does donate a lot of money to candidates and other causes. They talk a lot about money. Sounds like the family wants to sue Buck in civil court to get some money. I personally believe if Moore had died in a motel with a poor person there wouldn't be so much talk or demands of arrest and charges. Mother and someone else set up a gofundme within hours after the death of her son. It's not for Gemmel's burial expenses but money for the mother. Mother is now saying her life is now a Lifetime Movie and people will want to make a movie about her like she's a hero or something. She knew her son was a drug addict and sex worker before he died. Someone should have sent him to rehab and job training. Mother shows off the gifts people sent to her as condolence. Oddly in her entire Facebook profile she only had one photo of Gemelle before he died.
LaTisha Nixon, her family, friends have been viciously attacking and even defaming Ed Buck. They call him a "sick, demented creep" because he likes to look at men in underwear. Most guys love looking at women in underwear. Are they also "creeps?" I like looking at boyfriends in their underwear. Am I a "creep?" I think they're calling him a "creep" because he is gay. And if Buck is a "creep" that means Gemmel is also a "creep." He admitted he enjoyed it in his journal.
This is rich. LaTisha Nixon's mother Sandra Bufford calls white people racist against blacks. Then she posts some nasty racist photo against Dominicans. Racism is racism and it's always wrong, doesn't matter the color, religion, sexual orientation, nationality... Here is Gemmel Moore's Facebook page. Here is Latisha Nixon's page.
I see people in animal rights, Democratic party and others not only turning their back on Ed Buck, removing him from boards, distancing themselves but they're viciously attacking him. The investigation is not yet over. Innocent until proven guilty. We don't yet have all the facts.
I just read that Mike Bonin stated about Buck "I do not know him well." They were always very friendly every time I saw them together at events like they were old friends.
Text from indictment. There are errors in the cut/paste. See pdf above.
Criminal Complaint ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT for the Central District of California United States of America
Defendant Case No.
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. On or about the date of July 27, 2017 in the county of Los Angeles in the Central District of California, the defendant violated: Code Section zl u.s.c. §§ s41(a)(1), (b)(1)(c) Offense Description Distribution of Methamphetamine Resulting in Death This criminal complaint is based on these facts: Please see attached affidavit. qD Continued on the attached sheet. Printed name and title Sworn to before me and signed in my presence. Date: ~~ ~ S/ / ~ ~ ~ dge's signature City and state: Los Angeles, California Hon. Patrick Walsh, U.S. Magistrate Judge Printed name and title AUSA: Brittney M. Harris (x0488) Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 1 of 22 Page ID #:1 AFFIDAVIT I, John Mundell, being duly sworn, declare and state as follows: I. PURPOSE OF AFFIDAVIT 1. This affidavit is made in support of criminal complaint and arrest warrant against EDWARD BUCK for a violation of 21 U.S.C. ~~ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) Distribution of Methamphetamine Resulting in Death. 2. The facts set forth in this affidavit are based upon my personal observations, my training and experience, and information obtained from other law enforcement officers and witnesses. This affidavit is intended to show merely that there is sufficient probable cause for the requested complaint and arrest warrant and does not purport to set forth all of my knowledge of or investigation into this matter. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, all conversations and statements described in this affidavit are related in substance and in part only. II. BACKGROUND OF AFFIANT 3. I am a Task Force Officer (~~TFO") with the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), and have been so employed since 2018. I was also a TFO with the DEA from 2008 to 2014. I am also a Deputy Sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and have been so employed since 1988 and have worked in the Narcotics Bureau since 2002. I went through a nineteenweek academy and have attended hundreds of other instructional courses in criminal law enforcement. The courses that I have taken have covered drug trafficking patterns, surveillance i Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 2 of 22 Page ID #:2 techniques, narcotics identification, money laundering, etc. I am currently part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Opiate Response Team, which investigates suspected drug overdose deaths of individuals. 4. During my tenure as a law enforcement officer, including as a TFO, I have investigated hundreds of cases involving the manufacturing, transportation, sale, possession for sale, and trafficking of controlled substances, and conspiracies associated with controlled substance offenses. I have been involved in narcotics-related arrests that have resulted in the seizure of narcotics and other evidence. 5. I have used a variety of techniques and resources, including, but not limited to, surveillance, use of confidential sources, undercover operations, telephone toll analysis, installation, monitoring and retrieval of trackers, search warrants, and wire intercept communications analysis. 6. I am familiar with narcotics traffickers' methods of operation including the distribution, storage, and transportation of narcotics, and the collection of proceeds of narcotics trafficking, and money laundering. III. SUNIlKARY OF PROBABLE CAUSE 7. The Drug Enforcement Administration is conducting an investigation into EDWARD BUCK (~~BUCK") following the drug overdose deaths of two individuals, on separate occasions, both of whom were found dead inside of BUCK's residence in West Hollywood, California. Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 3 of 22 Page ID #:3 8. On or about July 27, 2017, victim Gemmel Moore ("Moore") was found nearly naked (wearing only white socks) and unresponsive on the living room floor in BUCK's residence and was pronounced dead after the police arrived. The autopsy report concluded that the cause of death was methamphetamine overdose. Witnesses who knew Moore told law enforcement officers that BUCK paid Moore in money and drugs in exchange for Moore to engage in sexual activities with BUCK. At the time of Moore's death, Moore had been living in Texas, and text messages between BUCK and Moore suggested that BUCK purchased Moore's airline ticket for Moore to fly to Los Angeles for BUCK to engage in sexual activities with Moore. 9. On or about January 7, 2019, a man who is identified herein as Victim 1 was found almost naked (wearing only white underwear) and unresponsive on the living room floor in BUCK's residence and was pronounced dead after the police arrived. The autopsy report concluded that the cause of death was methamphetamine and ethanol toxicity. The coroner investigator's report stated that a rubber ring was around Victim 1's scrotum and a rubber ring was around the base of Victim 1's penis. 10. Based on information obtained from an individual identified herein as Victim 7, described further below, BUCK continued to solicit men for sex and drug use after the January 7, 2019 death. According to Victim 7, BUCK propositioned him as recently as July 2019. Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 4 of 22 Page ID #:4 11. Finally, based on information obtained from an individual identified herein as Victim 10, described further below, BUCK solicited him to engage in sexual activities and distributed methamphetamine to him nearly every day during an approximately one month period from on or about July 29, 2019, to on or about September 6, 2019, while Victim 10 was living at BUCK's residence. According to Victim 10, BUCK intravenously injected methamphetamine into Victim 10 on September 4 and September 11, 2019, which caused Victim 10 to suffer overdose effects, requiring him to be transported to the hospital. Victim 10 was subsequently released from the hospital after each encounter. IV. STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE 12. Based on my review of law enforcement reports, conversations with other law enforcement officers, and my own knowledge of the investigation, I am aware of the following: A. Gemmel Moore's Death 13. On July 27, 2017, at 6:54 p.m.,l Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (~~LASD") deputies arrived at 1234 North Laurel Avenue, Apartment 17, in West Hollywood, California (~~BUCK's residence"), in response to BUCK's 911 call that a person had stopped breathing in BUCK's residence. The deputies saw that the individual (later identified as Moore)z was laying unresponsive and nearly nude (wearing only white socks on his 1 All dates are on or about and all times are approximate unless otherwise indicated. z Moore was a 26 year-old black male. Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 5 of 22 Page ID #:5 feet) on a mattress in the living room of the apartment. Paramedics attempted to revive Moore, but at 7:22 p.m., paramedics pronounced Moore dead. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was methamphetamine overdose. The coroner investigator's narrative stated that Moore had a recent puncture mark on his left antecubital fossa (elbow pit), which, based on my training and experience is consistent with injection of intravenous drugs. 14. BUCK told the LASD deputies that Moore was his friend and that he had just arrived from Texas. BUCK further stated that Moore injected methamphetamine and smoked marijuana approximately two to three hours prior in the restroom, but that he did not see Moore injecting methamphetamine and did not know where Moore disposed the syringe. BUCK said that he and Moore were lying down on the mattress in the living room watching television when Moore became extremely hot to the touch. BUCK said that he put ice packs on Moore's chest. BUCK said that he noticed Moore doze off so BUCK went to his bedroom for a few minutes and when he went back to the living room, Moore was unresponsive. BUCK said that he called his neighbor who came over to conduct CPR on Moore and BUCK called 911. 15. At BUCK's residence, LASD deputies saw various narcotics paraphernalia, including approximately 24 syringes and 5 glass pipes (consistent with methamphetamine use), inside the apartment. Deputies also found 1.76 grams of a substance that a LASD laboratory analyst later confirmed contained methamphetamine. The coroner investigator seized the narcotic Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 6 of 22 Page ID #:6 evidence. The methamphetamine was found in a tool box in the living room, near Moore, which also contained various sex toys. 16. At BUCK's residence, the coroner investigator found boarding passes for an American Airlines flight for Moore. According to one of the boarding passes, Moore departed Houston, Texas at 8:20 a.m. on July 27, 2017, and landed in Phoenix, Arizona. According to another boarding pass, Moore departed Phoenix at 10:00 a.m. that same day, and landed in Los Angeles. 17. According to American Airlines records, Moore's flight was purchased online on July 25, 2017, by a person identified in the records as `BEd Buck" with an address of 1234 North Laurel Avenue, Apartment 17, Los Angeles, California 90046 (i.e., BUCK's residence) and with a telephone number ending in 2609, which is the same telephone number that BUCK was using to communicate with Moore the day of Moore's death. As detailed below, the date of the flight purchase is consistent with the timing of the text message exchange between BUCK and Moore. 18. The coroner investigator also located Moore's iPhone, which the coroner investigator took into property and later release to a family friend, per Moore's mother. LASD Investigators later obtained Moore's iPhone from Moore's mother, who allowed Investigators to download and examine it. LASD Investigators found a text message conversation between Moore and 323-821-2609, which is the cell phone number that BUCK provided to law enforcement on the evening of Moore's death. According to the text messages from Moore's phone, on July 20, 2017, Moore messaged BUCK, "Hey mr Buck" and sent a photograph Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 7 of 22 Page ID #:7 of the waist/crotch area of an individual and stated, `Gemmel your master slave." BUCK responded, "Or slave master." Later in the conversation that same day, Moore texted ~~I'm starting to miss la" and sent a close up photograph of an individual's arm with a tourniquet around it and syringe inserted into it and a text message stating, "?". BUCK responded the following morning, `~Be here now." Later on in the conversation, on July 22, 2017, Moore stated, "I'm still in Texas, it be wonderful if you can send for me please ill behave." On July 25, 2017, Moore stated, "I got the email...still haven't found any one with bank account." In the evening on July 26, 2017, BUCK texted, ~~You have a flight in the morning have you checked in." At 12:21 a.m. on July 27, 2017, Moore stated, "I'm just wakin up" ~~I got everything handled I'll get there." BUCK responded, `Great I'm just headed to bed call me in the morning and I'll get an Uber out to you,"3 ~~I almost can't believe this is already happening this fast through to be in LA oh boy," and "Is there anything you need me to get for you before you get here." Moore responded, "possibly marijuana." At 4:38 a.m. on July 27, 2017, Moore texted, ~~I'm at the airport." Later on in the conversation, at 11:38 a.m., BUCK texted, "I see you're landed and are going to gate 50 B terminal five," "I will have a Nissan Murano tan with a black man driving waiting for you outside the terminal," and ~~I'll get your car in position." During the 3 Uber records do not indicate that BUCK sent an Uber car to pick up Moore; however, surveillance footage from BUCK's apartment shows that Moore arrived at BUCK's apartment in a tan Nissan Murano driven by an unidentified black male, just as BUCK described in the text messages to Moore set forth below. Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 8 of 22 Page ID #:8 conversation, the two discussed the airport's traffic and the delay in Moore disembarking the plane. At 12:30, BUCK texted, "What are you wearing hat color shirt color jeans and all that so my driver can spot you." Moore responded, "Grey jacket black sweats." BUCK texted, `WOK when you get outside go to the right and you will see an area that has the letter E as in Edward stand there you're looking for a tan SUV with a black man driving it it's brand new." At 12:38 p.m., Moore texted, ~~I'm off." At 12:49 p.m., Moore texted, "Terminal. 5 near airport shuttle." 19. According to video surveillance footage from the apartment building of BUCK's residence at 1:45 p.m. on July 27, 2017, a light-colored Nissan SUV entered the carport for the apartment complex and an individual believed to be Moore got out of the SUV. I have viewed still images from the video surveillance footage and the individual appeared to me to be Moore. Moore was wearing black sweat pants and a dark-colored jacket. The video shows Moore walk from the Nissan SUV to the front gate of the apartment complex, BUCK meeting him at the entrance, and both walking up and entering BUCK's residence. 1. Interview of Moore's Mother 20. On August 21, 2017, LASD investigators interviewed Moore's mother. She stated that in 2016, Moore, who was then living in Los Angeles, called her and said that a rich and powerful man named Ed Buck held Moore against his will and shot him up with drugs. Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 9 of 22 Page ID #:9 21. In April/May 2017, Moore moved to Texas and lived with his mother. According to Moore's mother, Moore would talk about BUCK to her from time to time. Moore told her that BUCK would pay more for Moore to get high on methamphetamine with BUCK. Moore told his mother that BUCK would have Moore pose with white "long john" underwear and BUCK would photograph Moore. 2. Interview of Moore's Aunt 22. On August 21, 2017, LASD investigators interviewed Moore's aunt. She stated that in April 2017, Moore told her that BUCK used to inject Moore with drugs and would do "horrible things" to him. 3. Interviews of Other Potential Victims or Witnesses 23. During the investigation of Moore's death, LASD investigators interviewed other men who discussed their encounters with BUCK. 24. For example, in a telephonic interview of an individual who is identified herein as Victim 24 on August 15, 2017, Victim 2 stated that on July 3, 2017, Victim 2 fell asleep on BUCK's couch at BUCK's residence and when he woke up his arm was tied to the couch, and was red and sore. Victim 2 stated that he believed BUCK injected him with drugs while Victim 2 was asleep. 4 The name that Victim 2 provided to LASD deputies during the interview was different than the name LASD deputies later learned to be Victim 2's true name, which LASD deputies obtained from Victim 2's attorney. Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 10 of 22 Page ID #:10 25. In an interview of an individual who is identified herein as Victim 3 on September 6, 2017, Victim 3 explained that he met BUCK on the gay male dating and escort website Adam4Adam, where BUCK messaged Victim 3 asking if Victim 3 wanted to make some money. BUCK offered Victim 3 cash to "party and play," which Victim 3 understood to mean money in exchange for drug use ("party") and sex ("play"). BUCK detailed the terms of the agreement before they met, including the specific drugs they would do together and the amount of payment Victim 3 would receive. BUCK offered Victim 3 $800 to $1000 to "party and play" with cocaine, and Victim 3 accepted. Victim 3 went to BUCK's residence where BUCK gave Victim 3 a bag of cocaine and watched Victim 3 snort the drugs at the kitchen table. BUCK repeatedly encouraged Victim 3 to do more drugs, and offered to give him more money if he would use more drugs. BUCK dressed Victim 3 in white undergarments and pleasured himself while he stared at Victim 3's bulge in the white undergarments. Victim 3 reported that BUCK took photographs of him during their first encounter. 26. In an interview with a male referred to herein as Victim 4 on September 14, 2017, Victim 4 stated that he met BUCK in an area in Hollywood known for drug use and transgender prostitutes. BUCK pulled up in a grey Acura SUV,S and Victim 4 got in the car. BUCK offered Victim 3 $300 to come over to 5 LASD investigators reviewed California Department vehicle records on September 17, 2019, which show that BUCK is currenly the registered owner of a 2001 silver 2001 Acura MDX, which is a sports utility vehicle Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 11 of 22 Page ID #:11 BUCK's residence for three hours to smoke methamphetamine. Victim 4 agreed. After Victim 4 and BUCK smoked some methamphetamine, BUCK asked Victim 4 to "shoot up," referring to using the drug intravenously. When Victim 4 refused, BUCK became more forceful and insisted that Victim 4 smoke more drugs. At one point, Victim 4 told BUCK his time was up, asked for payment, and left. After some time, BUCK reached out to Victim 4 on the website Adam4Adam - not realizing that he had already met Victim 4 - and they got together at BUCK's residence. BUCK offered him $100-$200 an hour to engage in sexual activities and use drugs, and he went to BUCK's residence on multiple occasions. On one occasion, Victim 4 fell asleep on BUCK's couch at BUCK's residence, did not feel well when he woke up, and believed that he had been injected with drugs. The next day, Victim 4 was taken to a hospital, where medical staff confirmed that Victim 4 had ingested a tar-like substance, but they could not confirm what the substance was. 27. During the investigation related to Victim 1's death (see section B below), LASD investigators interviewed an individual herein identified as Victim 5 on May 8, 2019. Victim 5 told investigators that he met BUCK on the website Adam4adam, where they exchanged messages and ultimately spoke on the phone. Victim 5 stated that on April 24, 2019, he went to BUCK's residence to engage in sexual activities in exchange for money and marijuana. Inside BUCK's residence, he saw numerous white, gray, and black men's underwear in plastic bins, neatly folded and separated by size. Besides BUCK, there was another man Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 12 of 22 Page ID #:12 inside the apartment, who asked BUCK if he could smoke methamphetamine one more time before he left. BUCK said yes, and provided the man with a glass pipe and methamphetamine. BUCK offered Victim 5 methamphetamine several times, but Victim 5 declined. BUCK asked Victim 5 if BUCK could blow methamphetamine smoke on Victim 5's penis, but Victim 5 said no. BUCK told Victim 5 that he had a strong underwear fetish and asked Victim 5 to put on a pair, which Victim 5 did. Later, Victim 5 and BUCK drove together to a marijuana dispensary, and BUCK purchased marijuana for Victim 5. They then drove to a liquor store and BUCK purchased vodka for Victim 5. When they went back to BUCK's residence, BUCK showed Victim 5 videos of Moore who appeared to Victim 5 to be scared. BUCK's offers of methamphetamine became increasingly insistent, and at some point, BUCK told Victim 5 that it was not gratifying for him if Victim 5 did not ingest methamphetamine. During this encounter, BUCK provided Victim 5 with two pills that BUCK said were Viagra. Victim 5 stated that after taking them, he felt weird and his legs locked up. He told BUCK that he needed to leave. BUCK compensated Victim 5 with $50 and told him he could have earned more if he complied with all of BUCK's demands, which Victim 5 believed referred to BUCK's request that Victim 5 ingest methamphetamine. Victim 5 took his cash payment and left. B. Victim 1's Death 28. On January 7, 2019, at 1:08 a.m., LASD deputies arrived at BUCK's residence in response to a 911 call that BUCK Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 13 of 22 Page ID #:13 placed. LASD deputies saw that an individual (later identified as Victim 1)6 was laying nearly naked (wearing only white underwear) and unresponsive on the living room floor. Paramedics attempted to revive Victim 1, but after about 30 minutes, they pronounced Victim 1 dead. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was methamphetamine and ethanol toxicity, with coronary artery atherosclerosis as a contributing condition. The autopsy report also stated that there was both scar tissue (indicating an old injection site) and a new hemorrhage on his right antecubital fossa (elbow pit) (indicating a new injection site). The coroner investigator's report stated that there was also a plastic ring around Victim 1's scrotum and a plastic ring around the base of Victim 1's penis. 29. BUCK told LASD deputies that he had been friends with Victim 1 for 30 years and that Victim 1 texted him around 11:30 p.m. on January 6, 2019, wanting to see BUCK. According to BUCK, when Victim 1 arrived, Victim 1 wanted sex. BUCK left the living room for five to ten minutes and when he came back, Victim 1 had multiple layers of clothing on his face and was walking on his knees making "ape" noises. Victim 1 then fell backwards and stopped making noises. BUCK said that he went over to Victim 1 and saw that he was unresponsive and that he had clothing tied tightly around his neck and face, so BUCK removed the clothing (the coroner investigator's report noted that the investigator did not observe any clothing that appeared 6 Victim 1 was a 55 year-old black male. Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 14 of 22 Page ID #:14 to be fashioned like a noose). BUCK then called 911 and began performing chest compressions until law enforcement arrived. 30. Inside BUCK's residence, deputies found glass pipes and syringes in various places. 31. During the search of BUCK's residence pursuant to a state search warrant after Victim 1's death, deputies saw BUCK sitting inside of a silver Acura sports utility vehicle, which was parked inside of the building's underground gated parking garage. 32. On the same date of the investigation, another resident that lived at the apartment complex called the police to report a suspicious package outside of the window to BUCK's residence. It appeared to be a plastic bag with a box inside. LASD deputies seized the package and obtained a search warrant. Inside, deputies found several hypodermic syringes and glass cylindrical bulbous pipes, as well as baggies with powdery residue in them. DNA testing was conducted by a senior criminalist at the LASD Scientific Services Bureau on the pipes and hypodermic syringes. The report states, in part, that with respect to two pipes, there is "very strong support for the proposition that Edward Buck and [Victim 1] are co-contributors to the DNA obtained" from the samples collected on each of the pipes. The report also states that with respect to two syringes, there is "very strong support for the proposition that Edward Buck is a contributor to the DNA obtained" from the syringes. Additionally, the report concludes that with respect to another syringe, there is "very strong support for the Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 15 of 22 Page ID #:15 proposition that [Victim 1] is a contributor to the DNA obtained" from the syringe. The remaining pipes and syringes had either insufficient DNA on them to analyze, DNA that was too complex to analyze, or varying levels of support for concluding that Edward Buck and/or Victim 1's DNA was included on the samples. 1. Interviews with Other Potential Victims or r~,; ~r..~~,.~ 33. During the investigation of Victim 1's death, LASD learned of a number of individuals who recounted their encounters with BUCK to LASD investigators. 34. For example, in an interview with a male who is identified herein as Victim 6 on March 13, 2019, Victim 6 stated that he moved to Los Angeles in 2009, then became homeless in 2011 and stayed in Plummer Park, where he learned about BUCK from others who congregated there. Victim 6 said that BUCK was nicknamed "Doctor Kevorkian," and was well known for compensating male prostitutes with drugs and money. Victim 6 had two encounters with BUCK in 2011. During their first meeting at BUCK's residence, BUCK gave Victim 6 $60 in cash and a baggie of methamphetamine in exchange for sex. Victim 6 stated that it was part of BUCK's role-playing and fantasy to inject people with methamphetamine. Victim 6 told BUCK that he had never injected methamphetamine and was uncomfortable with doing so, but BUCK assured him that it would be fine. Victim 6 agreed to a small dose of methamphetamine, which he offered to inject in himself, but BUCK wanted to do it. BUCK ignored Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 16 of 22 Page ID #:16 Victim 6's agreement to only a small dose, and emptied an entire syringe in him. BUCK asked Victim 6 to put on white underwear and a jockstrap. BUCK placed a sex toy around Victim 6's penis, but it was tight and very painful. Victim 6 lost consciousness, and when he came to, BUCK told him to shower, then paid him with money and drugs before Victim 6 left. During the second meeting at BUCK's residence, BUCK again injected Victim 6 with a large quantity methamphetamine. Victim 6 instantly lost consciousness, and when he awoke, he felt pain in his anus and saw that it was bleeding. A third unidentified man was recording Victim 6. BUCK gave Victim 6 $100 compensation and a baggie of methamphetamine before Victim 6 left. Victim 6 told investigators that BUCK insists on injecting prostitutes with methamphetamine, and that BUCK would dismiss anyone who would not permit it, without compensation. 35. In an interview with a male who is identified herein as Victim 7 on April 2, 2019, Victim 7 stated that he was an escort and in early December 2018, BUCK found Victim 7's phone number on the website Adam4adam and called Victim 7 to arrange to have Victim 7 come over to engage in sex and methamphetamine use. During this conversation, BUCK told Victim 7 that he had a fascination with underwear and jockstraps. They agreed on a price of $300 for Victim 7's services, and BUCK sent a car to pick up Victim 7 and bring him to BUCK's residence. When Victim 7 arrived, BUCK offered him a Klonopin pill and a glass containing clear soda. BUCK insisted on injecting Victim 7 with methamphetamine, but his hand was shaking too much, so Victim 7 Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 17 of 22 Page ID #:17 injected himself. Victim 7 stated that methamphetamine normally makes him more alert, but after Victim 7 drank the clear soda BUCK gave him, he became sleepy and began losing control over his physical movements. Victim 7 passed out, and when he awoke, BUCK was approaching him with two additional syringes loaded with methamphetamine. BUCK was insistent that Victim 7 stay, but Victim 7 had to leave and informed BUCK that his friend was waiting outside for him. BUCK paid Victim 7 $300, and Victim 7 left. Later the same month, BUCK contacted Victim 7 again, offering to pay Victim 7 to engage in sex and use methamphetamine. Victim 7 stated that BUCK sent an Uber car to Victim 7's residence to pick him up and bring him to BUCK's residence. At BUCK's residence, Victim 7 injected himself with a syringe of what BUCK represented to be methamphetamine, but after administering only part of the drugs, Victim 7 was lying on the floor, unable to move for approximately 6 to 7 hours. Victim 7 believes that BUCK gave him some sort of tranquilizer. Victim 7 reported that Victim 7 began to feel as if he was not able to move. While unable to move, at some point, Victim 7 claimed that BUCK wanted Victim 7 to leave, but that Victim 7 could not move. BUCK then became frustrated and obtained a power saw from a closet, turned it on, and approached Victim 7 with it. Victim 7 said that he got an adrenalin rush and was ~ Uber records for BUCK's Uber account, obtained via grand jury subpoena, corroborate Victim 7's statement that BUCK sent an Uber to pick him up in December 2018. According to BUCK's Uber records, Buck sent an Uber car to an address one residence over from Victim 7's known residence on December 14, 2018 at approximately 11:40 p.m., and the ride ended at BUCK's residence at approximately 12:00 a.m. Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 18 of 22 Page ID #:18 able to stand up and go to the kitchen. Victim 7 said that when he regained his ability to speak, BUCK refused to pay him and another male known to Victim 7 only as ~~Chad" arrived, possibly to remove Victim 7. Victim 7 stated that he was extremely angry that BUCK refused to pay him, but that BUCK eventually paid Victim 7 through the banking application, Zelle. Messages on BUCK's cellphone, which was seized and searched after Victim 1's death pursuant to a state search warrant, corroborate Victim 7's account that BUCK paid him using Zelle.8 36. In an interview with a male who is identified herein as Victim 8 on March 21, 2019, Victim 8 stated that BUCK would pay him in cash and marijuana to engage in sexual activities with Victim 8 at BUCK's residence, including asking Victim 8 to don white underwear for him. Victim 8 stated that on the last occasion, BUCK provided him with what he thought was vodka, but after consuming it, he fell asleep. Victim 8 stated that when he woke up, BUCK was injecting Victim 8 with a drug via a syringe. Victim 8 panicked because he does not use methamphetamine, and he tried to get up, but he could not move. Victim 8 stated that his underwear was pulled down and he felt excruciating pain in his anus, which was bleeding. There were metal clips fastened to his nipples, and when he tried unsuccessfully to remove them, BUCK laughed and whispered to him. Victim 8 reported that he was in a state of catatonia. e The messages also show that Victim 7 threatened to expose BUCK if BUCK did not pay him for his services. Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 19 of 22 Page ID #:19 37. In an interview with a male who is identified herein as Victim 9 on April 26, 2019, Victim 9 stated that he would engage in sexual activities with BUCK on several occasions in exchange for drugs and money at BUCK's residence. On some of these occasions, Victim 9 would fall asleep shortly after consuming the narcotics and would wake up later to BUCK injecting or preparing syringes to inject Victim 9 with substances. C. Evidence Suggests that BUCK Has Continued to Solicit Men and Distribute Methamphetamine After the Overdose Deaths 38. After Victim 1's death at BUCK's residence in January 2019, BUCK has continued to solicit men, including Victim 7 who reported that BUCK called him to inquire about Victim 7's availability as recently as July 2019. 39. Additionally, on September 11, 2019, LASD investigators interviewed an individual identified herein as Victim 10 regarding his encounters with BUCK. Victim 10 stated that he met BUCK on Adam4Adam in June 2019. On several occasions in June and July 2019, Victim 10 told investigators that BUCK sent an Uber to a hotel in Skid Row where Victim 10 was then living to pick Victim 10 up and bring him to BUCK's residence. After arriving at BUCK's residence, BUCK and Victim 10 engaged in sexual activities and BUCK provided methamphetamine for Victim 10 to smoke and to use intravenously. Victim 10 stated that BUCK would supply and intravenously inject Victim 10 with methamphetamine. According to Victim 10, from July 29, 2019, to September 6, 2019, Victim 10 lived with BUCK Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 20 of 22 Page ID #:20 at BUCK's residence and during that time, BUCK would supply and intravenously inject methamphetamine into Victim 10 on a near daily basis. According to Victim 10, BUCK intravenously injected methamphetamine into Victim 10 on September 4 and September 11, 2019, which caused Victim 10 to suffer overdose effects and causing him to be transported to the hospital. Victim 10 survived both overdoses. 40. Specifically, on September 4, 2019, Victim 10 reported that while at BUCK's residence, BUCK injected Victim 10 with methamphetamine twice within an approximately 30 minute period. Victim 10 felt like he was overdosing and asked BUCK to take him to an urgent care. Victim 10 claimed that BUCK initially did not take action, but eventually agreed to drive Victim 10 to urgent care. Victim 10 reported that the urgent care advised that he go to the hospital and BUCK sent an Uber to pick up Victim 10 from the urgent care and take him to the hospital. According to Victim 10, he was released from the hospital the same day. 41. On September 11, 2019, Victim 10 reported that, while at BUCK's residence, BUCK injected Victim 10 with methamphetamine twice and supplied Victim 10 with GHB, which based on my training and experience is an acronym for Gamma Hydroxybutyrate, a Schedule I controlled substance. Victim 10 relayed that he drank the GHB with soda water. Victim 10 told law enforcement that he began to feel as if he was overdosing and asked BUCK to provide him with a Klonopin pill, which he refused. Victim 10 then requested BUCK to call an ambulance, Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 21 of 22 Page ID #:21 which he refused. Victim 10 stated that he eventually walked to the gas station across the street and asked a passerby and the gas station employee to call 911, which they did. Paramedics arrived and Victim 10 was taken to Cedar Sinai Medical Center. The discharge report from Cedars Sinai Medical Center dated September 11, 2019, which Victim 10 provided to investigators, states that the reason for the visit was overdose and anxiety. Based on my review of the report, there are no toxicology results listed and the report and it does not state if toxicology testing was done. CONCLUSION 42. For all of the reasons described above, there is probable cause to believe that BUCK has committed a violation of 21 U.S.C. ~~ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C): Distribution of Metriamphetamine resulting in lle~ Subscribed to and sworn before me on September ~ 2019. ~~ i~/1~C~G ~ . UNITED STATES ~GISTRATE JUDGE Case 2:19-mj-03937-DUTY Document 1 Filed 09/18/19 Page 22 of 22 Page ID #:22
