January 10, 2011
Jan 17, 2011, 9:18 PM | Updated: Jun 5, 2012, 4:22 am
CHANDLER, Ariz. – “They need justice.”
Phoenix police sergeant Darren Burch is talking about the family of 34-year-old Ricardo Ayala.
On Monday, August 23, 2007, Ricardo was shot at about 11 p.m. in Chandler at the Wishing Well Mobile Home Park where Ricardo lived.
“That night he was out with friends outside his mobile home enjoying the evening when someone shot and killed him,” Burch said. “And none of the friends or neighbors have come forward, and we know they must know something, because we have absolutely no description of the suspect.”
Lorena, Ricardo’s younger sister in a family of six kids, said she looked up to her brother.
“He loved to draw,” Lorena said. “He was into that. He was into music. He had a lot of talent. I envied him for that.”
Lorena says Ricardo was a happy child, growing up in Chandler, but became a troubled teen, getting involved with a gang and spending a lot of time in juvenile detention. As an adult, he did prison time.
Then, Ricardo became a father and was motivated to change.
“That was his priority, was his kids,” Lorena said “After his girls were born he dedicated a lot of his time to them and tried to be there for him.”
The girls were both barely older than toddlers when their dad was murdered.
Lorena remembers her brother as someone people could relate to, who was easy to talk to and was good at inspiring others.
“We’re getting no witness statements whatsoever,” Burch said. “That sometimes tends to suggest the witnesses are scared of the suspect. Now they can come forward for Silent Witness and be completely anonymous.”
