What a powerful piece of film. It is so awesome that this was played at the sentencing. Such a loss. This was a great tribute to Mia, Aim.

And now I am done! Thanks so much for following this story. She lives through you, today, and I thank you so much for that.

Thanks Trilogy, so much. You should definitely watch the movie, "The Gits". I'm happy to have known her, and so happy that you chose to spend time with this story. You = awesome.

aim... I was gone all day. Then that damn hacker snooped. When turned on the pen Salon's contraption... No comments would go.

So - I shut the gadget off. Washed up, and asked the Mysterious - Vengeful Force -
as in past literature -
the written writ for`
wisdom, instruction`
`
Nature's a`KICK-Ass.
It's throughout the lit.
I Love the pessimism.
`
I sense that in You`Aim.
What joy can here be?
True people are scattered.
Sadness, longings are real.
Screens can seem as thick`
`
as a pathetic, melancholic,
deserted house, the office,
lonely moonlit nights, sad,
and daily suffering goes on
on, and we must recall those
beautiful Friendships, salads,
smiles, and 'our' truth be told,
and know that someone do love,
cares, and understands as you do.
Lately, I keep saying to those I love`
`
Be carful. Even though our love is`
`
... only... ?... A Love between a sister`
`
and a ardent Love must be discriminating`
`
and what lasting love can exist when these wars,
and sisters/brothers can be zapped/annihilated,
and judged\`while judges are brutally uncaring.
`
O well. Let's continue to believe in common decency.
I sense You enter grief - as in - know dire circumstance.
I'm not 'up on this' - I sure can vicariously hurt with you.
My best wishes ...
And that still hurts.
`
Who hacked today?
I'll ask Eric Holder?
He's in Rose Garden.
I'll save that banters.
Let us always hope.
Salad with olive oil.

A magnificent film of an unusually talented short life.
Her father is one of the most loving fathers I have ever seen.
His love for her oozes out his pores.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
She truly lives through you and those who have made her story
part of our sad musical history.
rated with love

I believe you did just what you hoped to do Aim, this was as near a perfect tribute as I think anyone might have managed :). Justice in the end for Mia of course, but so much more for those who knew and loved her, and for the man who committed the crime.. perhaps not as stringent as some would have liked, but I agree with letting those left behind have a say in the punishment. Well done Aim.

Rated for that cold case crew.

Art - I have had to tell this story for so long...what joy can there be? I have joy for ending the story as I share her with you. I can look at the video and see images that are personal, but my joy resides in having you see her today. The suffering is gone - like others, Mia suffered so that we could see joy and beauty.

RP: Her father moved to Seattle and literally walked her steps for years. He never gave up. When he gives her to us...that's amazing. Thanks so much for seeing Mia this evening.

To all: It is rumored that her grave has a dozen roses every year - for her birthday. I think it's her ex boyfriend, who loved her so much - and was the first suspect in the case. His life was almost ruined by rumors and suspicion. She's buried in Kentucky - someday I will visit her. Also - the paintings towards the end are hers. Her talent knew no bounds.
Thanks to all who have followed this story - I feel relieved that I told it, and hope you leave with a sense of this remarkable woman who I was honored to call a friend. (Also - she did sort of look like a knock kneed chicken, because when she wasn't onstage she was really shy.)

This would have been part V... from Pitchfork media:


""The investigation of Zapata's murder took ten years. TV shows like "Unsolved Mysteries" and "America's Most Wanted" covered the case. Police finally linked crime-scene DNA to Mezquia in 2003. The attack, it turned out, was completely random.

In 2004, a jury convicted Mezquia, and a judge sentenced him to 37 years in prison. In 2005, his sentence was thrown out due to a U.S. Supreme Court decision. According to the Post-Intelligencer report, though, Mezquia returned to court last Thursday and asked the judge who originally sentenced him to reimpose his sentence. His attorneys gave no reason for Mezquia's request, but he'll finally serve his 37 years.

Posted by Tom Breihan on February 2, 2009 at 1:45 p.m.

Thanks, aim.

Hi Alison - I feel so much having reading the story you've written. I'm glad you were fianlly able to do it, and I think you did it just right. You've honored your friend, made her so very real and human, and related the grief and the impact in such real terms. And the tragedy of the loss and the horror of the manner in which she was murdered. The dreams, and the irony of MIA. I have been there so many times, it was screaming at them, in all caps MIA MIA MIA. That alone brings hard tears to my eyes.

I will say though, I don't understand the sentence. I agree with no death penalty, but why not life without possibility of parole? 37 years doesn't seem like enough for such a heinous crime.

Still, you did it up right my friend. I hope you have some relief from that. Much love.

(P.S. I'll be back on an even keel this weekend and we need to catch up)

Thank you for sharing this powerful tribute to this amazing woman. You did it just right. ~r

Your telling of this tragic story is in perfect pitch, Alison, in a voice that conveys the same gutsy, controlled passion I hear in Mia's, which reminds me of Chrissie Hynde back in the day. I will look up the movie, of course, and Google some of the news stories. What a shocker, to me, that the monster who defiled her chooses to serve out his sentence. That must be a story all its own. A big thanks to you for sharing this so eloquently with us.

Hit play this morning knowing where it would take it me, but wanting to go there anyway. What a voice, a persona. What a wonderful homage to a friend, Alison. Thinking on your life choices after her murder, I see how much it formed your world. Kudos on an excellent series.

What a loss . . . what a spirit . . . no wonder she had such serious fans . . . aim, you've done a helluva thing, telling this story. It's compelling, it's vivid, and it's time, isn't it? To tell the story, I mean. Well done. Strong stuff. And what a voice . . . what a voice . . . a "heavy angel" indeed.

The video: her performances and the words of the people touched by her, most impressive and moving. Thank you, aim.

You were fortunate to be close to this phenomenon. It makes you so special now. Carry on.

Amazing piece of film.

Oh my gosh - how horrible... When someone who shares their voice has it taken away so brutally... There just aren't adequate words.

@all: I should do more research into the sentencing - I think it has to do with what the killer was charged with, and by taking the death penalty of the table 37 year was the maximum sentence. Please also read my comment about the U.S. Supreme Court reversing the sentence - and the monster, despite advice from his lawyers, ASKING THE ORIGINAL JUDGE TO REIMPOSE THE SENTENCE. I take that as not only an admission of guilt, but as a sign that he wanted to pay penance. Analyze at will - but maybe not killing him means he finally realized he is a monster - a danger to society. He had nothing to lose...anyway, the trial part would take five more blogs to analyze and explain, and I feel that I have asked enough of you. Please, please google her name and read more about the case. Please find and download "Home Alive - The art of Self Defense". (You might recognize some names). Please explore more about The Gits - greatest band ever - although I know they're not everyone's cup of tea.
Most of all, thank you so much for taking this journey with me. I feel exhausted, but liberated - and I feel so supported by this exceptional community. It was hard to tell, and likely hard to hear. However, there are so many great things that happened in the wake of Mia's sensless death, and we all can pay tribute to her by learning how to defend ourselves, how to be activists, how to be a member of a community...and mostly through making art in any way possible - words of course, but gardens and homes.... And laughing.
I laughed my ass off with her.
I'll respond individually after I get off a conference call..!!! from my job as a rape/crisis counselor.!!! See, the world turns in many wonderful and mysterious ways.

This was very hard for me but I stuck with it for Mia and for your fine work. Violent death is a horror and the violent death of our young is a pain without end.
You have done your friend a fine honor with this hard work. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Rated.

OS keeps losing my comment so I'll try again.
This post has been hard for me. The horror of the crime and the loss of the young. You've done a fine job in presenting this story. To lose someone so young is indeed a pain without end.
Rated.

Terrific account aim. I just noticed this so went back to read from the beginning. Mia and the band sounded pretty good in the clips. On top of the inevitable feelings of loss and guilt, it must have been awfully eerie wondering if it was someone you knew.

This is a stunning series, aim. I'm so glad I finally found the time. (Will have to watch the videos later, but I am really looking forward to it.)

Rest in peace, Mia. The world is a lesser place without you, I think.

Thanks so much!
Seer: Yes, that cold case crew...thanks so much for sticking with this story...not told in a very timely way, but...I learned a lot and spent time with Mia.

Thanks Kim Gamble!

Kellylark: Can't wait to catch up. I do have relief from writing it - I did my best, and as always on OS, can now see a million ways to improve it! But I am letting it go. I think that enough people have seen the intent of good out of bad, I suppose. Thanks, friend.

Thanks Joan - I'm glad you got to know her - and know me a bit more!

Thanks so much Matt: I'd be really interested in your thoughts, as a journalist/reporter, on the really weird parts of the case, especially Mezquia's insistence that his sentence be served. But no worries - I'd understand if you've heard enough! The documentary is great...and will show you some of the characters I hung out with...

rita - thanks so much for your time -always.

Owl! A heavy angel indeed. That's her best friend, Maria, speaking in that segment, and the way she falls back laughing about chicken lady...that's how we laughed. You and I laugh that way too, and that is so important.

AHP: Thank YOU!

And thank you Linnn...and I will, indeed carry on - perhaps by writing something really stupid tomorrow!

Thanks Sheila: It is - everyone in court was crying. Her father...oh my.

Outside Myself: It was brutal, but...some good has come from it. Thanks so much for reading/watching.

Scylla: - Thank you so much - what a dear friend you are. Thank you for getting to know Mia. I know this must have been incredibly hard to get through, and I am so honored that you took the time and energy to do so.

Thanks Abrawang: Yes, that part was very destructive. The police look to the people closest to the victim in crimes like this - for good reason. Plus, we lived in such a bubble - we owned Seattle - that nobody thought it could happen, so when it happened...I guess, in the end, having the case solved as a completely random crime gave back a sense of security, but ten years is a long time.

Thanks Jeanette D. I really, truly appreciate you reading the whole thing...

Alison, according to this news story he waived his right to have a jury sentence him, which could have resulted in a lower sentence than the one the judge imposed. I'm guessing he might have been worried the jury would give him even more time. Either that or he just wanted to get it over with. Hard to say. Main thing is the bastard's locked up, and he ain't gettin' out anytime soon.

I just discovered this 4-part piece you wrote and I'm glad I did. Thank you for giving us this first person perspective on this awful tragedy. Being a music guy, I definitely remember this being in the news at the time but didn't know the details -- or that the murderer had been caught, which at the very least gives some closure. Still, one of the hardest things must have been that it was random -- an utterly meaningless waste. And that she had to suffer.

Thank you neil paul - I apprediate you sticking with the sotery/

Thanks variousartists: truly, I'm glad you now know what happened. Life without clear answers is preety bad for all concerned, and I appreciate your reading and hopefully your conclusion.

Matt:...the sentencing was weird. I wasn't there, but whatever he was thinking at the initial sentencing was done through an interpreter.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT LINK. I don't hate defense atttorneys - or cops - and I have to think his attorneys did their best, but this explains why the initial sentencing was considered unusual. And yes, yes, yes he is in prison. You were one of the first people to mention kicking his ass to death...and I think we all considered that - can we just go in there and kill him? But that's not justice.
Justice is everyone who took the time to know Mia today especially - and judged her life way better than his. I have no time for him anymore. and when he dies...who cares? Nobody.
Nobody.

Aim, I have been at a loss for words at the installments of this story. I have read, I have rated, but words fail me. The story is a tragedy, a travesty, and you have made a triumph of telling it and keeping Mia alive.

Rock on for her, every day of your life.

MOC

Alison, I watched the above video last night, and it is a very fitting coda for such a tragic and yet, ultimately hopeful story. Mia's father must be an amazing person to come out on the other side of something so horrible without being filled with bitterness and hatred.

And again, thanks for writing this. I'm glad I got to know Mia through your words.

I am totally zapped by this...Thanks for sharing this keen info.

MOC: Thanks for reading through and watching through. As I said above, justice is served by you knowing her.

Jeanette D.: I expect is was less harrowing than you might have expected! No grisly photos, although they're all over the internet. You honored her by reading this story, and now you know her!

Algis; Zapped! excellent! Zapatated, even. Her paintings are extraordinary, and the one of Emiliano shown towards the end is...just astounding.

@ all:I really don't know how to thank all of you for your amazing support and readership while I told this story. And help!

Here's what I recall written on the chalkboard at the Comet ( generally used for pool games) just after she died, with apologies for my terrible Spanish :

"'Eso es tuyo, eso es mia'
(What is mine is yours)
Viva Zapata! Viva la revolucion!
We will all be together
on the other side of the river."

Viva Zapata!

One last comment: I have a bazillion typos in the pieces, and in comments. I'm a really bad typist, so all of those errors are unintentional and not meant to cause any harm. Really, I'm just a very bad blogger, but hey I'm figuring it out!

The fact that the judge made everyone say "Yes" IS amazing.

Sings like a "heavy angel" got me. Crying now. I'm sad, angry and really pissed off she was taken and in such a way. We need more like Mia. I never knew her but I could've. Thanks for making sure she's not forgotten, Aim. xo