Everyone Knew
A family headed toward tragedy—while Santa Fe watched
By: Corey Pein 07/08/2009
She was 19, he was 25 or 31.
Reno’s mother, Loretta Valdez, married Marino Leyba in Santa Fe in 1986, according to their pending divorce papers; Santa Fe County clerks have no marriage license on file and Marino has given authorities conflicting birth dates.
Reno was born that August, so Loretta was likely pregnant already. Brother John was born in 1989. Sister Angel came in 1991.
By then or soon after, Loretta had developed a drug problem. In June 1992, police caught her forging prescriptions for the painkiller Darvocet. (In one of Reno’s later suicide threats to Ewers, documented in her restraining order, he said he’d swallowed 72 pills.)
State prosecutors, represented by Angela “Spence” Pacheco, called six Santa Fe Police officers as witnesses against Loretta. Pacheco, now the district attorney for the 1st Judicial District, declined comment to SFR for this story.
Loretta passed her probation in July 1993. Three months later, she was involved in a car accident. Four-year-old John, who was in the car, suffered leg injuries.
For various reasons, the Leybas spent a lot of time among doctors. In the early ’90s, St. Vincent Hospital garnished Marino’s wages through his employer, ABC Self Storage, which court records indicate was owned by local businessman Gerald Peters.
That $4,738 hospital bill finally got paid off in 1995. Even by Leyba standards, it was a rough year.
That April, Marino filed a protection order against Loretta, citing her “verbal abuse.” He claimed she’d showed up at his work the day before, demanding out of the marriage and threatening to take the kids. She said they belonged to another man.
“I hit her and she also slaped [sic] me and I want this vilonce [sic] to stop. She call me a asshole over and over making my work day hard,” Marino wrote to the court, in his scrawl.
The court at the time thought Loretta’s location was “Maybe Esperanza.” The shelter could not confirm that for SFR.
Now deceased Judge Carol J Vigil, who oversaw domestic violence cases in the First Judicial District Court at the time, gave Marino temporary custody of Angel, John and Reno, then 8.
Three days after requesting the protection order, Marino had it dismissed. He and Loretta were attending counseling, he wrote, and they wanted to keep the kids together. Vigil agreed.
“That L word is what gets people in trouble,” Esperanza Executive Director Sherry Taylor says, only half kidding.
Whatever counseling the Leybas received didn’t end their fighting. Loretta faced a domestic violence charge in Mora County in 1997. For a while after that, the law didn’t get involved.
But in the wee hours of Feb. 2, 2005, Santa Fe police responded to an argument between Loretta and Marino. “No physical violence occurred,” Officer Peter Neal wrote. He “exceptionally cleared” the case, which can mean police lacked evidence to press charges or the victim refused to cooperate.
That March 10, Sue Shaffer, a case worker at the mental health clinic Casa De Su Vida, asked police to check on fighting at the Leyba home. The officer’s report listed Reno, then 18, and Loretta as victims. The next day, Detective Charle-Ann Martin followed up on another call from Shaffer. This time, Martin listed daughter Angel as the victim of “emotional and physical abuse and neglect.”
Shaffer declined comment. Martin referred SFR to Capt. Gary Johnson, who did not respond by press time.
Within a month of Martin’s investigation, police arrested Loretta for felony domestic violence. Ten days later, prosecutors dismissed the complaint “pending further investigation;” that May, police arrested Loretta on a lesser domestic violence charge. She accepted a plea deal amounting to $67 in fines and fees, 180 days probation and 12 hours community service.
Loretta completed her community service on July 20, 2005. At 10 am that very day, Martin got another referral from the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department alleging “abuse and neglect” of 14-year-old
Angel, then attending Capital Christian School.
Teenage Reno knew the abuse in his family was wrong, according to his ex—and he “hated” it.
“His dad was always abusive; his mom was an alcoholic,” Amanda Ewers says. “I know that really fucked him up.”
Whatever animosities they might’ve shared, father and junior worked as a team at the security firm. But the family business became another detriment to Reno’s education. He dropped out of high school twice. “He was smart enough to finish. But working for his dad at nights, till 5 am, that always sucked up his days,” Ewers says.
Marino founded USA Security and Surveillance in 2000. Clients included apartments, hotels and the Santa Fe Place mall. The state Regulation and Licensing Department, which oversees private security companies, records no violations for Marino’s company.
“Sadly there was nothing in [Reno’s] file, or in the file of US Security, that would indicate such a traumatic event was ahead,” RLD Public Information Officer Teala Kail says. “There simply were no red flags…Our hearts go out to the family, of course.”
Reno’s parents, Loretta and Marino Sr. (pictured), had a tumultuous relationship.
Indeed, RLD records no complaints filed against the company. Reno got his guard license in 2004, and RLD renewed it in 2006 and 2008, after the documented incident in which he threatened to “blast” the police with his new .22. (Until recently, the agency did not conduct background checks for license renewals.)
RLD wasn’t alone in underestimating the danger.
First Judicial District Court Judge Daniel A Sanchez closed Ewers’ restraining order on Feb. 5, 2006, seven days after granting it.
Within two months, police responded to another incident involving the couple.
Ewers says she was meeting a friend at an apartment complex off Sawmill Road. She says she fell asleep in her car, parked in the lot Reno was guarding. When Reno found her, he called his dad, Ewers says. When Marino arrived, he put a boot on her wheel, Ewers says. Then he called police.
Officer Shane Shultz reported finding Ewers parked in a handicapped spot. Marino “held the juvenile and called her father and police,” Shultz wrote. “Marino feels the juvenile is stalking his son.” Case closed.
Ewers says police did tell Marino he was “lucky” they didn’t arrest him for false imprisonment, but recalls no official follow-up. “That was pretty much the end of that,” she says.
On May 2, Detective Martin got another referral from caseworkers about Angel, who made an unspecified disclosure about her “19 year old brother”—Reno. The details would become clearer in following years, but only after Angel moved to a mental institution.
Comments (20)
Marc, if you'd like to list some of those sources here, I'm sure that would be helpful.
City DV Liason Carol Horwitz says people should call 911 if they witness family violence.
The local battered families' shelter has a website, here:
www.esperanzashelter.org
And their crisis line is (800) 473-5220.
Esperanza also has programs designed for abusers—and you don't have to wait until a judge sentences you to counseling to get involved. Call (505) 474-5536.
Finally—and I wasn't able to work this in to print, for space—Esperanza is seeking younger people to serve on its board. They want to expand their reach into the schools, and hopefully prevent more situations like those depicted in this story. To put your name in the hat, get ahold of Sherry Taylor at that 474-5536 number.
To The Editor. Thank you for acknowledging my response to your article. The phrase "wake-up call" is appropriate when you are discussing Marino K. Leyba and his personal relationships with females. I will stand by what I said before. Your story is sensationalistic and was written with the sole intent to inflame the public and sell papers. I feel tremendous compassion for the Leyba and Lovato families. You are looking at "extended victims" in this case. Did any of you think of this before you went the route of a tabloid rag? Did you try and find out if - for example - any family members (Leyba or Lovato) attend church? Did you try and find out if the daughter, Angel, has ever had charges for filing false claims of molestation against NON-family members? No human is perfect. No human should be excused from abusing another human. However, "freedom of the press" should not give you the right to drag everyone in a family through the mud - just because you can. I pray, for each and every person that they NEVER experience something this unspeakable. Leyba and Lovato have extended family. Do you honestly think what you printed will not affect them? If so, you are incredibly foolish or naive. Which is it?
Marc and Renee, thank you for sharing your stories and comments and, Marc, for the suggestion of creating a resource list here, which is a great one that we will follow up on. LiberteAPensador, I'm sorry you find the story sensationalistic, because nothing could be farther from its intention. Marc's term "wake-up call," is appropriate.
I read - then re-read your article about Marino K. Leyba and his family. I have traveled - extensively. I am a voracious reader. I cannot cite the last time I read such irresponsible "reporting." Perhaps you uncovered some detail others have missed - your "story" appears to put the entire Leyba family on trial. Were all members of the Leyba family present in the Lovato house the night of the crime? If NOT - you are no better than the National Enquirer and other tabloid rags. How awful, in your quest for sensationalism, you decided you had the right to try and destroy an entire family and their business. I realize the newspaper industry is dying. However, this is no excuse to try to destroy every single member of a family to sell papers. You see, this is the problem in America today. Too many people feel they have the inalienable "right" to plaster everything about a person to the public at large. I do not give two holy hoots about what you dug out of court records. I read the accusations made by Angel and Loretta Leyba. Your "story" implies all of the alleged charges are true. Obviously you FAILED to provide a responsible report by digging deeper. The TRUTH always sets you free. You are obviously still chained to innuendo and sensationalsim. The "real" story (and police reports) indicate the ONLY member of the Leyba family involved in this horrific crime is Marino K. Leyba. So, print whatever you feel will sell papers about this story involving Lovato. IF he is guilty (still innocent until proven guilty in America) then write about the FACTS. Your "reporter" surmissed A LOT. My profession requires huge amounts of investigative work. I would be fired if I turned in trash like this. You see, maybe someone else dug a lot deeper than your reporter did. Make Marino K. Leyba "man up" - if you feel the need. DO NOT attempt to destroy an entire family and call it journalism. You and everyone who supports this type of writing should be ashamed. It is not anyone's business about Angel & Loretta Leyba being in mental institutions. The part about the alleged "rape" of Loretta on December 31, 2008 did not require the graphic language. What does any of this have to do with the Leyba/Lovator case? I will tell you - absolutely NOTHING. You wanted to sensationalize the story - nothing more - nothing less. You cannot be sued for printing "facts." You should be ashamed for not substantiating things you attempted to pass off as "facts." Most people in the general public do not "research" every story they read. Many do not know how and others are too lazy to care. They rely on "reporters" to do their "researach" and "thinking" for them. I do not happen to be one of those people. I am not saying Marino K. Leyba is innocent. I am saying you should never have attacked the entire family. If they refused to comment on your "story" then I doubt they wanted to be part of a paper version of reality TV.
These stories need to be told. My daughter was only fourteen when she became involved with a an upperclassman at her high school. He was 17 at the time they started dating and I was uncomfortable with the way he seemed to consume ALL of her time and energy. He was always very respectful when he came to visit but I knew they fought alot at school. I stay on top of any absences she has, any e-mails and any activity on her social networking site. I used the nmcourts.com site and found that he had more than a few lising under his name and age. He had been found guilty of robbery and had pending domestic violence charges. I told my daughter that was no longer allowed to see him and she was very upset with me. She was mad but at the same time seemed relieved. I told her she was ending this relationship and it was MY decision. The following 3 months were a nightmare. He sent text messages, e-mails, gifts, and midnight calls. She still had to attend school and he would follow her and just stare at her. She didn't tell her teachers ( I asked her why and she said she was embarrassed, she felt that everyone would tease her for tattling on someone who was just staring at her). He turned 18 during this time. He had his mother call and ask why we wouldn't allow our daughter to date her son anymore. I told her my concerns and she admitted that even she (his mother) was afraid of him.
Our daughter became a prisoner in her own home. His messages became threatening. He started sending girls to fight with our daughter.
I kept a notebook of every call, copies of every e-mail, I wrote times and dates of when things happened. Even after he cornerd her (in a classroom) and destroyed her property, the school felt there was not a problem.
My husband called the police and although this guy had not done anything he could be arrested for, the deputy gave the instructions on how to apply for a restraining order. We filed for the protective order and waited until our hearing. Our daughter was not allowed to attend the court hearing but wanted to send a letter to the judge to tell her how this guy had made her life a nightmare. We were granted the order and it will remain in force until our daughter turns 18.
My daughter has carried this court order in her purse for nearly 2 years. She watches for him and has instructions on what to do if he or one of his cronies approaches her.
I never thought I would have to teach my daughter how to protect herself in a DV situation. She bases any relaionship she has with a boy on this unfortunate experience. I know she is smarter for it, and she watches out for her friends, but I still am sad that she had to experience it.
The signs are almost always the same, no matter race, age or level of violence.
Please watch your kids. If you suspect DV confront it and don't stop the process. These bullies just move on to the next victim.
Your current piece, "Everyone Knew," is highly disturbing and underscores the importance of our community becoming better educated and informed regarding domestic violence, substance abuse, and child abuse and neglect.
I hope this story serves as yet another wake-up call for our community regarding the ever-present social issues which beg for attention and persons availing themselves to existing social services. Education, awareness and prevention begins at home and in the schools. It would be pertient and also responsible journalism for the SFR to now also do a follow-up article on available social services, including: counseling and intervention programs, law enforcement's role, the judicial system's responsibilities, and every community member's role and responsibility to report domestic violence and child abuse to the proper authorities. Please also publish relevant State and community-funded programs and services. Don't stop now, there's more to the equation than simply shocking the public with frightening headlines.
Sincerely, Marc Perry
I realize that these events and the names were all public record, but that's generally true for sexual assaults. They stay out of the public eye only because there's a general media consensus not to publish them. I don't think your only other option was to not mention them. With Angel, you could say that the father was accused of molesting "a family member," which would make it clear that this was a dysfunctional and abusive family without pinpointing who exactly the victim was. With Loretta's case, I also think you could have used the phrase "family member" while still giving details about the nature of the incident, and explaining that it took place in an apartment complex guarded by Marino's company. I know it involves some obfuscation, but when you're giving out information that could follow a victim for the rest of her life, I think that it's worth it to try and balance privacy with your story.
Hi Lauren,
Thank you for your comment. You raise a very good point. As a general rule, yes, newspapers tend (as a matter of policy, anyway) to keep victims' names out of the paper, particularly in the case of sexual assault.
However, the various abuses written about in this story, all of which are part of a very public record and contained in documents, would make little sense if presented without identifying the people who were impacted, because it is a story about a history of abuse among a specific group of people—non-identification would make little sense in this context, leaving the only other option to be leaving out any mention of certain abuses, which I think would then cover up documented crimes that are relevant.
Thank you for your comment.
Julia
Isn't there some kind of journalistic rule against disclosing the names of rape victims? I know it's relevant to your story, and I appreciate that you're looking into a sensitive topic that is too often ignored, but I don't think that necessarily justifies outing two women as sexual assault victims.
Liberte, I get the sense that you have a personal connection to the people about whom this story was written and I can understand your desire to defend them if you feel they have been unfairly represented. But I think you are reading shame into a story that is told pretty dispassionately using the facts that have been recorded for years in the courts. The story does not pass judgment on the family; if anything, it judges the system that failed to intervene earlier when it knew how many problems there were and knew that cyclical family violence often explodes.
Anyway, I don't expect to convince you of anything, because it seems you have a vested interest in the topic, but I appreciate the conversation.