June 25, 2023 • 20 mins
This emotional episode of CRASH features an interview with Luis’s mother, Irene Morales. Irene shares what it’s been like having her son sentenced to life in prison. This episode is in English and Spanish as Irene doesn't speak much English. A huge thank you to Brianna Miranda for helping us translate and making this possible.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
So purkey purk, she said.She fell to her names and um bob
and she couldn't believe it. Sheasked her why why him? My name
(00:30):
is Irene Morales and I'm from Mexico, but I live Here's things eighteen years
ago in Texas, Burget City,stem over, Mexico. Name movie time,
(00:53):
she said she was she she cameto the United States when she was
sixteen because she got married, umto Luis's dad, Um, and so
he decided to come to the UnitedStates. And she was just following.
Can you tell me a little bitmore about about your family around that time?
Um, that Louise was born Familiaand Boca in Nazio Luis un restaurant
(01:30):
in Beverly Hills, the Niona Gantina. Louisa m in Transis, she said,
Um. Around the time that Louiswas born, she had three children.
(01:53):
Luis was the third. She's themiddle child. Um. Her husband
bought a rest a kind of bar, restaurant, and he was co owner
with his brother Jo. Louis isactually named after Louis Salina. So what
what sort of kid was Louis whenwhen he was young and me Louisa Moroso,
(02:29):
he no wacho familia via in Frances. She said that Louise was a
(02:54):
very sweet and kind and um verylovable child, always smiling and and just
kind up until she said about theage of eight is when she separated from
Louise's father, and that's when someof the problems started. They had a
(03:16):
lot of problems at home. Soaround between eight and ten is when Louise,
UM, I guess is when hewas out, you know, out
on the streets. She says thataround around nineteen ninety six nineteen ninety seven,
social services decided that the kids,Louise and his siblings go live with
(03:38):
their dad because she was actually she'sa cancer survivor. Um, she was
in treatments and I guess they theythought she wasn't fit to be taking care
of them because of her health issues. So that is why they all went
to live with their dad, whichwas not a good um I guess sample
(04:00):
for them. It was around likewhen Voice was twelve years old, as
when he first ended up getting involvedin gangs. Um did she teach about
that at the time? And UM, I guess if you know what did
she understand? I guess the extentof or I guess you know what that
meant to be in the gang.They so easy get them look and so
(04:46):
no no, no, no,you know they don't whatever work Louis Gussie
Sobida's way in any concum no,no, you're gonna da Italia. You've
(05:26):
been so crazy to children to opinionand it seems to to M. M.
Blake, M M and ANTONII inthe movie in m she said that,
um, she did not She didnot know because at that time she
(05:46):
lived an hour away in Riverside andhe was under the care of not foster
care home placements. I don't knowwhat's the difference, but um, so
she really didn't know, um howinvolved he was or if he was at
all in gangs. The first timehe got arrested he was fifteen. But
(06:09):
before that, um did he evertalk to her about any anything that happened
with the police, like the tanieat the ample, the um no no
(06:35):
you know if the chant and thesimply simpa. She said that she never
(07:00):
told her of any encounters she mayhave had. Um she didn't any chance
that she could bring him to Riversidewith her. He would come, but
he never mentioned any involvement with thepolice. Or anything like that before Um
she said it, he was underthe care of his dad around that time,
and he really wasn't to I guess, UM involved or a very um
(07:28):
what do you call it involved inhis life. He was more on in
his business with his bar and restaurant. What was What was her feelings in
general about the police? Simply theloss via Losane you'll be be and I
(07:54):
don't know what I mean, butyou'll just committee and m who locally effected.
No, No, your class forthe mpinion their moments is in the
(08:56):
say what sequence? Bas Basically,her opinion of the LAPD was not good
(09:22):
because she she, as well asmany residents of Los Angeles and family of
of friends of Luisa's family, hadmany encounters and unjustified UM police and encounters.
The first time you heard UM thatLuis had been arrested for attempted murder,
(09:46):
what was the your first reaction?Basically? Okay? Was really the
M no longer? She said thatshe she cried a lot. She had
(10:22):
just moved to Texas and um,she wanted to go back. She wanted
to move back to to California tobe, you know, to support him,
But that Louise reassured her that hewas innocent and that that wasn't necessary
because he would he was sure hewould just be released because he was innocent
(10:45):
and he didn't he didn't do whatthey were accusing him of. So she
stayed here. Did she did shefeel guilty or feel like responsible? I
guess we're leaving momentos and this thesancism or contrast its you see the hepens
(11:16):
Can movie in m in the Califoria. That's what I think, she said.
Not, um, she felt somesome form of not guilt, but
(11:39):
um, she thinks if she wouldn'thave moved to Texas, that maybe that
wouldn't have happened. Um, becausehe had a really good job at the
time and he was working. Andshe said she did think about that before
that if she hadn't moved, maybethat wouldn't have happened. Things were pretty
optimistic at first. Um. Whatwas her reaction with the first trial with
(12:01):
Tom Durry? Optimist? But nocomm who is your friend? And husk
com, no sentiascent, no Jamesthinking. Just you see, she said
(12:58):
she at first she had she hadall the hope because she knew he was
innocent, and um, she washopeful that he'd be released, but then
when it was the hung jury,she felt bad and suffered, and she
kind of started to lose hope becausethey didn't let him go in the first
(13:22):
jury. I guess. So thenobviously difficult question was what was your reaction
on the second trial when when policewould sound guilty sentence? So you met
(13:46):
you? Does so? He him? She said. She fell to her
knees and um sobbed and she couldn'tbelieve it. She asked her why,
(14:11):
why him? What? What doyou think the world's missing by having Molice
in person all these years? Mundoalways d and h does is done?
(15:01):
What can we who she is?She said that Um, he was robbed
(15:28):
of his youth, robbed of hislife, and that we were the world
was robbed of a good a goodperson. And also she feels that they
robbed her too because she she feelslike a piece of her was also gone
(15:50):
with him. But I didn't reallyseen that it is supposed to be here
Nicolo proposal. She fell in areally um deep depression. She had rehospitalized.
(16:22):
Um. She went to psychologists,psychiatrists and therapies to help her cope
with this loss of him. Inthere, he said. She then right
after that she was diagnosed with breastcancer. What is her hope for release
(16:45):
in the future. It's a equalistToperzia, and she has hope that justice
(17:25):
will be served because she believes indivine justice. And she has hoped that
he will be let out soon andthat he has a great life waiting out
here for him. Take a kissedhim, he gives wis She just wants
(18:10):
wants to say that she hopes thatjustice will be served and that the system,
the corruption of the judges and thepolice officers, and that for them
to be better. Um, what'sthe word. I guess to revise cases
(18:33):
more thoroughly and carefully before they umcome victor innocent people. She wants justice
for him and for her and forthem to know of the great pain they've
they cause families that had appreciate it. Um. And yeah, I guys
(19:02):
appreciate her of the bravery to beable to talk about it, because I
know it's not easy to talk about. I'm sure brings up a lot of
you know, a lot of motionshave been there for a long time come
up when you talk about it.So yeah, I feel like val let's
(19:22):
go chase yea so well nothing.See it's really easy, she said.
It's like if it just happened.Yeah yeah, yeah, But look,
(19:48):
tell a man, no trouble.I don't want brief man, I just
want vibe. Big man like me. No need for the telephone high I
got too much geting online. Whowon't rule the teleimal side? Wrong move,
they're gonna right. No need forthe telephone hid nah, No need
for the snoozing be with by flight. I'm cruising big sick in side.
No truthing. Better watch y'all forthe blacking ju. Desist
So purkey purk, she said.She fell to her names and um bob
and she couldn't believe it. Sheasked her why why him? My name
(00:30):
is Irene Morales and I'm from Mexico, but I live Here's things eighteen years
ago in Texas, Burget City,stem over, Mexico. Name movie time,
(00:53):
she said she was she she cameto the United States when she was
sixteen because she got married, umto Luis's dad, Um, and so
he decided to come to the UnitedStates. And she was just following.
Can you tell me a little bitmore about about your family around that time?
Um, that Louise was born Familiaand Boca in Nazio Luis un restaurant
(01:30):
in Beverly Hills, the Niona Gantina. Louisa m in Transis, she said,
Um. Around the time that Louiswas born, she had three children.
(01:53):
Luis was the third. She's themiddle child. Um. Her husband
bought a rest a kind of bar, restaurant, and he was co owner
with his brother Jo. Louis isactually named after Louis Salina. So what
what sort of kid was Louis whenwhen he was young and me Louisa Moroso,
(02:29):
he no wacho familia via in Frances. She said that Louise was a
(02:54):
very sweet and kind and um verylovable child, always smiling and and just
kind up until she said about theage of eight is when she separated from
Louise's father, and that's when someof the problems started. They had a
(03:16):
lot of problems at home. Soaround between eight and ten is when Louise,
UM, I guess is when hewas out, you know, out
on the streets. She says thataround around nineteen ninety six nineteen ninety seven,
social services decided that the kids,Louise and his siblings go live with
(03:38):
their dad because she was actually she'sa cancer survivor. Um, she was
in treatments and I guess they theythought she wasn't fit to be taking care
of them because of her health issues. So that is why they all went
to live with their dad, whichwas not a good um I guess sample
(04:00):
for them. It was around likewhen Voice was twelve years old, as
when he first ended up getting involvedin gangs. Um did she teach about
that at the time? And UM, I guess if you know what did
she understand? I guess the extentof or I guess you know what that
meant to be in the gang.They so easy get them look and so
(04:46):
no no, no, no,you know they don't whatever work Louis Gussie
Sobida's way in any concum no,no, you're gonna da Italia. You've
(05:26):
been so crazy to children to opinionand it seems to to M. M.
Blake, M M and ANTONII inthe movie in m she said that,
um, she did not She didnot know because at that time she
(05:46):
lived an hour away in Riverside andhe was under the care of not foster
care home placements. I don't knowwhat's the difference, but um, so
she really didn't know, um howinvolved he was or if he was at
all in gangs. The first timehe got arrested he was fifteen. But
(06:09):
before that, um did he evertalk to her about any anything that happened
with the police, like the tanieat the ample, the um no no
(06:35):
you know if the chant and thesimply simpa. She said that she never
(07:00):
told her of any encounters she mayhave had. Um she didn't any chance
that she could bring him to Riversidewith her. He would come, but
he never mentioned any involvement with thepolice. Or anything like that before Um
she said it, he was underthe care of his dad around that time,
and he really wasn't to I guess, UM involved or a very um
(07:28):
what do you call it involved inhis life. He was more on in
his business with his bar and restaurant. What was What was her feelings in
general about the police? Simply theloss via Losane you'll be be and I
(07:54):
don't know what I mean, butyou'll just committee and m who locally effected.
No, No, your class forthe mpinion their moments is in the
(08:56):
say what sequence? Bas Basically,her opinion of the LAPD was not good
(09:22):
because she she, as well asmany residents of Los Angeles and family of
of friends of Luisa's family, hadmany encounters and unjustified UM police and encounters.
The first time you heard UM thatLuis had been arrested for attempted murder,
(09:46):
what was the your first reaction?Basically? Okay? Was really the
M no longer? She said thatshe she cried a lot. She had
(10:22):
just moved to Texas and um,she wanted to go back. She wanted
to move back to to California tobe, you know, to support him,
But that Louise reassured her that hewas innocent and that that wasn't necessary
because he would he was sure hewould just be released because he was innocent
(10:45):
and he didn't he didn't do whatthey were accusing him of. So she
stayed here. Did she did shefeel guilty or feel like responsible? I
guess we're leaving momentos and this thesancism or contrast its you see the hepens
(11:16):
Can movie in m in the Califoria. That's what I think, she said.
Not, um, she felt somesome form of not guilt, but
(11:39):
um, she thinks if she wouldn'thave moved to Texas, that maybe that
wouldn't have happened. Um, becausehe had a really good job at the
time and he was working. Andshe said she did think about that before
that if she hadn't moved, maybethat wouldn't have happened. Things were pretty
optimistic at first. Um. Whatwas her reaction with the first trial with
(12:01):
Tom Durry? Optimist? But nocomm who is your friend? And husk
com, no sentiascent, no Jamesthinking. Just you see, she said
(12:58):
she at first she had she hadall the hope because she knew he was
innocent, and um, she washopeful that he'd be released, but then
when it was the hung jury,she felt bad and suffered, and she
kind of started to lose hope becausethey didn't let him go in the first
(13:22):
jury. I guess. So thenobviously difficult question was what was your reaction
on the second trial when when policewould sound guilty sentence? So you met
(13:46):
you? Does so? He him? She said. She fell to her
knees and um sobbed and she couldn'tbelieve it. She asked her why,
(14:11):
why him? What? What doyou think the world's missing by having Molice
in person all these years? Mundoalways d and h does is done?
(15:01):
What can we who she is?She said that Um, he was robbed
(15:28):
of his youth, robbed of hislife, and that we were the world
was robbed of a good a goodperson. And also she feels that they
robbed her too because she she feelslike a piece of her was also gone
(15:50):
with him. But I didn't reallyseen that it is supposed to be here
Nicolo proposal. She fell in areally um deep depression. She had rehospitalized.
(16:22):
Um. She went to psychologists,psychiatrists and therapies to help her cope
with this loss of him. Inthere, he said. She then right
after that she was diagnosed with breastcancer. What is her hope for release
(16:45):
in the future. It's a equalistToperzia, and she has hope that justice
(17:25):
will be served because she believes indivine justice. And she has hoped that
he will be let out soon andthat he has a great life waiting out
here for him. Take a kissedhim, he gives wis She just wants
(18:10):
wants to say that she hopes thatjustice will be served and that the system,
the corruption of the judges and thepolice officers, and that for them
to be better. Um, what'sthe word. I guess to revise cases
(18:33):
more thoroughly and carefully before they umcome victor innocent people. She wants justice
for him and for her and forthem to know of the great pain they've
they cause families that had appreciate it. Um. And yeah, I guys
(19:02):
appreciate her of the bravery to beable to talk about it, because I
know it's not easy to talk about. I'm sure brings up a lot of
you know, a lot of motionshave been there for a long time come
up when you talk about it.So yeah, I feel like val let's
(19:22):
go chase yea so well nothing.See it's really easy, she said.
It's like if it just happened.Yeah yeah, yeah, But look,
(19:48):
tell a man, no trouble.I don't want brief man, I just
want vibe. Big man like me. No need for the telephone high I
got too much geting online. Whowon't rule the teleimal side? Wrong move,
they're gonna right. No need forthe telephone hid nah, No need
for the snoozing be with by flight. I'm cruising big sick in side.
No truthing. Better watch y'all forthe blacking ju. Desist
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