Melissa Romero (1983

April 7, 2009 - guess who is turning 4 today. Melissa's baby girl, this is her 3rd birthday without her mommy, how many more will she have before she knows who murdered her mommy? Let this be the last birthday without the anwers that so many people have, that could solve this murder, could put someone away for my murder, it is time to stop being a coward and admitting what you did to me on April 15, 2006 - give my baby girl the only birthday present she really needs, her murderer in jail forever.

It seems like a lot of people light candles on my daughter's site and my grandson's site that refers to the fact they do not know where we are.

However, they do know how to get in touch with us. Roswell Police Department lie detector office would be a good place to start. Maybe then the person who MURDERED MY DAUGHTER would not be out having a life of his or her own and enjoying things that MY DAUGHTER will never get to enjoy again.

We were at the grave site today of Melissa and Little Eric and guess what no one has put anything on either grave since the last time we were there. Amazing how LOVE that lives so close cannot even go and clean the graves off, much less put a flower on the graves.

We were promised that these graves would always be taken care of, I guess the interpretation of that was "As long as Melissa's family comes up, drives 300 plus miles, they will always have something on them".

Melissa knows I do not go to graveyards very often. Little Eric and Melissa are not in Belen, they are in my heart and in my thoughts all the time.

Melissa's family has done everything we can to find the murderer of her. We have constant contact with the police, we have spoken with the OMI's office on several occassions and we talk to people that might know the truth or will talk to us.

There has been so many lies told, from the time the police got to Melissa's body till today, that no one knows the truth - but rest assured it will come out, when Melissa's body is taken up and re autopsied, the truth will come loud and clear.

Then she will be cremated the way she wanted to be at the time of her death.

Melissa's mom, sister, brother, nephew, niece and especially for her daughter who asks for her all the time.

Here we are in another year and still no arrests. Hopefully, 2009 will be the year I know for sure who murdered you. I know what I have been told, I know how the story doesn't match, I know where you were shot, but still no answers.

Your baby girl tells me all the time how she misses her mommy. She sees all the other mommies picking their little girls and boys up from daycare and she just doesn't understand why her mommy can not come get her. I explain to her that her mommy would pick her up if she could. Last week she asked, "Grandma is my mommy dead?" I was honest with her and said yes. But she doesn't understand that dead is forever. At 3 dead is just a word, but not a span of time.

I love you and miss you everyday. I was reading your letters that you wrote me over the weekend and they were so funny. I had to laugh and I act like I am laughing with you and not by myself.

Sure wish I could be getting ready for your birthday next week. But as we all know, the only thing I have is a grave. But you know how I am about graveyards, so I don't spend much time there. I would rather remember your laugh and your life, not your death.

By the way, we are going to bury Max next to Little Eric and your dad next to you. I purchased both of those lots when you were murdered. Since your dad and Max were the major men in your life, I want to be sure you are all together forever. We have already contacted the people that have to give us permits to relocate the ashes of both of them. I know that would make your dad and Max happy.

Your baby girl is growing so fast. We took her to see Santa last week. I sent Santa a note and told him she had been asking if Santa knew where her mommy was. I asked him to let her know that he knew her mommy was in heaven with her big brother. Santa actually got teary eyed, but Mariah was so surprised and happy that Santa knew her mommy was in heaven. Then she asked if Santa could bring her mommy to her at Christmas and Santa had to tell her he could not bring mommies back that were in heaven. When we got home she talked to your picture and told you to be sure to talk to Santa when you saw him.

She is getting the 2 items she wanted for Christmas. Beside those we have gotten her several smaller items. But she is reminding me everyday of the two things she wants Santa to bring her - rest assured they have already be bought.

Amber, Thomas and Ray miss you. They are always remembering things that you said or did. Thomas gets so upset over his birthday. It is hard to celebrate one birthday and realize each year the other person will never have a celebration for her birthday.

I love you and miss you. The only thing I want for Christmas is Eric to pass a lie detector test. So far he has refused to take one, by police count of 7 times, cannot figure out why he is so unwilling to take a test.

I have signed the papers to get your body exhumed if needed. So if that happens, I will be there to be sure that you are treated right. If they exhume your body, I will not rebury you, I will cremate you, I only believe that you were not cremated when you were murdered, due to the fact you knew they might have to do another autopsy to get the truth of your murder.

Hello Melissa, I was just here thinking about you again. Since we moved to Arizona, I know that no one will run into me that I know, so it makes it easier to live day to day. No memories slipping up on me.

I miss you so much every day. Some days I feel you so close to me and your baby girl. Other days, it seems like forever since I heard your laugh and saw you smile.

Everything, stays the same. No one talking. No one taking a lie dectector tests. I guess the guilty know they cannot pass the test!!!

Mariah looks more like you each day. She misses you and asks about you all of the time. I always ask her, "Where is your mommy" and she says "In heaven with my brother".

I wish I could just say she will be by to pick you up soon. But we know that I cannot say that to her, because of the person that decided to murder you.

Halloween is coming up and she is going to be a shark. She has a party at school. We are taking cup cakes and they are having a cake walk. Every child will win a cup cake, so your baby girl will be happy with all that candy and the party.

I bought her a halloween gift today and sent one to KeShawn and Tylie. They will get them that night, after they all get home from school.

I love you and miss you. I wish I could go back to that Friday and would have called you and got you to spend the night with me. Amber feels the same way. She talked to you just hours before you were murdered. She often wishes she had just kept talking to you.

But the truth WILL COME OUT, even if we have to bring your body up again and have another autopsy. The truth will always win out over the lies that are being told. The truth keeps coming up all over and I keep hearing about it.

Good Morning my Baby Girl, I sure do miss you. Guess what, I am sure you already know about the Psychic's. I am sure glad that I found them. It is great asking them questions and getting answers. I am still waiting for Lie Detector Test to be taken by the people who are supposed to care so much for you. By the way, all of your family has offered to take a lie detector test. You know that is because we do not have anything to hide. Only the people that can not pass are refusing. You know now that I have been told some things that make more sense than the original stories. I will hopefully be able to tell your baby girl someday, who murdered you. I am going to record the conversation I get from the new psychic so I can save it for her. If she tells me the same thing as the other two have, then I can only believe that they are showing me the truth about that night.

You know none of your baby girl's other grandparents have anything to do with her. They don't even send her a gift for her birthday or Christmas. You know she is well taken care of and wants for nothing. But I still make sure Tylie gets things from "grandma" even if she does nt need anything. That is what grandma and grandpas is for, to be in the lives of our grandchildren. But it is their loss, not mine.

I see you everyday when I wake up. All I have to do is look in your baby girl's eyes.

You know the date - you know what I want - you want the truth to come out - be there.

Happy Valentines Day Melissa. We miss you and we know someday the person who murdered you will be known to all.
Until then, kiss your baby girl in her dreams. She asks for you all the time. She shows everyone your picture and then kisses it good night.
All of your “friends” will not stand up for your murder, so the murderer is still not charged with taking you from us.
Love you mom, sister, brothers and your baby girl.
Please call Lisa Bracken at 624-6770 Ext. 175. Give Melissa’s family peace for Valentines.

MELISSA'S FAMILY PUT THIS LETTER TO THE EDITOR IN THE ROSWELL DAILY RECORD ON FEBRUARY 17, 2008.

Dear Roswell Residents:

On April 15, 2006 my daughter, Melissa Romero was murdered in Roswell. As of today’s date, no person has been charged with this murder. Melissa’s baby girl had turned one on April 7, 2006. This was the only birthday her mom every got to celebrate with her.

Mariah often asks me where her mommy is. She is too young to understand that her mommy is gone forever.

Roswell Police Department is trying to come up with a reward fund for information that will lead them to Melissa’s murderer. As of this date we have only had a few donations. They feel, as I do, that if we can offer a substantial reward, the information needed to convict this murderer, and get him off the streets of Roswell, will come through.

I am writing this letter to ask each person who reads this, would join us in the capture of this person. I would appreciate it if you could take a moment in your busy life and send a check to the reward fund.

The check should be made payable to: Melissa Romero reward fund

Please send it to the Roswell Police Department, % Lisa Bracken, 128 W.2nd Street, Roswell, NM 88203. Detective Lisa Bracken’s phone number is 624-6770 Ext. 175. Please call her if you have any questions regarding the reward fund.

You can view Melissa’s web site at: http://Melissa-romero.memory-of.com

The Roswell Daily News story has been posted and some of Melissa’s life has been described.

I believe in forgiveness and have made every effort to forgive the person responsible for taking my daughter, Mariah’s mommy, and a sister from us. However, justice needs to be served. If the only way that justice will be served is by giving a reward, it is well worth the effort I am making by contacting groups, churches and businesses and asking for their help.

If the entire reward fund is not used in Melissa’s case, it will be held in a reward fund in Melissa’s memory to capture future criminals related to homicides in Roswell. I am hoping this will help deter the number of homicides this city sees each year.

Please realize, even if you did not know Melissa Romero, remember her daughter will never have the opportunity to know her either. This is the main reason we must find justice for Melissa.

Thanking you for your help.

God Bless

Joan Hughes, mother of Melissa Romero

This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Melissa Romero who was born in California on December 12, 1983 and passed away on April 15, 2006 at the age of 22. We will remember her forever.

Melissa's grave marker came in on September 15th., the 5th. month anniversary of her murder. We are posting the marker along with her son's, little Eric.

I whisper your name...to myself.
I whisper... Happy Birthday, and I love you.
I whisper...I still think about you.
I whisper...goodnight and till we meet again .
I whisper...and hope your Angel ears can hear
My whispers here on earth.
I whisper...because I am afraid that if I speak too loud,
My heart will hear and break again....
So I just whisper......

Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees
Around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars
Reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular!
Please wipe away that tear
For I am spending Christmas with
Jesus and my baby boy this year!

I hear KeShawn sing Christmas songs
Oh, I hold him so near
I see Tylie playing with her cousins
I can see it all from here

I have no words to tell you
The joy your faces bring
Although I can’t be there
With the angels I shall sing

Yes, I am here with Dad and Max,
I have also seen so many friends.
I have missed them so dearly, as I, now, miss you
But I will see you again one day, as the Lord intends

Keep me in your thoughts
I will always be near
One day He will make his reasons known
And this will all come clear

So be happy for us, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear
And be glad I’m spending Christmas
With Jesus and Eric this year

I left you all a special gift
Please treat her as your own
Let her bring to you
A gift of my undying love

After all, love is a gift
More precious than pure gold
Was always most important
In the stories Jesus told.

When you close your eyes to rest
Know that I am by your side
Dream of me and my baby boy
And be sure to give my love to Mia!

Please love and keep each other
As my Father said to do.
I can’t count the blessings of love
He has for each of you

So have a Merry Christmas
And wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ, and my baby Eric, this year

Melissa started her life as a surprise. Her dad and I were happy with the family we had. One boy, one girl. Then along came a surprise – we found out it was twins. They were born about 1 month early, but very healthy. The doctor told me to let Melissa cry to help her lungs, for all of you who knew and loved Melissa – she never had a problem opening her mouth, so she followed the doctor’s orders.

Melissa was very protective of her twin brother, Thomas. She would beat him up, but no one else could. She would always take the matter into her own hands and Thomas always knew. His mom would be getting a call from someone and he also knew his mom would always take Melissa’s side because I knew she was protecting him. We knew this when she was only 4 years old in Pre-School because she was sick one day and Thomas went to school by himself. The school called me all excited because Thomas had talked, I did not understand why they were so excited until I found out it was the first time Thomas had talked in the four months Thomas and Melissa had been going to school. Melissa had told the teachers what and when he wanted to eat, when he had to go to the bathroom, or why he was crying. So no one knew that Thomas could speak, and that is probably why Thomas is still not a talker.
When the school called and told me, we have your child in the office, I did not say which child, I asked what has she done.

Melissa decided she was not going to school. She was given the choice of home schooling or regular school. Her step father took the responsibility of being her teacher; that was a joyful experience. She’d cry, he would yell, she would then do all of her school work. She had her stepfather, Max, wrapped around her finger. With her sarcastic attitude and her great sense of humor she always won the arguments.

Melissa graduated one month after Max’s death. She told me she wished Max could see her diploma. I told her, he saw it Melissa, he is still with you.
Once again I wanted to give my children a complete family, I married Tom in 2002. Melissa gained more family, Tom’s son and his wife, Nick and Tammy. Nick and Tammy loved all of their new nieces and nephews, too. Nick loved having 2 sisters and 2 brothers, he is an only child and had never known what it was like to have all those people show up for Sunday Dinner.

For years Melissa had been a mom to all of her friends’ kids. Her friends knew she would take care of their most precious gifts, their children, she loved them all. Many times I would come home to 2 or 3 babies and Melissa was so happy taking care of them. The parents would party, but Melissa wanted to be a mommy.

Amber called my house when it was time for KeShawn to be born. Melissa answered the phone. It was hard to tell who was more excited Amber or Melissa. From the moment KeShawn was born-Melissa was in love with him. She was always giving him a bath or feeding him. Sometimes Amber would have to remind her that she was Aunt, not mom.

Melissa was happy when her older brother Anthony moved to Roswell. Finally all 4 brothers and sisters were together for the 1^st time in a very long time. Anthony’s baby girl Tylie and her mom Teala were now a part of Melissa’s life. She was so happy to have another baby close to her. She offered to watch Tylie anytime. She would keep Tylie when her mom went to school. She was again helping to mother someone else’s child.

Everyday, we will tell Mariah how much her mom loved her and did not want to leave her. We will tell her how beautiful of a person she was inside and out.
Melissa knew she could leave her baby girl in the safe hands of her Dad. Eric, Melissa left you a big responsibility, but she knew you could reaise Mariah to be a loving person.
Let us all remember Melissa- for laughter, jokes, friendship- don’t forget what she taught you about love and family.

We can picture Melissa running through those pearly gates of Heaven. She didn’t stop to ask for directions or to be checked in, she pushed everybody out of her way and grabbed her baby boy. She still hasn’t put him down. When we get to go home to Heaven with her, she will be standing at the gates with her baby boy in her hands, saying “Welcome Home, We have missed you!”

Love,Your Mom

IF I COULD HAVE A LIFETIME WISH
A DREAM THAT WOULD COME TRUE.
I'D PRAY TO GOD WITH ALL MY HEART FOR YESTERDAY AND YOU.
A THOUSAND WORDS CAN'T BRING YOU BACK; I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE TRIED.
AND NEITHER WILL A MILLION TEARS,
I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE CRIED.
YOU LEFT BEHIND MY BROKEN HEART
AND HAPPY MEMORIES TOO
I NEVER WANTED MEMORIES,
I ONLY WANTED YOU.

These quotes are from a book that Melissa gave me for Christmas 2002. She wrote in it " To: My Sis From: Your Sis I

U!"

...My Only Sister...
Do not mistakenly regard her
                 as of common stock;
She is the heart-taker among the crowds,
                          Radiant as a rainbow, she is more beautiful than angels.
                                  -----Songs of Milarepa-----
For there is no friend like a sister
                     In calm or stormy weather.
       ----Christina Georgina Rossetti----
There are all those early memories;
one cannot get another set; one has only those.
                                   ---Willa Cather---
                         Till the last sleep,
         from the blind waking at birth,
Bearing the weight of the years between                the two, I shall find no better thing upon the earth
            Than the wilful, noble, faulty thing which is you.
                          ---Sara Teasdale---