Secrets of the dead: I (vaguely) knew Tony Rios but I can't write about his demise



Every time I hear about Tony Rios and Olivia Raya case I have to cringe.

Don't get me wrong. The family and friends of these two are doing a lot of great work for a good cause nowadays.

But what makes me uncomfortable is that we'll never read or hear the whole story about the case in the mainstream media. And I won't (can't) go into it because I have to live in this community. Of course they'll be interesting and disturbing details eventually released in the court documents but most people won't pay attention.

Everyone is sticking to some fairy tale story about a home invasion and innocent victims and nobody is asking questions which may impact the lives of other people in the metro. Obviously, it's nearly impossible to ask people to be forthcoming while they're grieving but the attempt to turn the deceased into martyrs begs a lot of questions . . . Which I don't have the heart to ask.

So many people die under violent circumstances in Kansas City . . . There are always rumors. I've heard talk of mysterious circumstances in one case after the next over the time I've run this blog . . . Annony e-mails making bold claims often find their way to me. From expensive and lavish graduation gifts to any number of alleged improprieties involved in a murder; I've read and heard it all. So I'm not casting any aspersions and I'm not implying a thing. And in this case I'm wouldn't dare report rumor other than to note that the talk is out there and it's loud.

Thankfully, the killers of this couple have been arrested and are awaiting trial.

My only concern is that so many problems in the Latino Community go unmentioned. Of course we're comprised of many different social strata but at a very basic level we are a community (like many others) which struggles with drugs, gang violence, HIV/AIDS, a high drop out rate, diabetes, single motherhood, teen pregnancy, obesity and a predisposition to listen to horrible bands dressed up in glittery cowboy outfits. But refusing to talk about these problems won't make them go away.

As a kid I knew Tony Rios. You won't be surprised but the guy couldn't stand me. In his world I was sort of a nerd, a bigmouth and know it all and NOT the Juggernaut of the KC Internets the loyal readers of this blog know today. What I remember is that, unfortunately, the guy didn't have the widespread family support that marks the backers of Olivia Raya's Scholarship fund. For most of his life, the kid was on his own with only his grandma left to care for him. Sadly, tragic and violent deaths like the one he suffered aren't uncommon. Because of that, the work of the Olivia Raya Scholarship Fund is important but it's also important to express the reality of the news that so often goes unreported to other Latino youngsters who may be confronting the same challenges which face our community but sadly go unmentioned.

Comments

  1. You problems are duly noted Tony, but no matter what happens you can never stop being Mexican, so you will have to eat shit until you die. Machismo is such bullshit and fucking stereotypes are so true it makes me laugh so hard that I pee in my pants. Tony in spite of your race, you are a true brown buffalo in your own mind. You have a very entertaining blog and sometimes I do get caught up in all your rabble rousing but just remember my friend that you cant change who you are and we are limited to our time on this earth, so it's just best if you kill yourself now and end your misery. lol

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  2. Geez Tony. Do you have any readers of your blog who aren't incredibly racist?

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  3. Geez Tony, can't you right something without making it a racial issue.

    Its a two way street anony 12:07

    Tony courts it.

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  4. Great post Tony. Where is photo from? It looks familiar.

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  5. Typical race baiting. Tony ignores the good news even when it's coming out of his own community.

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  6. What this community needs is a good full-bore race war. To kind of clear the air, you know.

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  7. John,
    You are an idiot and a bold racist. Shame on you. Tony shares his heart and you show the empty hole in your chest.

    When I was a little girl, there were wonderful teacher role-models that inspired me to reach for the stars and said don´t be afraid to take risks to achieve my dreams.On the other hand, there were also teachers like you who said why go to college? You will just end up on welfare and pregnant. What a sorry group of people like you there are in the world.

    On the other hand, there are also some wonderful people in the world who make it a much better place, people like Tony!

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  8. Good post T. I think what some of the knuckle draggers fail to realize is that your post really shows how much alike we all are. Bad choices, shitty luck, or a misspent life are not exclusive to any single race. Death doesnt discriminate.

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  9. Good post indeed I only wonder if the local media will pick up on it and prove what real journalists can do and not bloggers.

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  10. Your heart seems to bleed only for the brown people.

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  11. It's cute how you think you have any respect in your community anyway.

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  12. http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/2007/07/who-was-david-l.html

    David Lopez, Kansas City's 44th homicide. Never heard of it? That doesn't surprise me. No one was ever charged.. even with all the witnesses.... David had a 10 year old daughter, both of whom are cousins to my 3 year old son. He (allegedly, since I obviously wasn't there) went to go meet a girl at a park.. she had a boyfriend there with her. The boyfriend and his friends, and even the girl beat the holy hell out of him. He went home and later passed away, his father found him... earlier he thought his son was having a hangover that day..he didn't realize he was dying. All David kept saying was "They did it to me" ... I guess when you're number 44 it doesn't seem important enough to stay in the headlines... or even get in them. Rest in peace my friend.

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  13. tony's cousin7/12/10, 11:36 PM

    tony was a very good person i loved him i can barley remember him now but when i was alittle girl i would go over to my aunt's house(his mom's house) and hang with him and olivia they are great people and a person that has something mean to say man just dont say it at all cause he was my cousin and that is cold people that have posted great things like "dee" and "midtown miscreant" should be thanked greatly soo thank you noo one will probably read this but i will everyday i get a chance and some people posting things dont even know him so....

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