Mother Grieves On Anniversary Of Son’s Death

One year ago, Salvador Olivias Jr., 20, died as result of a late night fight in Coachella.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s office has not filed charges in the case, and Olivas’ death has not been ruled a homicide.

Olivas’ mother, Norma Lopez visited her son grave at the Coachella Valley Public Cemetary.

She feels like her family has been cheated by the judicial system, because she says the people who killed her son are still walking free.

“It’s been very tough trying to go day by day,” said Lopez. “But like we say, we have to keep going forward.”

But as Lopez and her family try to go on with their lives, it seems the investigation into the death of her son has grinded to a scretching hault.

Lopez says her son was picking someone up from a party in Coachella last February, when Olivas got into a fight with two guys.

She says a witness told her that one of the guys kicked Olivas on the head while he was unconcious on the ground.

“I did explain to him, if you know what happened, why didn’t you go to the DA’s office,” she said. “He’s afraid. He didn’t want to come forward. He’s afraid for himself.”

One of the men was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, but the district attorney’s office later dropped the charges because there wasn’t enough evidence to prove the man actually killed Olivas.

“To me, I just don’t believe that they cannot get charged with anything if somebody, my son, passed away in regards to this fight,” she said.

Lopez has made several calls and paid several visits to the district attorney’s office and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

But as of now, this case is closed, unless witnesses come forward, detailing exactly what happened that deadly night.

“I just feel that no other parent should go through what I’m going through,” she said. “If people come forward and put a stop to this, maybe all this can change.”

Lopez is asking that anyone with information on this case talk to the sheriff’s department.

She’s also hoping that since a new district attorney has taken office, it’s possible that her son’s case will be re-opened.