Eyewitness

This is my story. I, Albert Quinones, live my life with the pain of the death of my two best friends--Ricky Kasso and Gary Lauwers. I live with the pain, sorrow, and nightmares every day. I live my life wondering if I could've done something differently to change what happened. maybe I should've said, "Let's call it a night," or did not go to the woods. Well, maybe I should've just went to the party without them. I don't know, but I have to live with this for the rest of my life No one should ever see or go through what I've been through--from seeing Gary being murdered to Ricky Kasso killing himself and from the chief of police lying and saying it was a cult. And it was not a cult. Then Howard, the chief of police, retracted his statement, and then I was interrogated. They kidnapped me and beat me for four and a half hours, and the police and the DA forced me to write a statement that wasn't true with the media circus and their fake news when they were told specifically it was not a cult. But the media just wants to sell papers and destroy lives at anyone's cost. I lives with the pain every day just for being a witness. I did not write this story for fame. My family does not want me to publish this story because of their image and their name, and I lost the one woman I ever loved (L.M). Her parents made us split up for their image. Know that my family refuses to talk to me because I decided to publish the story for closure for everybody else who needs it. I have lost everything in my life because of one night. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. If the story helps give certain people closure, helps someone from going down the same hard road I went through, or prevent someone from losing their life or giving up on life--if it helps one soul--then I'm glad that I helped someone. And it would be worth going through this pain to do the story if it means I got to help someone save their life. Gary Lauwers family and I tried to stop it but I failed and I live with it every day to Gary's mother I want Gary's mother to know that her son had told me that night that he loved her. I am very sorry. I tried to stop it, and I failed to stop it. And it kills me every day. I had no control over this, but this was not a devil-worshiping cult or sacrifice. It was two kids on drugs that had a fight that got out of control And for the parents out there who neglect their child and don't pay attention to their child, this is a form of abuse. When you neglect a child, they will get in trouble because they're hurt and angry to the point where they will lash out, getting themselves into trouble. Then you and the family have to deal with the tragedies and repercussions because all they wanted to was someone to care for them . That's all I wanted--love. That's all I have to say. Thank you for you your time and for reading my story.