The murder is tragic, let’s leave it at that: Letter from the Editor: Questions remain unanswered, let’s support the families
Submitted by Wimberley1 on
By Dalton Sweat
Editor
Last week, the Wimberley Valley was shaken to the core as another tragic event rocked the town. Many lives were changed forever.
The second alleged murder of this year happened on June 4 with an ensuing manhunt following over the next 18 hours.
This incident hit closer to home. The previous murder in March was two out-of-towners. This week, it was two locals mixed up in the terrible events.
Louis Antonio Ramos Jr. allegedly shot and killed Johnny Lee Saxon. Ramos went to Wimberley High School and is one year younger than I am.
I knew Ramos just enough to know who he was. I did not know him well, but I do remember him as a nice person. There is, of course, always another side.
To be kind, there was something a little different about Ramos. He was known around a few circles in Wimberley, including law enforcement, as “Crazy Louie.”
His run-ins with the law were numerous, and he did spend more than a few nights in the Hays County Jail. Looking at the situation, I wonder if any of this could have been prevented. I’m not putting blame on anyone or anything, just wondering if something could have been done.
There has been a national conversation after many tragedies about how to deal with those with mental health issues. Once again, I’m not saying that Ramos did have those issues, I don’t have the educational degrees nor information to say one way or the other, but the question must be raised. Is there a better way to deal with people who have issues than occasional or even permanent jail time?
Neighbors in Rolling Oaks say that this incident started at the community pool with violence. Saxon has three daughters and Ramos has two. At least some of them spent the afternoon swimming it seems.
Neighbors have begun to ask questions also. There may have been some domestic violence issues that occurred at the pool. What is the proper reaction when you see issues like that? Do you try and stop someone? Is it safe? The answers are hard to come by.
According to those in the community, Saxon was “trying to help a family in need” presumably by allowing Ramos to live on his property.
They will remember him for his involvement in the community of Rolling Oaks, which doesn’t shy away from the notion that they do things different in the subdivision.
Saxon and his family were some of the founders of the Rolling Oaks community, which is generally based on freedom in the sense that there aren’t many rules. It is not like a typical Homeowners Association that aims to keep trash out of the yard and what not. It is a community of “live and let live.” It is a community Saxon was involved in.
One neighbor told of the Halloween Festival and how Saxon would help build monsters for the hayride saying that he always put his children first.
At this point in time, there are many more questions than answers.
It is important to let the justice system play out to determine guilt and innocence. In a community as close as the Wimberley Valley, rumors begin to fly. In any community, guilt can be assumed in the public eye well before it is settled by law.
There are simply too many questions left currently unanswered to know.
The most important thing is to do what Saxon was known for doing.
Putting the children first.
There are two families whose lives have changed beyond belief. There are five girls who now face life without a father or with their father potentially behind bars.
Gossiping, spreading rumors or picking sides won’t change that, and it certainly won’t help.
The best thing to do is let the justice system figure out what happened, and in the meantime, support those whose lives will never be the same in any way we can.
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