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Community floods to the scene of slayings in disbeliefSIOUX CITY (AP) — a Thousands of Sioux City residents continued to arrive at the ihoine where a mother and her Jfive children were found ^Thursday.' People who have driven or 'walked by the house have left ^flowers, balloons, stuffed ani-’mals, notes and candles, a vis-►•ible sign of the community’s outpouring of feeling.'• “It was almost like they had radar,” said Terri Harper, who • lives two doors from the home. “People somehow knew they could come up the street. It’s been nonstop ever since.” I-''Adam Moss, 23, of Sioux City is being held on seven founts of first-degree murder for the beating death of Leticia ! Aguilar, 31; and her children, .Claudia Saldana, 12; Zack 'Saldana, 11; Larry Saldana, 9; Lisa Saldana, 7; and Michael Aguilar, 6; as well as Ronald Fish, a Sioux City business-nian whose body also was found Thursday evening. Officials say Aquilar was floss’ girlfriend and Moss had been living with Aquilar and her children in recent months.■ Few details of Fish’s connection to Moss have emerged. Even details of Fish’s funeralare being kept privateInvestigators said Moss used a hammer and knife in the slayings.Moss is being held in the Woodbury County Jail on $7 million bond as well as another $25,000 bond for a first-degree theft charge, because he is alleged to have stolen Fish’s car.Lisa* Harmon of Sioux City said her sister had lived in the home at 311 West St. for 10 or 11 years.“We know every room,” she said. “My heart just is aching after what happened. We just keep telling ourselves they are in heaven.”Melissa Harmon, who said she knew the children, wiped her eyes with a tissue.“They were the happiest kids,” she said. “They were very polite.”Kellie Spencer and Bryon Hines of South Sioux City left a stuffed animal.“It’s just bad that this could happen,” Hines said. “It seems almost impossible that someone could be so cruel.”John Thomas who lives two doors from the Aguilar home said he wished he had known what was happening.OSKALOOSA VISION CENTER • H. Craig Coen, O.D.Jason D. Maasdam, O.D. Robert F. Tobin, M.D.803 N. 1st, Oskaloosa, IowaMon.-Fri. 8:15-5:15; Sat. 9:00-12:00878-4388‘If I had had the slightest idea, I would have kicked down the door,” he said. “I wish I could have done something.”One neighbor who asked not to be identified said she hopes the house is tom down now. She said she can’t imagine anyone living there after the tragedy.Jamie Halsted, 13, of Sioux City, stood outside the home where Aquilar and her five children had lived and were found dead.She said she knew 9-year-old Larry Saldana.“He would come over and spend the night because his mom’s boyfriend would hurt him,” she said. “He just spent the night last Friday.”The fence in front of thehome became a chain-link memorial that has grown since police removed crime scene tape.As they laid flowers, lit candles and tied balloons to the fence, the mourners on West Street wondered aloud about the connection between Fish, who lived in what locals call the Country Club section of town, and the family in the working-class neighborhood.A stuffed animal played a recording of the Lord’s Prayer. A toy pirate ship with a newspaper photograph of the dead children was nearby. Next to it was a football and a message: In loving memory of Zach. A poster showed the sun rising from clouds and carried the words: Claudia, we miss you.fcIII0 uMTHE DIFFERENCEReady EquityWhat's the difference between banks?Al Iowa Trust you can get a home equity line of credit for up to ] 00% of the value of your home. Upon approval, simply write a check for the amount you want. And unlike credit cards, interest on a Ready Equity line of credit is usually tax deductible. That can make a difference, too.fliowaTrvstOskalosa 641-673-8405 What Cheer 641-634-2425MamterFDIC
Newspaper Details
Oskaloosa Herald
Oskaloosa, Iowa, US
Tue, Sep 04, 2001
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Dlniemanssc D.
15 Oct 2024
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