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In Reply to: Palo Verde Valley Times article posted by News on January 21, 2005 at 20:34:27:
I've been in this business for more than 15 years and have covered gang killings and other atrocities. Nothing haunts me like what I saw on that tape. Let's hope that the effect of this murder/suicide will be more in-depth investigations into the abuses of children and that his actions will eventually provide the justice Ricky seemed to desire most. Please do everything you can to ensure that these other kids get all the help they need and no other tragedies like this occur. Please give them hope.
Marty
Dear Editor and Mr. Bachman:
Thank you so much for the article on Ricky Rodriguez. Dear Ricky suffered much at the hands of the people who were supposed to protect him. I was a member for nearly 18 years in this group and I know exactly what Ricky was talking about. He was exactly right. Although I do not agree with taking lives or suicide, I do understand the frustration he felt and the fact that he could not get justice for the thousands of young people who were the experiment of a sick, perverted man (Berg) and his mistress - his mother. Ricky's mother, Karen Zerby and now Katherine Smith (she often changes her name), has been in hiding from the beginning of the group.
I can only think how horrible it must be to want to find the people who abused you as a child and bring them to justice, but if they are all in hiding, there is no justice to be had and thusly, there cannot be closure. Sadly, Ricky took matters into his own hands. The group is responsible becauase they hide the truth and refuse to make amends and/or they make light of (or deny) the abuse their offspring suffered. I know it's true, because I was there and I have the letters written to the followers by their founder David Berg that verify this.
Please continue with your reporting and uncovering these atrocities for the sake of these young people who have no one to turn to for help.
I only hope it can be a help to others before more children are lost through suicide or death.
Sincerely,
