On July 29, 2000, Stephen M. Sanchez (20) attended a house party at a home about five minutes away from where he lived with his mom and step-dad in La Habra, CA.  There were several of his football teammates there, as he had just graduated from La Serna High School in 1999, and his mom felt she had nothing to worry about when he called to tell her where he was going.

Unfortunately, Jose Raymond Alvarez showed up at the party and later that night a huge fight broke out.  Alvarez, armed with a hunting knife, stabbed Stephen and also his friend, Kenny.  Alvarez claimed he “forgot’’ that he had the knife in his pants pocket.  When the police came to break up the party, they took everyone to the police station to interview them and Alvarez lied about what he had done, so they didn’t arrest him that night.

When the investigation showed that Alvarez was, in fact, the murderer, he evaded the police for five weeks and changed his appearance before finally turning himself in.  During the murder trial, Alvarez took no responsibility for his actions, nor did he show any remorse, claiming he stabbed the two boys in “self-defense” despite the fact that he stabbed them from behind.

Also during the trial, Stephen's family learned Alvarez used such force when he stabbed him that Stephen suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung and died on the operating table at UCI Medical Center from blood loss.  Thankfully, Kenny survived that physical attack, although how does one ever fully recover from the emotional and psychological trauma of a savage experience like that?

Alvarez was convicted of 2nd-degree murder w/1 yr. enhancement and attempted murder with 4 years enhancements and was sentenced to 29 years to life in prison.  He will have served only 19 years and 4 months when he is considered for parole. 

For the past 19-plus years, since Alvarez made the decision to take Stephen’s life, Claudine Sanchez-Parrott has lived a nightmare no parent should ever have to live.  No punishment or hardship Alvarez and his family have endured can even compare to the fact that every dream and wish for Stephen’s future will never be achieved.  Stephen’s family and friends have only memories to hold on to.  And for all this, Jose Raymond Alvarez should be held accountable for his actions.

And, just to be clear, we are NOT asking for Alvarez to remain in prison for longer than he was sentenced - we're not allowed, by law, to request that.  We simply want him to be held accountable for the decision he made that night.  Everyone who loved Stephen was sentenced to a life sentence that can never be undone, mostly his grieving mom, Claudine.

If you'd like to leave a message for the family, you can go to www.stevesanchez.com or contact Aunt Marie at stevesaunt55@gmail.com

God's will be done and thank you for your support and your help.  

Stephen's Family