Parole Protest Victory For East Texas Victim’s Family

Carolyn Hileman - The Voice* | April 29, 2008

After sending countless parole protest e-mails, and writing state representatives, Elaine Wells, the mother of Marcus Wells, has some bit of relief.

“I felt all along that it would pay off, that’s why I’ve been so determined throughout this. It started locally with just talking to people and then it grew to letters, and my space, and radio. Now, it’s just gotten huge. I never thought it would get to this point,” said Wells.

Because of Elaine and the Sulphur Springs community’s pleas to keep Juan Garcia behind bars, his release date is now on hold.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles will now review letters from the families of both the victim and defendant before deciding when to let him out, but it doesn’t end there.

Once Garcia is released from prison, he will be turned directly over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who could decide to deport him back to Mexico. While Elaine says this decision scares her, Hopkins County DA Martin Braddy says it is almost as good as keeping him in prison.