Flashback Fridays – Timothy Fonseca

This story can not really be considered Echo Park history as it is still not over. Timothy Fonseca was convicted and is still serving a 35 years to life sentence for murder based on shaky evidence. But I wanted to post something about him, and this seemed like the best way to do it.

On April 23rd, 1995 at about 4:00 am, Arthur Mayer was coming back from a party with his wife, Roxana, when he stopped to buy cigarettes at the Mobil Station on Scott and Glendale. While he was walking back to the car, Mayer was shot and killed. Roxana would later state that the shot was fired by a man standing at the 1900 block of Scott Ave. She identified Fonseca in a police lineup as the shooter. This is pretty much the only evidence the police had with which to convict Fonseca. However, Roxana had identified a different man in an earlier lineup as the shooter and even admitted that he and Fonseca looked very much alike. Also, the 1900 block of Scott Avenue (where the shooter was standing) is about 300 yards away from where Roxana was sitting in the car. That’s a big distance from which to make an identification, especially when it’s dark outside. Her story also changed several times. Details that varied included the number of shooters, where they were standing and what kind of firearms they were brandishing.

Another piece of evidence was the testimony of a young Echo Park gang member who said that on the day of shooting he had seen a gang member named Sniper carrying an AK-47. He later said that “Sniper” was Tim Fonseca. When the case went to trial, the young man recanted everything he had said stating that the police officers had threatened him into making an identification. Furthermore, he did not even witness the crime.

There was never any physical evidence linking Tim Fonseca to the murder. A possible murder weapon (an SKS rifle) was found behind a house on Scott Ave. There were prints on the weapon, but they were not Tim Fonseca’s.

Tim has been in prison for fifteen years and still proclaims his innocence. He says that he was in San Bernardino on the night of the shooting. Tim’s wife, Lynn, is still fighting to free her husband. Ironically, she used to work for the Indio and Palm Springs Police Departments. His case has gained the interest of high-profile legal organizations such as the Innocence Project. In 2008, he was also written about in the AIDWC (Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted) Journal (the article is in the Spring 2008 issue). Check out Tim’s website if you’re interested in learning more.

1278 replies
« Older CommentsNewer Comments »
  1. tinyurl.com says:

    whoah this weblog is great i really like reading your articles.
    Stay up the good work! You realize, many persons are hunting around
    for this info, you could help them greatly.

  2. Bettamio Vivone e Pace Advogados says:

    Hiya very cool website!! Guy .. Beautiful ..
    Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally?
    I’m happy to search out a lot of helpful info here within the submit, we want develop more strategies in this regard,
    thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  3. tinyurl.com says:

    Spot on with this write-up, I actually believe this website needs a lot more attention. I’ll
    probably be returning to read more, thanks
    for the info!

  4. tinyurl.com says:

    hello there and thank you for your info – I have certainly picked up something new from right
    here. I did however expertise a few technical points using this site, as I experienced to reload the website many times previous to I could get
    it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK?

    Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your
    placement in google and could damage your quality score if advertising and
    marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot more of your
    respective exciting content. Ensure that you update this again soon.

  5. Kira says:

    I will immediately snatch your rss feed as I can’t to find
    your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.

    Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me realize so that I may just subscribe.
    Thanks.

  6. Grupo Coral says:

    I’m not sure why but this weblog is loading extremely slow for me.
    Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end?

    I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.

  7. gamefly free trial 2019 coupon says:

    Hey would you mind stating which blog platform you’re using?
    I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a difficult
    time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.
    P.S Apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!

  8. tinyurl.com says:

    Wow, wonderful weblog structure! How lengthy have you
    ever been running a blog for? you made running a blog look easy.
    The full look of your web site is great, as neatly as the content!

  9. Bettamio Vivone e Pace Advogados says:

    Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew
    of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest
    twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
    Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy
    reading your blog and I look forward to your new
    updates.

  10. Bettamio Vivone e Pace Advogados says:

    Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
    The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Chrome.
    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with
    browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to
    let you know. The design and style look great though!
    Hope you get the problem solved soon. Cheers

  11. Renato Franchi Filho says:

    Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that
    I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts.
    Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

  12. browse this site says:

    I just want to say I am all new to blogging and absolutely savored your blog. Almost certainly I’m likely to bookmark your site . You really have remarkable well written articles. Thanks for revealing your webpage.

  13. Visit Website says:

    I simply want to mention I am just very new to weblog and seriously liked you’re page. Almost certainly I’m likely to bookmark your blog . You certainly have exceptional article content. Many thanks for sharing your blog site.

  14. here are the findings says:

    I just want to mention I am just new to weblog and truly liked this blog site. More than likely I’m likely to bookmark your website . You amazingly have really good article content. Regards for revealing your website page.

  15. cbd oil for hyper dogs says:

    I require to gain a little additional money and also I am an extremely opinionated person so I seem like writing blogs would be a good begin to making some extra cash. I am a full time university student and also I likewise have a $20 hr a week job yet I am still having problems making ends satisfy. Thanks for any assistance!.

  16. cbd oil and dogs says:

    I just recently began a blog site, and I was simply wondering how individuals have advertised their blog sites online to get more followers so you aren’t just keying to nothing out in the internet?. Oh, and for my blog, I do not really desire my good friends to be my fans, unless they locate it on their own. My blog site is about something that the majority of my pal’s can not truly assist me with. (Photography is the main subject).

  17. Bettamio Vivone e Pace Advogados says:

    May I simply just say what a comfort to uncover an individual who really knows what they’re talking about over the
    internet. You definitely understand how to bring an issue to light and make
    it important. A lot more people should look at this and understand this side
    of the story. I was surprised that you are not more popular because you certainly have the gift.

  18. Delores says:

    I enjoy what you guys are up too. This kind of clever work and reporting!
    Keep up the very good works guys I’ve included you guys to my personal blogroll.

  19. Avery Strohmayer says:

    I just couldn’t depart your site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often to check up on new posts

  20. Renan Batista says:

    Do you have a spam issue on this site; I also am
    a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; many of us have created some nice practices and we are looking to trade techniques
    with other folks, why not shoot me an email if interested.

  21. Kléber Leite says:

    Heya this is kind of of off topic but I was wanting to
    know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you
    have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise
    so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  22. mpl pro app download says:

    Simply wish to say your article is as astonishing. The clarity for your post is just excellent and that i can think you’re knowledgeable in this subject. Fine along with your permission let me to grab your feed to stay up to date with imminent post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please continue the enjoyable work.

  23. John Deere Technical Manuals says:

    Hey there I am so excited I found your site, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Bing for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a incredible post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the excellent work.

  24. John Deere Repair Manuals says:

    When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new surveys are added- checkbox and today whenever a comment is added I purchase four emails using the same comment. Will there be any way you may remove me from that service? Thanks!

  25. Palmer Kaewprasert says:

    I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one these days.. xrumer

  26. Homer Fridell says:

    Wow, incredible blog structure! How lengthy have you ever been blogging for? you made running a blog look easy. The full look of your site is fantastic, well the content!

« Older CommentsNewer Comments »

Comments are closed.