memorial held for law student who died after beating.

[julie anne]

When I read a news story about a crime that has (allegedly) occurred, I like to think that I approach it as a reasonable person would, that I am able to forget my emotions and weigh the facts on their own merits, that I can wait until all the information is in before I come to a conclusion.

But sometimes the crimes are so egregious that I can't help but shake my head in disbelief and hope that the wrongdoers are locked up for a really, really, really long time.

That was the case when I heard about and read the story of Mr. George Onyango, a 43-year-old Kenyan immigrant who was working toward a Master of Laws degree at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif.

According to news stories, Onyango was a law student by day and a caretaker at night at a youth group home for troubled teens in Yucaipa, Calif. On Aug. 22, he refused to allow two teens to leave the home, and, in retaliation, the teens beat Onyango with a steam iron and tied him up in a closet before taking his car, money, food and clothes.

As a result of his injuries, Onyango was left with severe brain damage and paralysis. He was taken off life support and died Aug. 29 at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Onyango was set to graduate in December and take the bar exam next year. His school planned to have a memorial for him yesterday.

The (alleged) crimes of the two teens are bad enough. But what makes this story even sadder is the fact that Mr. Onyango - who came to the U.S. with dreams of a bright future for himself and his family - leaves behind his two boys, a 14-year-old and an 11-year-old. His wife died from a brain lesion just three months after the family came here in 2006.

Those kids are now orphans because two boys who are really not that much older than they are thought that not being let out for one evening was such a terrible offense that they had to lash out with force.

According to the O.C. Register, donations are being collected in Onyango's memory and for an education fund for his children.

The George Onyango Funeral Expenses account and Abraham and David Onyango Trust Fund are set up at Arrowhead Credit Union in San Bernardino.

Here's more about Onyango and his two boys from the Riverside Press-Enterprise. And here's an NBC news segment on YouTube.

Comments

[illinois jobs]

Sad and horrible. When will this cruelty stop.