Monday, December 22, 2008
By Chris Thompson, Star Staff Reporter
Sara Escobar-Wiercinski, left, Jaevian Escobar, 2, and Talea Dupuis sit with a picture of Luis Acosta-Escobar, son to Sara, father to Jaevian and boyfriend to Talea. The family addressed the media inside their Windsor home on the anniversary of Luis Acosta-Escobar's murder on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008. Luis Acosta-Escobar was murdered outside of a downtown Windsor after hours club nearly one year ago and his killer still has not been found.
Photograph by: Chris Kornacki, Special to The Star
Sara Escobar-Wiercinski didn't want to put up a Christmas tree this year.
She feared it would bring back too many painful memories of the shooting death of her son Luis Acosta-Escobar on Dec. 22, 2007.
"This year has been terrible for us," said Acosta-Escobar at home Sunday surrounded by family, including her 2 1/2-year old grandson, Jaevian, who bears a striking resemblance to his deceased father.
"It's hard to lose a child. It's hard not to be able to see him any more."
Shortly after the killing, Windsor police issued a Canada-wide warrant for Mohamud Abukar Hagi, now 26, who remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.
Escobar-Wiercinski says she believes her son's killing was premeditated and she wants his killer to be brought to justice before he kills somebody else.
Windsor police Staff Sgt. Norm Burkoski said there have been numerous reports of Hagi sightings in five cities across Canada and two in the U.S.
In recent weeks new information has come forward indicating that Hagi is still somewhere in Ontario, or may have left for a time and returned.
"It has been very frustrating for us," said Burkoski.
"We have expended numerous resources. It is troublesome to us that an accused killer is still at large in the community."
Burskoski said Hagi may have changed his appearance and assumed a new identity and may be earning a living illicitly.
Hagi is of Somali descent and was known to have connections to Somali communities elsewhere in Canada.
"He can't stay out on his own for that length of time without some assistance," said Burkoski.
"They may not know who he is or what he's wanted for."
Police took the unusual measure of setting up a tip website at www.mohamudhagi.com.
Any tips submitted to the site are sent immediately to the Blackberry of the lead investigator in the case. There have been more than 100 so far.
"Efforts have been exhausted," said Burkoski.
"He's even been flagged through Interpol."
Burkoski said it's difficult to track someone when they don't have a credit card, a credit rating or legitimate employment.
He also warned against anyone who thinks they see Hagi from approaching him.
"Due to the nature of the crime do not take any action other than to contact the police," said Burkoski.
Escobar-Wiercinski has also taken her own initiative to keep the case top of mind for border authorities and law enforcement agencies along the border.
She has created 25 packages that include the Hagi wanted poster, copies of stories from The Windsor Star and a printout of the case's page on America's Most Wanted website.
"As each day passes, I am running out of energy and hope that this murderer will be brought to justice," reads a letter she included in the packages.
"Please help us in any way you can."
While Escobar-Wiercinski was initially reticent about putting up a Christmas tree this year, little Jaevian saw one on television and she asked him if he'd like her to put one up. He nodded yes.
There is now a Christmas tree in her home, and the angel on top of it has a picture of Luis hanging from it, and Jaevian thinks his daddy is the angel.
"It's so hard bacause I wish I could have peace," said Escobar-Wiersinki.
"I wish I could not think about it any more. I have been waiting month after month, day after day. One year tomorrow (Monday). And he has not been caught. Where he is, we don't know."
Source: The Windsor Star, Dec 22, 2008