Taken For a Ride

Maria Parreno was a sister, a daughter, and was loved by many. Born to an alcoholic mother and an absent father, 

Maria was taken into foster care at the age of 4. She was a sister to 4 brothers, with only one being her biological brother, me - Michael Parreno. We were separated and placed in different foster homes, where we both suffered unimaginable treatment at the hands of our caretakers. This left us to choose the streets instead, at the ages of 13 and 14. We found each other in the streets of Hartford, where DCYS left us to take care of ourselves. As one can imagine, unattended and damaged youth find bad role models and drugs. My sister had been targeted by the police since she was young as well as older, violent men, and had spent time in jail after being charged with prostitution and narcotics. My sister and I survived like this for 6 years in and out of jail; fending for our lives on dangerous streets, all while battling a heroin addiction. The last time I would have seen my sister was when she visited me in Morgan Street County jail on June 30, 1989. She informed me that some people were after her and I may not see her again. Though I begged her not to leave the jail until she told me who was after her, she would only warn me that these people were too dangerous and she didn't want me getting involved; unlike previous fights where I intervened. It wasn't until September 2nd, 1989 that I was visited by two Newington police detectives and informed of my sister's demise. They informed me that my sister had been found in their city behind a parked truck trailer, and had been shot in the head. This was unbelievable to me because we did not frequent anywhere but Hartford Connecticut, and specifically Park Street, where we had lived. My sister knew more people than me, but everyone loved her and I could not imagine anyone committing such a crime on her. I gave the police the name of our mother to contact and anyone whom she had ever street fought with in the past. None of which, met the crime level of murder.

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As opposed to an article posted on 09/04/1989, written by Hilary Waldman, things are not always what they seem.