CNN Anderson Cooper Special Report June 3, 2013 08:10:15 archive.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from archive.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
mcallen, texas, in the 1930s was segregated. the neighborhoods, the schools. even in the hospital, mexican-americans and anglos were treated in separate wards. but when irene garza was born in 1934, her parents were determined that she and her sister josephine would transcend the discrimination together. we were very tight. we were very close because it was like us against all of those that were prejudiced against us. prejudiced against hispanics? hispanics, yes. and my dad fostered that because we re in it together.
at that time, hispanics stayed on one side of town, anglos lived on another side, and she kind of transcended that. she was gentle and sweet and beautiful. lynda de la vena another cousin. she was a role model, to see how she had gone through college, was a teacher, was a beauty queen, and yet, was just a very sweet and simple person to us as children. but in 1960, the body of this inspiring woman was found face down in this canal. she was 25, the age for thinking about getting married and raising a family. she didn t have a life. irene never had that chance. irene garza lived in this house in what was a very nice neighborhood near downtown mcallen and remains so today. she lived here with her sister and parents.
one side of town, anglos lived in another side, and she kind of transcended that. she was gentle and sweet and beautiful. lynda de la vena is another cousin. she was really a role model and to see how she had gone through college, was a teacher, was a beauty queen and yet just a very sweet and simple person to us as children. but in 1960 the body of the inspiring woman was found face-down in this canal. she was 25. the age for thinking about getting married and raising a family. she didn t have a life. irene never had that chance. irene garza lived in this house in what was a very nice neighborhood near downtown mcallen and it remains so today. she lived here with her sister and her parent. on the saturday before easter
voice. she had a way with children and she smelled like flowers. reporter: in 1960, irene garza was raped and murdered in mcallen, texas. one thing i remember is just screams. there was a suspect. who do you believe killed irene garza? father john feit. father john feit. back then, a catholic priest. no evidence in this case right now points us in any other direction. so why is he still a free man? by all accounts, irene garza was a remarkable young woman. she kind of broke the mold. irene s younger cousin, noemi sigler. at that time, hispanics staid one side of town, anglos lived