James Garcia was a vibrant young man who had many friends and relatives who loved him deeply. He was born in Los Alamos New Mexico and the second son of Mary & Ignacio Garcia. He attended High School at Espanola Valley High School at was in 11th grade when he passed away.

On November 5th while on a hunting trip James was shot at point blank range in the neck by Steven Sanchez and died instantly, leaving behind a grieving family who has never fully recovered from that loss.

The New Mexico justice system failed us miserably after sentencing Sanchez to a 15 year term and suspending 13 of that. Judge Steven Pheffer in our opinion was to fault for that I believe he is not fit to be a Judge. this was after all a murder case.

Since then we have forgiven Sanchez for his actions and he passed away on February 3rd 2010. There was never any real closure to this matter and we must continue on with love and hope.

On November 5th 1999 you returned to our father. The life you led and the love you shared inspired and was felt by everyone around you. I wish I could talk to you one last time in the physical form, but I know you have been with us since the day you moved on and your spirit continues to live on within us. The hardest part for you is over, and the struggle for us, the ones you left behind, continues. You have a mother & father who continue to love you, a brother who always thinks about you and sees your traits in his own children. You even have a nephew named after you, “James Lawrence Garcia” I thought when you left I had to say goodbye, but today I realize you’ve never really gone and nothing ever really dies. I look forward to the day when we will meet again. I have forgiven the man responsible for your death and I hope you can find it in your heart to do the same, and somehow I feel you already have. Our existence will never be the same without you and the world was a brighter place when you were in it. We’ll continue on and follow in your footsteps brother, and we’ll let love in, and show others the same. I’ll see you around, and you’re ever inclined to do so, stop in and say hi, even if it’s just for a few moments. After all, sometimes even a few moments can last a lifetime.