Arapahoe County – The women couldn’t stand.
Mothers of two slain college students had just learned the details they’d been waiting to hear for 260 days – who is accused of killing their children.
But they couldn’t stand.
“I was afraid I would faint,” said Christine Wolfe, who along with Rhonda Fields sat Thursday in a corner of the district attorney’s office, watching authorities stride before the media to talk about the recently revealed indictments for Robert Keith Ray, Sir Mario Owens and Parish Ramon Carter.
Authorities believe Ray, Owens and Carter were involved in the shooting deaths of Javad Marshall- Fields and Vivian Wolfe – two Colorado State University graduates who had just gotten engaged.
Police believe Marshall-Fields was killed because he was a witness to a 2004 homicide in which Ray was charged as being an accessory.
On Thursday, the women sat in chairs surrounded by their family and tried to field questions about their children and their feelings now that the case will be brought to justice.
“I hope that these indictments send a very clear message to our community, our state, our country that we will not allow criminals to control our courtrooms or our streets,” Fields said. “We must make Colorado a safe place for people to speak out against any violent crime.”
Fields spoke about her son, as did authorities, who commended his courage and strength for being one of the only witnesses to the 2004 shooting to cooperate with police.
But Fields also wanted to talk about his smile and that of his 22-year-old fiancée.
“He always had a kind word,” she said. “He was loved, not only by his family but by so many. (Vivian and Javad) had brilliant smiles, and that is something we will miss.”
Fields said her days are spent longing for her son, her holidays are spent at his grave and only a year ago she was planning his graduation party.
Wolfe said her hands shook through the news conference and she was weak from the sleepless night before.
“We are grateful that it happened today,” she said. “But it’s like digging our unhealed wound.”
Later, Wolfe said she drove by the cemetery and spoke to her daughter – “Vivian,” she said, “we got it. We did it. But it’s not done yet.”
Earlier, there was another mother who stood.
Annetta Vann, the mother of Gregory Vann, watched quietly from the opposite side of the room. Her son’s death is already being prosecuted. Ray and Owens are charged in his death.
Later, Vann spoke to reporters about her son’s death on July 4, 2004, and her guilt over the death of Marshall-Fields and Wolfe.
“I feel like I got a double dose of hell,” she said. “And what do I tell the parents? What do you tell two parents who loved their kids as much as I loved mine? I’m sorry. No, I didn’t do it. But they were helping my son. …”
At that, Vann began to cry. Her brother, Clarence Vann, held her as she sobbed.
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer can be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
