The Unsolved Murder of Leon Laureles part 2: Leon in Real Life

Join us for the second episode of "Box in the Basement," where host Arlene continues the poignant story of her uncle, Leon Laureles. In this episode, titled "Leon in Real Life," Arlene takes us beyond the tragedy of Leon's unsolved murder to celebrate his life and the profound impact he had on those around him.

Born into a hardworking family with deep roots stretching from Portugal to Texas, Leon's life was a testament to resilience, kindness, and unconditional love. Despite facing early responsibilities and hardships, Leon’s warmth and generosity knew no bounds. From his role as a caretaker to his parents, to his dedication as a loving uncle and a reliable friend, Leon's life was rich with acts of selflessness and love.

Arlene shares intimate memories of Leon - his love for Madonna and Celine Dion, his talent in the kitchen and with musical instruments, and his uncanny ability to bring joy to every occasion. But more than that, she delves into how Leon's unsolved murder has left an indelible mark on a wide circle of people, from family and friends to coworkers and community members.

This episode is not just a story of loss and grief, but also a call to action for justice and recognition. Arlene's passionate plea to re-examine the case and hold the responsible parties accountable underlines the ongoing struggle faced by families of unsolved murder victims. She urges listeners to support their cause and help bring closure to Leon's story.

Listen to this heartfelt tribute to a life taken too soon and join Arlene's mission to ensure Leon Lorellas is never forgotten. Subscribe to "Box in the Basement" for more episodes on unsolved cases and updates on Leon's story. Visit justiceforleon.com to contribute to their cause and submit tips.

Tags: #UnsolvedMurder #LeonLorellas #TrueCrimePodcast #JusticeForLeon #ColdCase #Memorial #MurderMystery #VictimsRights #TexasTrueCrime #PodcastSeries #InvestigativeJourney #FamilyHistory #LoveAndLoss #FightForJustice #BrownwoodTexas #CommunityImpact

Support Box in the Basement Victims

• Leon Laurales: Website & GoFundMe
• Amanda Goodman: Justice for Sissy Facebook Page
• Jennifer Sue Delgado Memorial Foundation

Transcript

0:32

Hello. And welcome to box in the basement podcast. My name is Arlene. I'm your host and I'm so grateful to each and every one of you joining me today. I am the niece of Leon. Lorella this. Who was shot execution style at age 30 on May 10th, 1996. Outside of Brownwood, Texas. And who's smarter has never been solved. If you haven't listened to the first episode in this series, please go back and do so. Today is going to be an in-depth discussion into my uncle. Leon Mirella's. What kind of person he was and how his loss and the lack of closure in his unsolved murder. Has continued to affect so many lives to this day. From friends and family to coworkers and perfect strangers. Leon was born one Leon Lorella. On January 3rd. 1996. To parents, Francisco Lorella senior age 42. And Raphaela Lorelli's H 36. Leon had two older brothers and four older sisters along with twin sisters that were still born. Leon siblings were 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, and 12. When he was born. Which meant he was the only one left in the house when his parents health began to decline. And they required constant care. The Lorella says originally came from Portugal and I have traced our ancestors as far back as I possibly could. I learned that from Portugal, the Lorella says then went to Mexico. And then to Texas and have been in Texas since long before it became Texas. Frank Lorella senior Leon's father. bUilt the family home in Brady, Texas. A small conservative town, almost dead center in the state. Tucked between the hill, country and panhandle Plains. He, and Raphaela raised their children and grandchildren Catholic. And family was considered the most important thing in life. Leon's parents, older siblings. My own parents and my other aunts and uncles mostly worked out in the fields and traveled for work often. Which is why Leon and I were born in Mason, Texas, about 30 miles from Brady. Mason was closer to where my family worked. My mom remembers while traveling for work. The whole family would pull over on the side of the road where my grandmother would make everyone food. Including fresh hand roll tortillas. This was their life. Hard, but always together. By the time Leon was 14, he had to get a driver's permit. In order to legally drive his parents to dialysis every week. Four hours away in Dallas, Texas. He was also responsible for taking them to their local doctor appointments. And picking up their prescriptions in town weekly. He also was in charge of preparing their meals and taking care of the family home. Leon made sure they took their medications on time. And kept up with the household chores. The shopping and the errands. He essentially became an adult and a full time caretaker. By the time he was a freshman in high school. I would feel bad for Leon. So I would go dust, vacuum and tidy up the house on Saturdays just to help him out. Leon miss quite a bit of school due to caring for his elderly parents. But he still managed to Excel and even joined the marching band in high school. He overcame all these obstacles and hardships and managed to graduate from Brady high school in 1985. The ons classmates. Remember him as a very kind. Funny. Smart. And always ready to help or make you smile. His coworkers described him as hardworking. Sweet. Reliable. And fun to work with. Customers say he was very friendly and a joy to see and speak with while shopping at Kroger. His friends say he was such a great guy. Always ready for anything. Fun to be around. Generous and always ready to give a helping hand. As far as family, we all knew he was the one person we could all count on when we needed help advice. Someone to talk to. Or keep us up to date on the latest hit song. Or to dance with. He is loved and missed by so many people. I remember a sweet smile on his face all the time. Regardless of what was going on. And you would never know how difficult his life really was. He had the friendliest eyes. Sent a gentle voice. And was kind hearted. I remember the way he talked with his hands. And I catch myself doing it as well. Leon loved Madonna and Celine Dion. Dancing, cooking and baking during the holidays. He loved the holidays and it made him so happy to cook for his family. He truly enjoyed having all the family together and it's home. The kids playing the adults, drinking and playing cards. While Leon's cooking and baking with a huge smile and sparkling eyes. We didn't have much, but somehow. He always made the best of things and he made the holidays so special. It felt like we were rich with love. He made me love the holidays. And I still go all out every holiday to honor him and his spirit. My house is usually the hub for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love cooking and baking and gathering with the family and friends. To share the good times and the food. I credit Leon for making me that way. I'll continue to celebrate the holidays in his memory. Those are the times I miss him the most, because I remember how much they meant to him. I never want to forget his beautiful smile. Is happiness that spread to everyone around him. As a teenager. I remember hearing Leon practice his trumpet in his room for hours. I didn't disturb him. But I'd be listening in the living room. I was so impressed. Even though I was in the band too. I really wasn't any good. But Leon was talented in my opinion. Leon and I did not have a great childhood. And we were left to fend for ourselves. Most of the time. We were each other's support system from a young age when our parents didn't fulfill that role. We cheered each other on helped each other with schoolwork. Encouraged each other to practice our instruments. And we were just there for each other, like friends or siblings would be. I think that shared misery and lack of parental support is what brought us closer to each other. When I couldn't get my mother to take me to school. I would call Leon and he'd pick me up and take me. Many times my mother would forget to pick me up from school. Ended Leon wasn't too busy caring for his own parents or out of town. He drive by the junior high to see if I needed a ride home. Otherwise. I would have to walk home with my saxophone and a full backpack. Which happened a lot. But I remember Leon coming to my rescue so many times. Anytime I needed help. New and someone on my side. I just needed someone around that cared about me, just a little. He was always there. I never had to ask. He would just be there. Hallways. I believe he was one of the only family members I had that truly loves me. Loved to be with his whole heart and unconditionally. All we had was each other. That was the only life we knew. And so. He continued to be there for me. Well into adulthood. As I was writing this in memory pot, into my head. I'm not exactly sure what holiday it was, but I remember lots of cousins around. We're all getting ready to go dancing with the adults at the dance hall in Brady. Leon asked if he could do my hair and makeup. I agree. To my surprise. He did an excellent job with my hair. He styled it in a way I would never have thought to do so. And my makeup was on point. He used a light purple eyeshadow that I loved so much that I continued to use it for years after. How he knew how to do that. I have no idea. You have to remember that we lived in a very small town. We had one high school, one junior high. One elementary that was first grade to fourth grade. And another had kindergarten to fifth grade. We had no clubs. We had one country station is all that we could pick up on the radio. Five TV channels. One department store that had tools, appliances, a few clothes and shoes. I would save up my money to buy teen magazine. And that is where I got my styles from. Sounds of funny and lame now, but we didn't have any real knowledge of what the real world outside of Brady, Texas was like, otherwise. We only knew what we saw in this very small town. And that was a way behind the times. Not always seem to surprise and impress me how he just knew how to do so many things. When we had no one to teach us anything. He was just so incredible. Eventually life moved on. I got married. And my ex-husband was abusive. I was only 17 with a new baby and this unpleasant spouse. I had no help or support from my family or friends. I felt so alone. And scared and overwhelmed. I didn't have any role models and how to be a good parent. No one to offer me advice or help. But Leon would always show up for me. He'd come over and just ask if I wanted to go to pizza hut or Sonic and not ask me any questions. We were taught not to talk about our problems or issues. So we didn't. But he just had this uncanny way of knowing when I needed him. I think that's what made our bond even stronger. Our needs were unspoken. But we would always just know. When I eventually got divorced from that abusive ex. He showed up, ready to help me raise my son. I worked and he stayed home with my son. No questions. Just total commitment. Leon spent so much time with my son and treated him like his own. I couldn't have asked for anyone better in my son's life. A few years later, I had two more sons. And one was a premium. So I wasn't able to work while he was in the NICU and another city. And my husband at that time was an abusive alcoholic. Didn't help raise his kids. Or offer any kind of support and was rarely home. And as before I got very little support from family and friends. Once again, Leon showed up ready to watch my boys while I worked to provide for my family. Those were hard times. I didn't ask anything of him, but he was there ready to help with no questions. Asked once again. He then got a job at Kroger on the overnight shift. So he'd have his own money. He come home from his shift and watch the boys for a little while. And then they'd all nap. He'd feed them. I teach them their colors. ABC's how to write their names. Just like you'd hope an uncle would. He was so wonderful with my kids. Any kids, all kids, they all loved him. He was such an amazingly sweet kind, compassionate likable guy. I never knew of a single person that was mad at him or didn't like, it. Leon was not just my uncle. He was my protector. My best friend. My person. Mike, everything. And there will always be a piece of my heart missing. The remaining pieces of my heart are always hurting. Always missing him. Sometimes worse than others. But always missing him. I miss him every single second of my life. It feels like someone has taken away my soul from me. I just want to remind you that I'm living without him. I will never be whole again. Our grief is frozen. Enclosure is unattainable. The world would have been a much better place with him in it. Because he made everything better. I just thought we would have more time. This brings me to the part that I want to share with everyone who may not be aware of just how many people are affected when someone is harmed. Or taken away in such a horrific way. The number of people that are affected goes way beyond a spouse or immediate family. In Leon's case, the list is long. And the pain was and has been felt for many, many years. His siblings. Nieces and nephews. Cousins coworkers. Friends and his customers all suffered. From his absence. They continue to mourn the loss of this amazing presence. They are angry at the lack of closure and justice. Along with the lack of progress from law enforcement in the last 27 years. Not to mention the lack of interest in his case. And the purposeful, neglect to Leon's case since the beginning. I must also include the first person to arrive on scene after Leon was murdered. The second 9 1 1 caller. Who was a registered nurse. She lived with the trauma of not being able to help save him when she arrived at the scene. And the memory of this crime scene haunted her for the rest of her life. Her daughter still talks about how much her mother thought about Leon and how heavy it weighed on her heart until her last breath. A coworker had to move away from Brownwood. Because it was just too painful to stay. And the frustration with the lack of progress on the case. Simply became too much to bear. A few of Leon's friends. Phil is too painful to talk about him without breaking down to this day. The people that came into contact with Leon in the days before his untimely death replay those moments. Every word over and over. Looking for any clues in their conversation. And they beat themselves up for not seeing or noticing something. Or wishing the head spent more time talking with him. It's few dollars best to play this game with oneself. But it's unavoidable. Those slip behind, have to pick up the pieces and deal with the trauma and loss. And part of that is the constant guilt. I regret and anxiety that comes with wondering. If you could have changed things. He myself was unable to even say Leon's name without a total breakdown for many years. I didn't talk about it with anyone for a long time afterward. Because it was just too hard. Just thinking about him or what happened to him would make me cry for hours. It was so mentally and physically exhausting. It has taken me over 20 years to be able to tell his story. Make no mistake. That it is still incredibly hard to talk about. Leon who he was, what happened to him? But I do it because I want to keep his memory alive. Leon deserves justice. I have trusted in the legal system for way too long. And they have, let me down for 27 years. Not only had they let me down. But they have practically destroyed any chance of solving his case. Either by treating Leon as a non-human. We're purposely neglected to properly investigate. For some reason I have yet to find. Either way they have mistreated Leon. And our family and have caused us so much pain, suffering and frustration. Adding to our trauma and heartache. At the time. I didn't think I could go on in this way. But I also hate them for how little they cared about Leon and his family. No respect at all and no apologies either. I always wonder how law enforcement and the murderers can live with what they have done. But I'll never understand it. It also hurts and angers me how they can go on to live their lives as if they did nothing wrong. All of them going on to marry, have children buy homes. Start businesses. Spend time with their grandchildren, friends. When we can no longer enjoy spending time with Leon. Nor are we able to see Leon fine love. By his first home. Or see his family grow. It also makes me so sad that he didn't get to see my son's graduate. Have children. Or me finally finding a good person to spend my life with. I know he would have loved to be a part of all of those things. So how fair is it that a truly wonderful person. Isn't able to have any of those things. But the evil ones do. I don't wish this kind of pain on anyone, not even the evil ones. This is a club that no one wants to be in. So, this is why I need to be Leon's voice. I need to be loud. And clear. I need to make sure everyone knows. How much he mattered to so many people. How much he has missed daily. How much he was loved. But also. People need to know his story. And I need your help sharing his story. I need your help with making the Texas Rangers and the brown county, Texas sheriff department. Aware that I am not going to stop looking for answers or spreading the word. I want them to acknowledge that they miss handled Leon's case and disrespected Leon's family. And I want new people to investigate Leon's case properly. Like it should have been from the beginning. Maybe even throw in an apology for good measure. All people matter. All cases deserve the same passion to get the case solved. All families need to be treated with respect. Empathy. And deserve to be kept in the loop. And so we remember those who have passed. Let us also remember the lessons they have taught us. They have taught us the importance of kindness. Uh, compassion. And we must embrace those moments. To those who are still fighting. We stand with you. You are not alone. We will fight alongside you. And we will never give up hope. We will continue to support you. To uplift you and to be a source of strength for you. Please help me fight for justice for Leon. If you know anything, please speak up. For those that have spoken up to law enforcement with what They heard and saw. thank you. What we need now is anyone with evidence to please come forward? Leon's family. Brown county. And all of Leon's friends deserve answers. This podcast has a bigger purpose than Just providing information and the entertainment. The homicide victims, families rights act is a bipartisan bill that was signed into law by Congress in 2021. And we want to see it put into action. This law establishes a systematic process for reviewing case files. Related to cold case murders. The focus is on providing a mechanism for the families and friends of murder victims. To request a formal review of such cases. We need an attorney or teams of attorneys and legal professionals To take on the bold and brave fight against the system around the country. In our case, we need someone to fight for Leon to help not only put fresh eyes on the case. But to get his body zoomed, to search for evidence that was not collected the first time around. We and other families and friends need assistance with getting foyer requests. It blows our minds that so many murders occurred from 1976 to 1997. In Brownwood, Texas under the watch of the same investigators, responsible for handling Leon's case. We're going to look at all the unsolved murders in Brownwood. And maybe even if you solved ones, if it helps uncover what was happening in that era that left so many families devastated. And a community living in fear. If you want to hear more about victim focused. Unsolved cases. And get updates about what we know. Please subscribe, like and share our podcast. Also visit our website. Justice for leon.com to donate to our cause to hire an attorney. Plus you can submit a tip anonymously You can also join our email list to stay current on developments on Leon's case and other cases. We cover as they happen. Thank you so much for listening. Please be kind. Later Gators