12 yrs later, and this still haunts me…

September 7, 1998 will long be remembered in Arapahoe County as one of the bloodies weekends in history. While most people busied themselves with Labor Day holiday plans, Michael Martinez and his friend, Alex Pogosyan, terrorized an Aurora neighborhood when they both shotgunned five people in cold blood, four of whom they claimed as friends, all within blocks of each other. Michael was an extremely troubled young man with a past to include being expelled from both Overland High School and Cherry Creek Prep, as well as a record with the State Division of Youth Corrections. His home life was no less turbulent, being stabbed and severely wounded by his younger brother earlier that same year.  By the time their Labor Day rampage ended, four of Michael’s and Alex’s friends were dead, along with a friend’s stepmother. Authorities were still on an aggressive manhunt for the two murder suspects when, unexpectedly, the body of one of the killers was discovered in a field northeast of Park Meadows Mall. Michael Martinez had been shot numerous times, although not with the same type of weapon used during the deadly spree. Initial information pointed to his partner in crime, Alex Pogosyan, as Michael’s killer. However investigators have leads which indicate other person(s) close to Alex and Michael were involved in Michael’s execution. An abrupt, strange ending to a horror-filled and tragic weekend. 

– http://www.co.arapahoe.co.us/Departments/SH/Cold%20Cases/Cold%20Cases.asp

 

Penny was moms best friend. Greg and Marrissa? Good friends of mine. Martinez? Lived in my apartment complex, and was always in trouble… in fact Ill never forget the time the cops were called because his own brother stabbed him. Alex… well.. he was the unknown party to me and the families….

 

LITTLETON – Convicted murderer Alexander Pogosyan was sentenced Monday to five consecutive life terms in prison without parole for his role in the so-called Labor Day Massacre.

Arapahoe County District Judge James Macrum Jr. handed down the sentence after hearing testimony from members of the five victims’ families and pleas from Pogosyan’s mother to spare her 18-year-old son.

A district court jury convicted Pogosyan of five counts of felony murder on June 18. He was also convicted on five counts of second- degree murder, two counts of first-degree burglary and one count of being an accessory to crime in a 1998 rampage that left five people in two different houses dead.

"It was very emotional. There were sobs," said Michael Knight, spokesman for the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office.

"They (the victims’ families) felt that the court could never get their loved ones back and that Mr. Pogosyan had shown no remorse," Knight said.

But Knight said Pogosyan’s mother said she believed her son did not commit the murders.

"She said she won’t rest until justice is served," he said.

Pogosyan showed little emotion during the two-hour hearing and did not address the court, Knight said.

Under Colorado law, each of the felony murder convictions carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

The judge also sentenced Pogosyan to six years in prison for being an accessory to a crime. Knight said it was an "insurance policy" in case the murder convictions were ever overturned on appeal.

Investigators believe Pogosyan and his friend Michael Martinez armed themselves with shotguns, put bandanas over their faces and went on a murderous rampage at two Aurora homes Sept. 7, 1998.

Martinez, 18, was found shot to death at an office park near the Park Meadows mall several hours after the other shootings. No one has been charged in his death, although Pogosyan was initially said to be a suspect.

Also killed were Eddie Morales Jr., and Zach Obert, both 18, in a house in Aurora. Marissa Avalos, 16, Penny Bowman, 37, and her son, Greg Medla, 18, were found shot to death in a second home nearby.

Defense attorneys argued during the trial that Pogosyan was a victim of sloppy police work. They said investigators failed to follow up on other potential suspects.

But prosecutors claimed the defendant and Martinez went on a rampage out of revenge. Witnesses said Martinez was bent on getting back at those he felt were "snitching" on him.

Several witnesses testified that Pogosyan boasted he and Martinez had "blasted" five people. His girlfriend, Noelle Peterson, 16, testified that he told her he shot three of the victims.

Artur Martirosyan, 18, is suspected of driving Pogosyan and Martinez to one of the homes. He remains a fugitive.

During the sentencing hearing, defense attorneys argued motions for a new trial but were denied, Knight said.

They also pleaded with the judge to take into account that Pogosyan was a juvenile, just 17, at the time of the murders. But Knight said Pogosyan was treated as an adult throughout the proceedings and the judge stayed that course.

Copyright 1999
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

 

Zach and Eddie? I went to school with. Just had graduated high school the year this happened.

 

While its been 12 years, this still has stuck with me. Penny was a second mother, and she was my mothers best friend…

Penny, Greg, Marissa, Eddie and Zach… you are never far from our thoughts on this day. We miss you all. May you rest in peace.

 

 

*** The last man who is still o

n the run needs finding. Check out http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=24650 and report a tip if you know where hes at please… 12 yrs is enough, we need a break in this case… more for the left behind family members and friends, like myself and my mom… we need the closure.***