At the March 4 screening at University of Texas. From Left to Right:
Sonia Saldivar-Hull director of Women's Studies, and Susan Ramirez, (no relation), grad student, both of University of Texas San Antonio
The San Antonio Four:
Elizabeth Ramirez, Kristi Mayhugh, Cassie Rivera, and Anna Vasquez
Linda Prieto, assistant professor at University of Texas San Antonio
Sonia Saldivar-Hull director of Women's Studies, and Susan Ramirez, (no relation), grad student, both of University of Texas San Antonio
The San Antonio Four:
Elizabeth Ramirez, Kristi Mayhugh, Cassie Rivera, and Anna Vasquez
Linda Prieto, assistant professor at University of Texas San Antonio
Kristi, Cassie, Anna and Elizabeth speak to reporters during a press conference, while wearing Innocence Project of Texas T-shirts.
Nov 20 2013 Watch the Press Conference with all 4 women, their lawyers and advocates here
(scroll to bottom of page)
Anna Vasquez, as she leaves prison November 2, 2012
Anna Vasquez February 2012
Anna Vasquez was 19 years old at the time of the accusations. Anna, Cassie and Kristie were tried together and convicted on Valentine's Day 1998. She and her partner Cassie lived together, along with Cassie's 2 children, until they exhausted the appeals process in 2000 and began serving 15-years sentences. She is now 37, and was released on parole November 2, 2012. Things did not look so bright just 2 months ago in August, as she was placed on restrictions and in medium custody for refusing to fully participate in the Sex Offender Treatment Program. She will have to register as a sex offender until she--and her co-defendants--are completely exonerated.
Kristie Mayhugh September 2012
Kristie Mayhugh was 21 and living with Elizabeth Ramirez, to help each other financially, at the time of the accusations. Prior to this, Kristie had been studying to be a vet at Texas A&M. She began serving her 15 year sentence in July of 2000. After 11 years at Lane Murray unit, Kristie was the first of the 4 women to be sent to Hilltop prison (June 2011) and enrolled in the Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP), against her will. In order to fully participate in the program, one is expected to confess to a crime, which Kristie could not do, since she is innocent. It was largely her letters to one of the advocates that resulted in getting attorney Mike Ware involved and representing the four women.
Cassie Rivera September 2012
Cassie Rivera Cassie was also 19 at the time of the accusations, and the mother of two children. She and Anna (see above) lived as a couple and raised Cassie's children until she exhausted the appeals process and was sent to prison in 2000. She is now a grandmother of a child she has never seen. Cassie's son Michael wrote a song for his mother in the spring of 2012, and you can watch it on youtube here. He was separated from her when he was eight years old. He and his sister were raised by Cassie's mother.
Elizabeth Ramirez September 2012
Elizabeth Ramirez was pregnant at the time of the accusations, but had separated from the father and was living with Kristie. Both were working full-time jobs. Elizabeth's sister had separated from the father of her children, and he had custody.He was apparently very attracted to Elizabeth and asked her to marry him. She of course turned him down. It was after the two girls, Elizabeth's neices, had spent a few days with her and her friends, that accusations were made. Elizabeth was tried first, and separately, represented by a lawyer who had no criminal experience and in the face of a very homophobic judge, prosecutor, and jury. She was convicted in 1997 and began serving a 37 1/2 year sentence. In December of 2011, she, along with Anna, passed a polygraph test administered by a very reputable polygrapher in Texas.