March 4, 2014: UTSA hosts a documentary screening and panel discussion with all 4 women and lawyers. story
Feb 12 2014. Aljazeera in America uses San Antonio 4 case as example of homophobia in Texas story
Jan 7, 2014: The Mystery of the San Antonio 4, investigative piece in the Texas Observer
Dec 6, 2013: Another story explaining the context of "ritual child abuse" hysteria of the 1980s, early 90s
December 4, 2013: Good background story in Slate describes the impact of anti-lesbian bias during the trials
November 20: Press conference with all four women, their lawyers, and reps from NCRJ and IPTX watch here
(scroll down on the above page to watch the full 35 minute conference)
November 20: Finally Free, San Antonio 4 want Full Exoneration--Texas Public Radio story here
November 18, 2013: Cassie, Kristi and Elizabeth are RELEASED from prison with a signature bond. Anna is no longer on parole and no longer has to follow the restrictions of a sex offender. Read more here
October 22, 2013: Writ is filed for all 4 women in San Antonio! read the press release here
April 28 or 29, 2013 Cassie Rivera is transferred to Lane Murray Unit
April 23: Another screening of the documentary-in-progress in San Antonio at Queerfest.
March 16: Barbeque fundraiser organized by Anna and her family raises $ to help the remaining 3 women
March 2: Screening of documentary-in-progress in San Antonio
November 15: Screening of documentary in progress in Austin
November 2, 2012: Anna Vasquez is released on parole! San Antonio newspaper story with excellent photos
October 17: San Antonio weeekly The Current story entitled "Innocence case gaining traction."
October 17, 2012: WOAI-TV interviews Anna's mother, Maria Vasquez
October 15, 2012: San Antonio Express-News announces the upcoming parole release date for Anna Vasquez
See WOAI-TV segment about this story aired on the same day.
October 13, 2012: over 100 supporters, advocates and family members attend a screening of the documentary work-in-progress in San Antonio
October 2 2012: Attorney Mike Ware visits the four women in prison
October 1 2012: Attorney Mike Ware meets with representative of the San Antonio District Attorney's office
September 27: San Antonio Express-News editorial supports re-examining the Texas 4 case. read more
September 16 ,2012: San Antonio Express-News runs front page story including an interview with a key witnesses who has recanted. "Nightmare may end for four women" is one caption. . .but when?
September 11, 2012: First work-in-progress screening of documentary in Austin Texas plays to a packed house. Sponsored by ALLGO queer people of color
September 4 2012: Michele Mondo of the San Antonio Express-News Interviews all 4 women for a story update
August 18, 2012: Anna Vasquez is transferred to Lane Murray Unit
After 3 months at Hilltop prison, where she was sent for the Sexual Offender Treatment Program (SOTP) Anna is finally "kicked out" for being unable to participate (because to fully participate you have to admit to a crime) and punished by being given a "G-4" status, which means she cannot be in general population, has to stay in her cell most of the day, and cannot make calls or have contact visits with her family.
August 5, 2012:
Lawyers Jeff Blackburn (from the Innocence Project) and Mike Ware meet with S, the younger of the two girls, (now young women) who testified against their aunt Elizabeth and the other 3 at the two trials. S explains that she was told if she didn't co-operate with her custodial father, she would be sent to jail and/or "have her ass beat." you can watch a video that includes her recantation he
July 8, 2012:
Nearly 8 weeks after being transferred to Hilltop Prison and enrolled in the sexual offender treatment program (SOTP), Anna says, "This is a hard time for me right now." She is refusing to fully participate in the program because to do so means admitting to a crime. She says: " I'm trying to do this as respectfully as I can, without disturbing the class for the people who need this program."
June 9, 2012: Booth at San Antonio Pride attracts and educates supporters, raises funds for the movie.
Some of the family members and advocates meet each other in person for the first time.
Feb 12 2014. Aljazeera in America uses San Antonio 4 case as example of homophobia in Texas story
Jan 7, 2014: The Mystery of the San Antonio 4, investigative piece in the Texas Observer
Dec 6, 2013: Another story explaining the context of "ritual child abuse" hysteria of the 1980s, early 90s
December 4, 2013: Good background story in Slate describes the impact of anti-lesbian bias during the trials
November 20: Press conference with all four women, their lawyers, and reps from NCRJ and IPTX watch here
(scroll down on the above page to watch the full 35 minute conference)
November 20: Finally Free, San Antonio 4 want Full Exoneration--Texas Public Radio story here
November 18, 2013: Cassie, Kristi and Elizabeth are RELEASED from prison with a signature bond. Anna is no longer on parole and no longer has to follow the restrictions of a sex offender. Read more here
October 22, 2013: Writ is filed for all 4 women in San Antonio! read the press release here
April 28 or 29, 2013 Cassie Rivera is transferred to Lane Murray Unit
April 23: Another screening of the documentary-in-progress in San Antonio at Queerfest.
March 16: Barbeque fundraiser organized by Anna and her family raises $ to help the remaining 3 women
March 2: Screening of documentary-in-progress in San Antonio
November 15: Screening of documentary in progress in Austin
November 2, 2012: Anna Vasquez is released on parole! San Antonio newspaper story with excellent photos
October 17: San Antonio weeekly The Current story entitled "Innocence case gaining traction."
October 17, 2012: WOAI-TV interviews Anna's mother, Maria Vasquez
October 15, 2012: San Antonio Express-News announces the upcoming parole release date for Anna Vasquez
See WOAI-TV segment about this story aired on the same day.
October 13, 2012: over 100 supporters, advocates and family members attend a screening of the documentary work-in-progress in San Antonio
October 2 2012: Attorney Mike Ware visits the four women in prison
October 1 2012: Attorney Mike Ware meets with representative of the San Antonio District Attorney's office
September 27: San Antonio Express-News editorial supports re-examining the Texas 4 case. read more
September 16 ,2012: San Antonio Express-News runs front page story including an interview with a key witnesses who has recanted. "Nightmare may end for four women" is one caption. . .but when?
September 11, 2012: First work-in-progress screening of documentary in Austin Texas plays to a packed house. Sponsored by ALLGO queer people of color
September 4 2012: Michele Mondo of the San Antonio Express-News Interviews all 4 women for a story update
August 18, 2012: Anna Vasquez is transferred to Lane Murray Unit
After 3 months at Hilltop prison, where she was sent for the Sexual Offender Treatment Program (SOTP) Anna is finally "kicked out" for being unable to participate (because to fully participate you have to admit to a crime) and punished by being given a "G-4" status, which means she cannot be in general population, has to stay in her cell most of the day, and cannot make calls or have contact visits with her family.
August 5, 2012:
Lawyers Jeff Blackburn (from the Innocence Project) and Mike Ware meet with S, the younger of the two girls, (now young women) who testified against their aunt Elizabeth and the other 3 at the two trials. S explains that she was told if she didn't co-operate with her custodial father, she would be sent to jail and/or "have her ass beat." you can watch a video that includes her recantation he
July 8, 2012:
Nearly 8 weeks after being transferred to Hilltop Prison and enrolled in the sexual offender treatment program (SOTP), Anna says, "This is a hard time for me right now." She is refusing to fully participate in the program because to do so means admitting to a crime. She says: " I'm trying to do this as respectfully as I can, without disturbing the class for the people who need this program."
June 9, 2012: Booth at San Antonio Pride attracts and educates supporters, raises funds for the movie.
Some of the family members and advocates meet each other in person for the first time.
May 17: Against her wishes, Anna is transferred to Hilltop prison in Gatesville TX, in order to be enrolled in the Sexual Offender treatment program (SOTP) as a condition for her parole. Both Kristie (summer 2011) and Cassie (fall 2011) were also placed in the SOTP class at Hilltop, but refused to participate, were punished by being placed on restriction, and finally transferred to a different prison than they had been in for 10 years.
May 6: legal foot-dragging: San Antonio DA has referred the FOI requests from the attorney to the state Attorney General.
March 30, 2012: Attorney Mike Ware visits Kristie at Mountain View unit (Gatesville)
March 26, 2012: San Antonio DA has not responded to any of the FOI requests made by lawyers for the 4 women, even though the deadline to do so has passed.
March 15: Cassie's son, Michael, records a song to his mother in prison, from whom he was separated at age 8
February 21, 2012: Filming continues for the documentary, with an interview with Kristie at Mountain View prison
February 10, 2012. Filming began at Hobby Unit of Elizabeth, Anna and Cassie, for a documentary to be made about their case.
Early February 2012: Attorney Mike Ware visits with Elizabeth, Cassie and Anna at Hobby Unit. (Marlin)
December 2011: Both Elizabeth and Anna were given a polygraph test. Both passed with flying colors. The test was administered by a very reputable professional in Texas..
Fall 2011: Cassie is offered parole, but on the condition she take a sex offender class. She also refuses. She is transferred to Hobby Unit, where she is able to see Anna and Elizabeth for the first time in 10 years.
Summer 2011: Kristie is offered parole, on the condition she take a sex offender class, but she refuses. She is then transferred out of the prison where she has spent 10 years (Lane Murray) placed in Mountain View.
December 2010: San Antonio News-Express publishes an in-depth story about the case. You can read it here
May 6: legal foot-dragging: San Antonio DA has referred the FOI requests from the attorney to the state Attorney General.
March 30, 2012: Attorney Mike Ware visits Kristie at Mountain View unit (Gatesville)
March 26, 2012: San Antonio DA has not responded to any of the FOI requests made by lawyers for the 4 women, even though the deadline to do so has passed.
March 15: Cassie's son, Michael, records a song to his mother in prison, from whom he was separated at age 8
February 21, 2012: Filming continues for the documentary, with an interview with Kristie at Mountain View prison
February 10, 2012. Filming began at Hobby Unit of Elizabeth, Anna and Cassie, for a documentary to be made about their case.
Early February 2012: Attorney Mike Ware visits with Elizabeth, Cassie and Anna at Hobby Unit. (Marlin)
December 2011: Both Elizabeth and Anna were given a polygraph test. Both passed with flying colors. The test was administered by a very reputable professional in Texas..
Fall 2011: Cassie is offered parole, but on the condition she take a sex offender class. She also refuses. She is transferred to Hobby Unit, where she is able to see Anna and Elizabeth for the first time in 10 years.
Summer 2011: Kristie is offered parole, on the condition she take a sex offender class, but she refuses. She is then transferred out of the prison where she has spent 10 years (Lane Murray) placed in Mountain View.
December 2010: San Antonio News-Express publishes an in-depth story about the case. You can read it here