Susan Caudillo - Journey to Justice

Thanksgiving has always been...

nospam@example.com (Susan Caudillo) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:42:57 -0800

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thanksgiving has always been one of our favorite holidays, one that we all look forward to. The great feast that everyone helps put together, the special table settings and decorations and just getting together with the family to spend some "quality time" together, makes it a great day. This year was no exception. We gathered at our home as has been the tradition for the past 7+ years, all 29 of us! We had great weather here in San Diego so a table was set out on the patio for the "kids". It is our tradition to gather around the table before the meal and join hands in a prayer that our brother Joe says for us, and we thank Jesus for the many blessing in our lives, and ask Him to watch over us and our family that cannot be with us. It is my favorite moment of Thanksgiving day.

Each Thanksgiving that we celebrate also reminds us of the very last time we were together with Laci in 2002. Laci is always missed immensely by our family, but especially at Thanksgiving time. We all have many fond memories of her from that last Thanksgiving holiday with her that we will keep forever. We will continue to celebrate and give thanks for all of the many gifts we have in our lives despite the tragedy and loss we have experienced. Laci would want nothing less.

Thank you for your generous support this past year and from our family to yours, may you enjoy the rest of the holiday season!

Susan Peterson-Caudillo

A girl in our community....

nospam@example.com (Susan Caudillo) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:32:36 -0800

On the morning of February 14th my husband and I were leaving our local grocery store and as we were heading out the door I noticed a missing person flyer taped to the door. The photo was of a teenage girl and when I read the details I learned that she was a classmate of my daughter and was last seen at 7:10am (about 20 minutes before school started) approximately 300 yards from the school's main entrances.

I pay more attention to fliers since Laci went missing and our family experienced this first hand. This one touched very close to home and our immediate community. I know the panic and worry that set in when the parents, extended family, neighbors, and friends realized Amber Dubois never made it to school that day.

It has been over two weeks now and there are literally no leads to her disappearance. Amber is said to have been very eager to be at school that day as she was going to be getting her baby lamb for her FFA class project. She also had Valentine gifts that she purchased the night before for friends she was to see at school that day. She had never run away in the past and it would be "very out of character" for her. They have a website www.BringAmberHome.com and a toll-free tip line 888-55AMBER.

Please take a look at their website, print out some fliers and put them around your community. Amber could be anywhere in the country by now. Remember the fortunate outcome for Elizabeth Smart and her family!

Our prayers go out to Amber, her parents, and family. We pray that she be will be found soon - safe and unharmed.

Susan & Family

Thanksgiving...

nospam@example.com (Susan Caudillo) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:58:13 -0800

Thanksgiving was a special holiday because we all looked forward to spending it with Scott & Laci. We could always count on them making the trip to San Diego to be with us. Every Thanksgiving, Scott and Laci had Christmas presents in tow. That year they gave us all a beautiful oil burning Christmas candle tied with a beautiful sparkly snow flake bow that I still have tied the same way Laci presented it to us.

We were all very excited to see Laci as she was 6 months pregnant and we were going to see her belly showing for the first time. The ladies in the family gathered for a beautiful baby shower in her honor. We showered her with gifts, ate all of her favorite foods and deserts, and took photos that we will treasure forever. The excitement of welcoming baby Conner to our family was on everyone's mind and heart that Thanksgiving.

Ed & I hosted the Thanksgiving dinner at our brand new home. We had just moved in the week before, so it was perfect because we could stretch the Thanksgiving table the entire length of the room and all 26 of us sat at one long beautiful table! For me, Thanksgiving of 2002 was one of the very best. It was special because no one in our family missed the gathering that year. We are thankful for that because it was the last time that most of our family would see and hug Laci.

We will treasure those special memories of Thanksgiving 2002 with Laci & Scott forever. As we gather again this year we wish you and your family a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving in 2008!

Susan
Scott's Sister

On my latest visit...

nospam@example.com (Susan Caudillo) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:47:55 -0700

On my latest visit to see my brother he thanked me for something that I did for him recently. He had previously said it was not necessary and that he did not want me to go out of my way to do it. Of course I felt I knew better and did it anyway.

In the past 3 months since the blog began we have received hundreds of comments from staunch supporters, general well wishers, and previous skeptics. These skeptics admitted that after reading the Featured Facts on our web-site and/or the trial transcripts, they now know that Scott was wrongfully convicted. I personally have been very inspired and touched by reading all your comments of compassion and encouragement over the past couple of months. I felt that Scott needed to read them also, so I copied 30 or so pages of comments at that time and mailed them to him. On my very next visit the first topic of conversation was how much he enjoyed reading them and that I was right in knowing that they would lift his spirits and give him a good dose of encouragement. He said something to the effect that a "Sisters know best".

I cannot express how much it means to me and all of us in the Peterson family to know that we are not alone in our belief and your words of encouragement and support give us the fortitude needed to continue this "Journey to Justice".

Susan

Susan's Family Update

nospam@example.com (Susan Caudillo) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:58:49 -0700

We are often asked, 'How is everyone in the family doing?" So I thought I would give an update on my family. This year my husband Ed and I celebrated 20 years of marriage and our two daughters are the light of our lives. They have kept us very busy for the past several years as they are both involved in competitive soccer. Our oldest daughter graduated from high school this past May and will play soccer for the women's team at her college. Our younger daughter just promoted from 8th grade and will be a freshman in high school this fall.

This summer we are mostly "staycationing" (stay at-home vacation) with family and friends every chance we get. It is a welcomed break from all the week-end travel we were doing for soccer tournaments.

My husband and daughters have truly been my refuge during the past five and a half years. They have kept my spirits up through the darkest days of Laci & Conner being missing and then found in SF Bay, the intense media coverage of Scott before and during the trial, and the unbelievable guilty verdict the jury handed down. It does not seem right to me at times that my life and family are so happy and doing well and Scott is sitting unjustly on death row. But then I remember that we are not helpful to Scott if we are wallowing in self-pity and loathing those responsible. I believe he is comforted to know that we are all doing well and continue to live life as he, Laci and Conner would have lived. We are a strong united family that will endure and see justice in the end.

My support of my baby brother is unwavering.

Susan