No angel, but no less a victim

Sheriff's Det. Jonas Shipe crafted his pitch carefully. 

He stuck to the basics: He told reporters how the victim's decomposed body was found in a plastic bag, how he may have  been a soccer player in Van Nuys. And yes, that he had a criminal history.

Shipe didn't think it necessary to add that the victim was also an illegal immigrant. "You don't want to dirty him up too bad," he said. "People won't care about it."

His efforts were wasted. Reporters passed on the story anyway.

And the killer of Carlos Villavicencio is still out there.

The problem is commonplace. Many, if not most, urban homicide victims have some criminal baggage. A few are even suspected killers themselves. Public and media interest in such cases is minimal. Yet the killers are no less dangerous, and the victims no less dead.

Detectives trying to get attention for such cases walk a hard road. But Shipe, and partner Angus Ferguson, kept trying. They contacted the Homicide Report after failing with other news outlets.

They said Villavicencio was shot. His body was found some days after his death in an apartment carport at 25917 Narbonne Ave. in Lomita on Aug. 18. Residents smelled something, and told the manager.

Shipe and Ferguson were left with little to go on, except the chilling realization that somewhere out there is a calculating murderer who sealed his victim in plastic.

To find that killer, they first need to figure out who exactly Villavicencio was.

As with many illegal immigrants, Villavicencio's existence was documented only by his police rap sheet--a potpourri of drug and property crimes.

He had given police a medley of AKAs and birthdates. Was he really Carlos Villavicencio, Hispanic male, age 25? Shipe and Ferguson don't really know. They don't know where he lived, what country he was from, who knew him, what places he frequented.

For that, they need help from the public.

Somebody must have known him. He did not sneak around selling meth and stealing cars all the time, they said: Sometimes he played soccer. (They know because he was arrested once as he was driving to a game in Van Nuys in a stolen car. And they have one police mug shot where he is wearing a soccer uniform.)

Shipe and Ferguson know Villavicencio is not the kind of victim whose death gets attention. Homicides that get covered by the media outlets in Los Angeles are more likely to involve children, honor students struck by a random bullet, white middle-class people killed in places where few homicides usually occur.

That is, press interest gravitates away from the epicenter of homicide and toward the margins--like covering earthquakes in Topeka, or hurricanes in Spokane.

But a detective can't just give up. Villavicencio "is the kind of victim no one cares about--probably flopping in a room with 10 other people, going from place to place, selling dope, stealing cars," Ferguson said. But "there is a killer.... He will kill someone innocent next time."

Above, Shipe, left, and Ferguson make their pitch. They are at (323) 890-5543 or (323) 890-5545.

Comments

[ruben]

Thank You Arriana

It looks like there are some intelligent people still left in Los Angeles. That was my point Mark that this is not an immigrant bashing site this is the HOMICIDE REPORT. People from all over log on to see daily homicides and solved crimes and even crimes in certain areas. What they don't do is write comments about our immigration policy or border policy or even political point of views, and thats what I meant Mark , so it looks like it DID NOT fall on deaf ears and like i said before if you do want to do that log onto Lou Dobbs .com I heard his site is filled with people like you.

[b relevant]

b respectful: Ironic name by the way, considering you're being disrespectful by categorizing all illegal immigrants as Mexicans. Oh, and there are also a lot of legal citizens that are just like this guy, so what's your point? If you feel so inclined as to post a comment, at least try to make sense. Or if you want to post about your stance on illegal immigration, there are other blogs you can comment on.

[b respectful]

There are many illegal immigrants that are just like this guy was. Who knows how many more will cross that border? Instead of allowing all those people here, they should go fix up mexico instead so they can have a better place to live.... in mexico

[Ariana]

You people are missing the point: whoever killed this person is out there and will most likely kill again. The next time he stikes, the victim might be a US citizen without a crimincal past, so even if you don't care about solving this crime for the purpose of bringing justice to this particular victim, you might consider caring about preventing this killer from striking again.

[Mark]

This person was not a hard working immigrant just minding his business. By all accounts, he was an illegal alien who led a life of crime most probably preying on the immigrant communities. Just him having numerous aliases, birth dates and nationalities indicates this guy was no good and up to no good. I dont think one person even cares hes dead.

Selling meth? Excellent! A model citizen! Stealing cars? Outstanding!!! A role model for all!!!!!!!! I wonder what else he was doing? No doubt to better his community!!!!!!!!

He had no business being here once he was convicted of the first crime, and if he was back in his country of origion, he would either be alive and hopefully getting his life in order, or he would be dead from another criminal as HE chose a life of crime and bad luck tends to follow those types of people.

And stop your ranting about the KKK and Latino bashing. Your accusations fall on deaf ears and untill you rise above the temptation to use slogans, then there is nothing that can be debated.

I'm also an immigrant and love my country.

[ruben]

How Dare Some of You

This is USA and our city of Angels regardless of this mans status or history he was murdered and it gives you (negative commentors only) people NO right to judge this mans life or say good rittens. This site is intended for people to share condolences and stories and even people interested in their communities and helping change and improve there areas. If you really want to bash immigrants or our justice system go to a Lou Dobbs site or a KKK site and waste your day posting ignorant comments with those people.

If any one of you is murdered in LA I am very interested in your story I'm not going to sit hear and just say things like "oh well what are they doing out so late" or "oh well they had it coming to them look at there past" . Use your head people it's time for a change, and ever since 9/11 all you been crying about is illegal immigrants from the south this and that, but where were your cries before that when all these "mexicans" were cleaning your houses and watching your kids and picking up your garbage. Latinos ARE NOT THE PROBLEM in this country, we have many issues that need fixing yes, but stop being brainwashed by Lou Dobbs and Bill O'reilly use your head and own judgement. Latinos LOVE THIS COUNTRY MORE THAN MOST AMERICANS, they fight to get here and fight in the military and work anywhere to provide for there families. Do not let this man or any immigrant be murdered and just turn the other cheek because remember people ,unless your a native american indian, ONE TIME OR ANOTHER YOU OR YOUR FAMILY WERE IMMIGRANTS, and i dont think you would like it if we said things like that if you were murdered.

[Michelle]

I think that the saddest part of all is that police are trying to spread the word about a victim that most don't care about and that no one wants to listen beyond the words criminal or illegal alien. You hear about someone who uses her daughter as a shield and slashes her with a box cutter and people think that the police shouldn't have shot her and how the police should have tried harder to negotiate with her, but you don't see the media showing detectives nearly begging to get attention on this case. What will the media do if and when the time comes and the person, who committed this crime, commits against someone more media friendly?

[ramon alonso]

IMMIGRANT OR NOT..NO HUMAN BEING DESERVES TO BE MURDERERD. THESE INSENSETIVE REMARKS ARE FROM IGNORANT PERSONS THAT HAVE NOT LOST LOVEDONES TO VIOLENCE

[NahnCee]

IF he'd been deported the first time he was arrested he'd have saved how much taxpayer money in jail and police time, victim aggravation, and might, possibly, even stil be alive. I hate it that the police are having to spin their wheels trying to track down who-ever off'd this individual. Sometimes the deus ex machina *is* death.

"Hard-working immigrants" indeed.

[Alejandroe84]

A Very sad story, and I hope whoever had done such a devastating blow, to have to pay for what he/she has done. Someone out there I'm sure cares for this person, perhaps he has family members, friends, confidants, etc. What ever the case may be, this has got to be a devastating blow to the community.

May he rest in peace, and hope that justice will be served.

[buz algood]

You hit the nail on the head. I don't care about this creep. In fact my only reaction to this article is great anger at the elite in this country who have left our border open for their own political and/or financial gain and let the rest of us deal with the consequences. THROW THE BUMS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, that refers to the illegals and the politicians.

[Mark]

An illegal immigrant was still allowed to be here after committing so many crimes?

It breaks my heart he met an unfortunate end.