Birthday letter from a father
Now the years mark the time that we've been missing you

Dear Maggie,

Saturday is the fourth anniversary of your birth. It should be a very joyous occasion, but it is not. Saturday will not be highlighted by a cake and presents. Nor will you, a happy little girl, be with your adoring family.

Instead, we will mark the day as we did last year - without you. You still lie buried in your little coffin, wearing your Winnie The Pooh jumper and clutching Elmo, as you have been since Jan. 20, 1998.

Our lives aren't happy on this, or any other day. Yet, the person who was found guilty in this horrible case of fatal child abuse, Alma Guadalupe Quintanilla, remains to this day free to sleep in her own bed and to come and go as she pleases, with no enforceable restrictions.

I, your father, however, have been sternly warned to avoid her hometown, Mercedes, as my presence makes your killer uncomfortable. Despite this alleged discomfort, Alma has been seen here in Harlingen, dining and shopping. Believe me, that makes me more than uncomfortable. It makes me sick.

She has been able to meet each and every pathetically low bond set by Judge Menton Murray Jr. to allow her to return to society. Her appeals process has been delayed time and time again by her attorney, Larry Warner, who wants to be our new state district judge.

We, your family, can only accept her request for an appeal. We, your parents, cannot appeal the outcome of your fatal beating and shaking attack.

We cannot appeal the inadequate 10-year sentence imposed, incredibly, by a jury who saw your beautiful body cut into lab specimens by the coroner. We have no input to influence the appellate court judges to rule on this ridiculous appeal by Ms. Quintanilla. We can only hope for a speedy decision in this case.

That's pretty unrealistic, as nearly a full year has passed since Alma's conviction. If she is denied a new trial, she will go to Gatesville to live among her peers (we hope). If she does get a new trial, I hope she faces life in prison and receives it. To deny a felon 30-40 years of freedom is justice for one who takes 70-80 years of life from a child like you.

This topic of conversation is never far from your family, as we are often asked, "Aren't you glad it's all over?" or "That woman is still in jail, isn't she?" Many are shocked that Alma has never spent one night in jail and it's not over, nor will it be over soon.

I would strongly hope that no other father finds himself in my shoes or his child in yours. Your brother misses you terribly, but we're so grateful to have him with us in our home again and to be allowed unrestricted access to him, thanks to the gracious permission granted to us by Child Protective Services.

Our pledge of allegiance ends with the phrase, "...with liberty and justice for all." It's difficult for me to recite anymore, having been denied both. Even if Alma eventually gets to prison and serves a long sentence, it will not last as long as the time we will miss you.

Love,

Your father,

Mark Dittman

Mark Dittman is a resident of Harlingen, Texas.