As ABC’s 20/20 aired a program on Carmina Salcido, the memories of Ramon Salcido who killed seven people in a row in 1989 came flashing back. The victims in the event were Mrs. Salcido, her two daughters, his mother in law, two sister in law and his boss, all 7 people were murdered. Murdered seems such an inadequate word for the killings and it would be more appropriate if I call it “Slaughter.” He cut the throats of the victims and as if that was not enough he took the blade and slashed lifeless bodies. I am still at a loss of some, some psychological or social theory to explain what happened on that bleak day of April, 1989.

Ramon had let the idea to consume him that his wife has an affair with his boss at winery. He spent the night before the killings took place, drinking alcohol and being high on cocaine. As he finished his job he again drank champagne as if he has accomplished a goal. Carmina survived Ramon Salcido’s slayings perhaps because she resisted the cutting and Ramon was too busy to have checked whether he had butchered Carmina properly. The blade missed Carmina’s carotid arteries by millimeters. She was discovered because there was some movement in her body.

Carmina obviously has deep scars on his psychology. She has written a book on the incident, titled “Not Lost Forever”. The book went on sale about 10 days ago. Carmina has grown up with one dream; her father would come and would ask an apology for what happened that day.

Ramon Salcido