Tribute To A Friend

It has been 20 years since Tito was murdered.

Roberto (Tito) Gonzalez

You try not to associate the person you love with the way they died but sometimes that is impossible. Tito’s death is forever part of his life. He had moved to Florida from NYC not long before he was one of six victims in what was called “The Deltona Massacre” or “The Xbox Murders.” It’s hard to focus on his humanity when his murder is made part of true crime shows and creepy YouTube stories, murder blogs and podcasts. I am not giving detailed descriptions of the murders but have shared links that tell the story.

The trials are still ongoing and I’ve realized keeping silent about the horrifying loss of my friend has not made me feel better.

It is a nightmare that has not been able to fade away. It is still in the news today because of Florida laws about the death penalty. Four men were convicted with clear evidence. Two of the men were given life sentences.

The two others, I am not naming them, were the real monsters. One man was the devil and the other his servant. Both were convicted and given the death penalty in 2006, but those sentences were not unanimous. The issue was not over their guilt but over whether Florida would execute them. The sentencing trials are back on because of a change in Florida’s law that no longer required a unanimous decision. From The Daytona Beach News Journal, Feb., 2024 (I have replaced the names with the initial of the surname):

“Prosecutors plan to try again to sentence V. and H. to death but a date has not yet been set.

V., 47, and H., 37, were convicted and initially sentenced to death in 2006 for their roles in the 2004 Deltona Xbox mass murder in which six people were killed.

But their death sentences were later struck down and their cases sent back to circuit court for resentencing.

Panels of potential jurors were summoned to the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand last year. A jury panel was sworn in on April 20, the same day that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law requiring only 8 of 12 jurors to recommend the death penalty for a judge to be able to impose that punishment.

When attorneys began jury selection the law required a unanimous vote.

Circuit Judge Randell Rowe III denied the state’s request to use the new law and instead ruled that the trial would proceed under the old law requiring a unanimous jury recommendation for death.

Prosecutors through the State Attorney Generals Office asked the 5th District Court to intervene. The 5th District Court ordered on April 27 a stop to the resentencing and on May 11 issued a ruling saying the resentencing should proceed under the new law requiring only an 8 to 4 recommendation for death.

But the delay led to scheduling conflicts with jurors and witnesses.

Rowe then declared a mistrial on May 16.”

So I have told you how it ended, let me tell you about how wonderful a person Tito was and how much he meant to me. All I have are my mental images as I lost any photos I had of him in a roof leak after his death. Maybe that’s better, they are sweeter that way.

Tito was the kind of guy that if you were his friend, you were family.

He was the son of the super for an apartment building in Inwood, NYC. I met him after moving into a sixth floor apartment there. A group of friends would hang out in my place playing games on my N64 and smoking weed. I can see him in my mind, I look to my right and he is there, smiling and kicking my ass at Mario Kart.

One Halloween I was very sad at the loss of a pet, sick and miserable, I did not go out with the group of friends to celebrate. But then there was a knock at my door. It was Tito dressed in full drag. He smiled that grin and did a twirl, then was on his way.

He did little things like that, quietly, something just meant for you. I had gotten an art show in a tiny local gallery. My first solo show. It was opening night and I was anxious as fuck standing at the door just before the start time. When of course Tito appeared. He hugged me and whispered in my ear, “I am so proud of you.” Then handed me a bag of weed, smiled and went on his way.

There was the big blackout of 2003, to get out of the heat the group of us went to the building’s roof, each bringing something. I brought candles and Oreos, Tito brought weed and an Uno deck. Someone else brought wine and we had a wonderful night under the stars.

When Tito moved to Florida I remember our goodbye. I told him I would miss him and we joked about me visiting for some Florida sunshine. I was really happy for him, he was so excited, it was going to be a good change, steady work and a chance at a new start, something he needed.

We hugged and he gave me that grin. I am so lucky to have that memory, Tito will always be smiling for me.