The murder of Elizabeth Reiser and Michael Vaca’s description of the perpetrators have become one of the most controversial cases of our time. This article will discuss Vaca’s description, her abduction and murder, and the claims of his mother, Sheila Davis, that her son was behind the killing. In particular, this article will address the statements of Sheila Davis, who stated that Matthew was the killer.
Vaca’s description
The first Europeans in Texas arrived in the year 1528, mostly Spanish, and lived among native tribes for six years. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was one of the survivors of the expedition and wrote a journal called La Relacion detailing his experiences, which included vivid descriptions of the native tribes. Cabeza de Vaca’s journal was a hit with both native and European readers and became a classic of Mexican literature.
Vaca’s description of Big Bend is vague, but nevertheless illuminating. In his account of the region, he crosses the Pecos River and marches through wind-swept plains. He also sees lofty mountains and valleys in the northern part of the region, and follows an ancient Indian trail that crossed the Pecos at Sheffield Crossing and Horsehead. These descriptions do not convey a full picture of the landscape, but do give us a good idea of the people’s culture and beliefs.
Vaca’s description of the tribes of southern Texas and the Zuni islands confirms recent speculations about dense pre-contact Indian populations. It also reveals that native groups were highly diverse, and there were several languages spoken. This diversity is reflected in the descriptions of the various tribes. It is interesting to note that the only survivor of the Narvaez Expedition, Cabeza de Vaca, describes his time with De Charruco in La Relacion.
Though many details about the natural history of the region are not of use to us, the opossum reference, for instance, is reassuring for the authenticity of Relacion. The area surrounding Relacion was sparsely populated, with immense forests and vast deserts. Compared to our modern landscape, the landscape of the Relacion is reminiscent of pre-conception European wildernesses.
Vaca’s sexual assault of Brandi Hicks
During the trial, Hicks faced a number of charges. She was charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, robbery, kidnapping, rape, and stalking. Vaca also suffered a severed trachea and stab wounds to the scalp. Vaca’s trial lasted about five weeks and was marked by heightened emotions from both sides.
In the aftermath of the trial, Matthew Vaca pleaded guilty to several charges involving his crimes against Brandi Hicks. His guilty pleas saved her from the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison as well as a variety of other sentences on other charges. Brandi Vaca has remained low-profile since the trial. She still lives in her hometown of New Philadelphia and runs a photography business. She is the proud mother of three children.
The victim’s family and friends were distraught at the horrific crime. Matthew Vaca was arrested, and he confessed to the crime. The police also recovered Brandi’s body from the crime scene. Matthew Vaca was out on probation at the time of Elizabeth’s death, and the homicide investigation began. Matthew Vaca’s case continued to develop with the help of several incriminating witness statements.
In the car, Brandi and Elizabeth were towed to a field. Brandi tried to escape, but the assailant dragged her out of the car. He stabbed her three times. He also slit her throat. The man then stabbed the other woman with a knife. Brandi played dead to save her life. However, the victim’s killer managed to escape the courtroom.
