Larry Mendonca

Early in the morning of the 14th of February, 2017, Larry Mendonca, age 75, went out to play a round of golf, wasn't feeling well, called his son Lawrence in Texas.

Early in the morning of the 14th of February, 2017, Larry Mendonca, age 75, went out to play a round of golf, wasn't feeling well, called his son Lawrence in Texas.

Larry Mendonca didn't comprehend what was happening to him as he walked this fairway, played his round of golf. It was only later when the doctor intervened, rushed him by air ambulance to Honolulu. Heart attack, then quintuple bypass surgery. And then a stroke. It was difficult for me to see how vulnerable he was at that time. Because he'd always seemed like the invulnerable man.

Larry Mendonca didn't comprehend what was happening to him as he walked this fairway, played his round of golf. It was only later when the doctor intervened, rushed him by air ambulance to Honolulu. Heart attack, then quintuple bypass surgery. And then a stroke. It was difficult for me to see how vulnerable he was at that time. Because he'd always seemed like the invulnerable man.

It was sheer cussedness, probably, that pulled him back from the brink.

It was sheer cussedness, probably, that pulled him back from the brink.

Larry spent months in physical therapy to build up the strength to attend Darren Gallus' trial, scheduled for the summer of 2017. But it was delayed yet again. And Darren, during all this time? Out and about. This time we found him at Sun Austin's soccer game. That's him wearing the black T-shirt, gold chain, and wraparound sunglasses. And in the blue shirt, his wife, Shireen.

Larry spent months in physical therapy to build up the strength to attend Darren Gallus' trial, scheduled for the summer of 2017. But it was delayed yet again. And Darren, during all this time? Out and about. This time we found him at Sun Austin's soccer game. That's him wearing the black T-shirt, gold chain, and wraparound sunglasses. And in the blue shirt, his wife, Shireen.

Larry and his wife Toshi were there at the soccer game, too. Always are. And what Larry felt in his chest was more rage than physical pain.

Larry and his wife Toshi were there at the soccer game, too. Always are. And what Larry felt in his chest was more rage than physical pain.

Then, late 2017, a breakthrough. The prosecutor felt his investigators had finally and fully eliminated Ryan as a suspect, which now only left Darren in their sights.

Then, late 2017, a breakthrough. The prosecutor felt his investigators had finally and fully eliminated Ryan as a suspect, which now only left Darren in their sights.

Darren agreed to plead no contest to assault. You had a murder case here. No contest to assault sounds like not very bad.

Darren agreed to plead no contest to assault. You had a murder case here. No contest to assault sounds like not very bad.

And on January 29th, 2018, 12 years after Sandra's murder, we were with Larry outside the courthouse just an hour before the plea hearing, and as you might have guessed, he wasn't happy. There's no justice. What are the chances that thing could fall apart over there this morning?

And on January 29th, 2018, 12 years after Sandra's murder, we were with Larry outside the courthouse just an hour before the plea hearing, and as you might have guessed, he wasn't happy. There's no justice. What are the chances that thing could fall apart over there this morning?

as Darren formally changed his plea from not guilty to murder two to no contest to assault one, was not final resolution, but more delay. The court granted Darren four more months of freedom before sentencing. And Larry? Well... I'm very mad. I'm very upset. There was once a time, just after Sandra's murder, when Larry and Toshi were hoping to raise Sandra's boys.

as Darren formally changed his plea from not guilty to murder two to no contest to assault one, was not final resolution, but more delay. The court granted Darren four more months of freedom before sentencing. And Larry? Well... I'm very mad. I'm very upset. There was once a time, just after Sandra's murder, when Larry and Toshi were hoping to raise Sandra's boys.

As he left court, Darren was protected by a phalanx of friends and relatives, which included the two grandsons. Darren declined to speak with us, but his defense lawyer, Michael Green, did stop to talk.

As he left court, Darren was protected by a phalanx of friends and relatives, which included the two grandsons. Darren declined to speak with us, but his defense lawyer, Michael Green, did stop to talk.