Marlon's Mother

Once we got over to the UM campus, I saw Marlon's linebacker coach, Randy Shannon, and I asked him if it was true, what I heard. And he said yes, and then I just lost it. I was just baffled. I was sitting there thinking who would want to hurt him because he was not that kind of person where, you know, he would make someone want to hurt him, let alone take his life.

Once we got over to the UM campus, I saw Marlon's linebacker coach, Randy Shannon, and I asked him if it was true, what I heard. And he said yes, and then I just lost it. I was just baffled. I was sitting there thinking who would want to hurt him because he was not that kind of person where, you know, he would make someone want to hurt him, let alone take his life.

I just couldn't put it together. He was not that kind of person where he would make someone want to hurt him.

I just couldn't put it together. He was not that kind of person where he would make someone want to hurt him.

Tim Wanika attended North Miami Senior High School, where Marlon went. They were friends. Once I came home from work, and Tim Wanika was there with him, but she was pregnant. And when I saw her, I thought that she was pregnant from Marlon, and I kind of panicked. At that time, we called her T for short. And I asked him, is T your girlfriend? And he said, no.

Tim Wanika attended North Miami Senior High School, where Marlon went. They were friends. Once I came home from work, and Tim Wanika was there with him, but she was pregnant. And when I saw her, I thought that she was pregnant from Marlon, and I kind of panicked. At that time, we called her T for short. And I asked him, is T your girlfriend? And he said, no.

He said he didn't have a girlfriend, and it was not his baby.

He said he didn't have a girlfriend, and it was not his baby.

I actually worked with LeBrent Dennis at Doral Golf Resort and Spa. shared an interest as far as UN football, and sometimes we would sit at the same table in the cafeteria. I knew that LeBrant and Timonika were a couple, and I knew that Marlon and Timonika were friends, but I never thought of it being any issues between any of them whatsoever.

I actually worked with LeBrent Dennis at Doral Golf Resort and Spa. shared an interest as far as UN football, and sometimes we would sit at the same table in the cafeteria. I knew that LeBrant and Timonika were a couple, and I knew that Marlon and Timonika were friends, but I never thought of it being any issues between any of them whatsoever.

When I was 16, I got pregnant with Marlon. I got my GED because I had a second child while I was in high school, and a couple events happened. Marlon was two years old at the time. Gary was 10 months when their dad was murdered. Marlon's dad got into a fight and his friend pulled out a gun and he shot him in the chest twice.

When I was 16, I got pregnant with Marlon. I got my GED because I had a second child while I was in high school, and a couple events happened. Marlon was two years old at the time. Gary was 10 months when their dad was murdered. Marlon's dad got into a fight and his friend pulled out a gun and he shot him in the chest twice.

There was a lot of media coverage surrounding the deaths of Marlon and Temunica.

There was a lot of media coverage surrounding the deaths of Marlon and Temunica.

Next year, I'm moving into the apartment area, and my mother's really concerned about whether something like this can happen to me. Word had gotten around very quickly, and I just couldn't talk to anybody. I just, I couldn't deal at that point. When the detectives came to my home, they wanted to know, like, if Marlon had any enemies, if he had gotten into any fights or arguments, did I know of?

Next year, I'm moving into the apartment area, and my mother's really concerned about whether something like this can happen to me. Word had gotten around very quickly, and I just couldn't talk to anybody. I just, I couldn't deal at that point. When the detectives came to my home, they wanted to know, like, if Marlon had any enemies, if he had gotten into any fights or arguments, did I know of?

And the answer was no. There was nothing I could tell them because Marlon was, he was a great kid.

And the answer was no. There was nothing I could tell them because Marlon was, he was a great kid.

I couldn't think of anyone that would have wanted to bring him any harm whatsoever.

I couldn't think of anyone that would have wanted to bring him any harm whatsoever.

When Marlon and Earl and these kids, when they were in college, they came back to the community and they got these kids that, you know, they took under their wings to take them off the streets to, you know, keep them from getting in trouble and stuff like that.

When Marlon and Earl and these kids, when they were in college, they came back to the community and they got these kids that, you know, they took under their wings to take them off the streets to, you know, keep them from getting in trouble and stuff like that.

For a few weeks, no one was arrested for their murders. And at that point, I'm still trying to figure out, why have I lost my kid?

For a few weeks, no one was arrested for their murders. And at that point, I'm still trying to figure out, why have I lost my kid?

Joseph worked with me at Doral. And LeBron Dennis also worked at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa.

Joseph worked with me at Doral. And LeBron Dennis also worked at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa.

It's not easy raising your children in government housing projects. To keep my kids safe, I usually encourage them to have their friends come to our house. Marlon was a happy child. He had a lot of friends. The kids, they felt safe, I think, you know, being in my home.

It's not easy raising your children in government housing projects. To keep my kids safe, I usually encourage them to have their friends come to our house. Marlon was a happy child. He had a lot of friends. The kids, they felt safe, I think, you know, being in my home.

When Detective Romani called me and told me that it was LeBrant Dennis, I was surprised. I worked with this guy. I used to talk to him about my son. I just couldn't put it together. It was hard.

When Detective Romani called me and told me that it was LeBrant Dennis, I was surprised. I worked with this guy. I used to talk to him about my son. I just couldn't put it together. It was hard.

For my son or my children to help other people in an abusive relationship, that was like, it was the norm for them to do that because that's how they grew up. When I was told that he moved her to get her out of the abusive relationship, I was not surprised because I had done the same thing. for someone years before.

For my son or my children to help other people in an abusive relationship, that was like, it was the norm for them to do that because that's how they grew up. When I was told that he moved her to get her out of the abusive relationship, I was not surprised because I had done the same thing. for someone years before.

In the media coverage, it was portrayed as though Marlon and Temonika were a couple behind LeBrant's back. They were friends, and he was lending a helping hand to someone that asked him for help. He did exactly what I would have done. And with that being said, he lost his life for it.

In the media coverage, it was portrayed as though Marlon and Temonika were a couple behind LeBrant's back. They were friends, and he was lending a helping hand to someone that asked him for help. He did exactly what I would have done. And with that being said, he lost his life for it.

That was a very, very painful time for my family and me.

That was a very, very painful time for my family and me.

LeBrent Dennis took a lot from me. Not only did he take my son, but he took the life out of me for a very long time. And LeBrent Dennis needs to pay for that. The trial started. I was there every single day. My family was there every day.

LeBrent Dennis took a lot from me. Not only did he take my son, but he took the life out of me for a very long time. And LeBrent Dennis needs to pay for that. The trial started. I was there every single day. My family was there every day.

The trial was hard. I didn't look at any of the pictures. I didn't want to see them. You know, I listened, you know, to the testimony that everybody gave. His defense was... that Joseph could have been the one that committed the murders because it was his shotgun. I mean, it was, you know, heart-wrenching to hear that.

The trial was hard. I didn't look at any of the pictures. I didn't want to see them. You know, I listened, you know, to the testimony that everybody gave. His defense was... that Joseph could have been the one that committed the murders because it was his shotgun. I mean, it was, you know, heart-wrenching to hear that.

One morning, I made breakfast, and I called out to the kids to come down to eat. And I had about 15 kids come down. After that, I would check the rooms, and I would make enough food so that everybody could eat.

One morning, I made breakfast, and I called out to the kids to come down to eat. And I had about 15 kids come down. After that, I would check the rooms, and I would make enough food so that everybody could eat.

I think the trial lasted five or six weeks, and then the jurors went out to deliberate.

I think the trial lasted five or six weeks, and then the jurors went out to deliberate.

The verdict and the sentencing was justified. He got exactly what he deserved. The Supreme Court overturned the sentencing in all death penalty cases where the outcome is not 12 and 0. I felt like, OK, we're being murdered again. LeBrant chose to kill my kid. He nearly killed my family, but we survived it. We're going back to court to have the death penalty reinstated.

The verdict and the sentencing was justified. He got exactly what he deserved. The Supreme Court overturned the sentencing in all death penalty cases where the outcome is not 12 and 0. I felt like, OK, we're being murdered again. LeBrant chose to kill my kid. He nearly killed my family, but we survived it. We're going back to court to have the death penalty reinstated.

That's what we're fighting for now. I don't want people to just dwell on the way my son passed because I do enough of that for everybody. I try to remember the person that he was, the happy person that he was.

That's what we're fighting for now. I don't want people to just dwell on the way my son passed because I do enough of that for everybody. I try to remember the person that he was, the happy person that he was.

What I would like to say to the parents out there, teach your kids the right way. I don't regret the fact that, you know, I taught my kids to care about other people. And it may have cost Marlon his life, but that was a choice that his killer made.

What I would like to say to the parents out there, teach your kids the right way. I don't regret the fact that, you know, I taught my kids to care about other people. And it may have cost Marlon his life, but that was a choice that his killer made.

When Marlon was a little boy, he loved football. He would play football on the streets like with the other kids. As a child, Marlon always wanted to go to college.

When Marlon was a little boy, he loved football. He would play football on the streets like with the other kids. As a child, Marlon always wanted to go to college.

And he told me that he was going to go to UM and he was going to play football.

And he told me that he was going to go to UM and he was going to play football.

I had to actually end up working a second full-time job to save the money because I did not want to stay in government housing with my children. I wanted better for them and they deserved better. I gave it my all. Marlon was probably 17 when we bought our house and we moved to Miami Gardens. You know, the neighborhoods that we came from, they were dangerous neighborhoods. But we survived them.

I had to actually end up working a second full-time job to save the money because I did not want to stay in government housing with my children. I wanted better for them and they deserved better. I gave it my all. Marlon was probably 17 when we bought our house and we moved to Miami Gardens. You know, the neighborhoods that we came from, they were dangerous neighborhoods. But we survived them.

We came through them. And my kids, they thrived. Towards the ending of high school, he never went on any other school visits, just the University of Miami. So he was just that confident. When he started taking the exams, the ACT's, He actually took that exam maybe about seven or eight times. He couldn't get the scores that he needed to get into the University of Miami.

We came through them. And my kids, they thrived. Towards the ending of high school, he never went on any other school visits, just the University of Miami. So he was just that confident. When he started taking the exams, the ACT's, He actually took that exam maybe about seven or eight times. He couldn't get the scores that he needed to get into the University of Miami.

And so one of his coaches from North Miami Senior High suggested that he go to a military school so that he can learn to study and get his grades up. And Marlon went to Hargrave Military Academy, which is in Chatham, Virginia.

And so one of his coaches from North Miami Senior High suggested that he go to a military school so that he can learn to study and get his grades up. And Marlon went to Hargrave Military Academy, which is in Chatham, Virginia.

He got his grades. He got the score when he took the exam. Because of his athletic ability, he was offered the scholarship to play at the University of Miami. Marlon was the first child in our family, period. to go to college. You know, everybody was proud and he was the happiest kid on earth. Marlon grew up with Earl Little.

He got his grades. He got the score when he took the exam. Because of his athletic ability, he was offered the scholarship to play at the University of Miami. Marlon was the first child in our family, period. to go to college. You know, everybody was proud and he was the happiest kid on earth. Marlon grew up with Earl Little.

They met, I think, when they were like maybe in second grade and they were best friends. They were like inseparable. The plan was that Earl and Marlon were going to go to University of Miami together.

They met, I think, when they were like maybe in second grade and they were best friends. They were like inseparable. The plan was that Earl and Marlon were going to go to University of Miami together.

He told me he was gonna go to UM and he was gonna play football. Saturday morning, April 13th, I started paging him and I just kept paging him and he never called me.

He told me he was gonna go to UM and he was gonna play football. Saturday morning, April 13th, I started paging him and I just kept paging him and he never called me.

In his third year, Marlon, Earl, Ray Lewis, and another young man lived in one of the housing complexes on the UM campus. Marlon was working towards getting his liberal arts and science degree. I would go over to the University of Miami to watch him practice. And then after practice, we would, you know, spend a little time together and talk.

In his third year, Marlon, Earl, Ray Lewis, and another young man lived in one of the housing complexes on the UM campus. Marlon was working towards getting his liberal arts and science degree. I would go over to the University of Miami to watch him practice. And then after practice, we would, you know, spend a little time together and talk.

Saturday morning, April 13th, I got a phone call from one of Marlon's ex-girlfriend's mother. She asked me about Marlon. And I told her, I said, well, Marlon's at school. And then the next phone call that I got was from Nate Brooks' mother. She asked me where Marlon was. And I said, Marlon's at school. And it was like she wanted to tell me something, but she didn't.

Saturday morning, April 13th, I got a phone call from one of Marlon's ex-girlfriend's mother. She asked me about Marlon. And I told her, I said, well, Marlon's at school. And then the next phone call that I got was from Nate Brooks' mother. She asked me where Marlon was. And I said, Marlon's at school. And it was like she wanted to tell me something, but she didn't.

And I started, you know, having these weird feelings. And I started paging him, and I just kept paging him, and he never called me.

And I started, you know, having these weird feelings. And I started paging him, and I just kept paging him, and he never called me.