Memorial Photo Book….

It is under discussion/development to publish a hard-cover, memorial photo book of Scott’s photographic works. Katherine has stated that this was something Scott always wanted to do.  As a friend of his, and a fellow photographer….I would like to begin this idea…. and I think it would be fitting to have the last 4-5 pages of this book…be of Scott, and of Scott and Katherine.  If Katherine feels up to sharing wedding photos when this is conceptualized, I think that would be a wonderful thing as well; I know she is the love of Scott’s life and she made him happier than anything, even if it wasn’t as long as they both would have liked.

I will begin the process of formatting an idea, and developing the concept with input from anyone that has ideas or thoughts. If you have photographs that you would like to be considered, either of Scott, or in tribute, please email me (webmaster@scottpiercefund.info) and we’ll make arrangements to see what format the photo is/needs to be, and get Katherine’s input for the final selections. If you have digital photos…please feel free to email me smaller sized ones (just for consideration) and if selected for the book we can obtain a larger format from you that is suitable for printing.

A press release has gone out in the past few days, so we hope to keep Scott’s death, and the legal proceedings for the men responsible, in the forefront until it is resolved, and after that, to celebrate Scott’s life, his love, and his wonderful and unshakable spirit.

-Taj (the webmaster)

News Updates…. October 2008

Friday, October 03, 2008

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http://kob.com/article/stories/S604905.shtml?cat=500

 

http://kob.com/article/stories/s605379.shtml?cat=504

 

http://www.krqe.com/global/story.asp?s=9122246

 

http://www.koat.com/news/17618612/detail.html

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From the Albuquerque Journal:

New Suspect in Yi Killings

By T.J. Wilham
Journal Staff Writer
       A suspect awaiting trial in the shooting death of a newlywed earlier this year may have been involved in five other killings, including the brutal 2007 slayings of a prominent Korean-American couple in the Northeast Heights.
    All the victims were killed in their homes. In addition to the newlywed and the elderly Korean couple, they include a retired elementary school teacher and an interior designer.
    It appears that detectives are prepared to charge Clifton Bloomfield, 39, in the 2007 deaths of Tak and Pung Yi. There were signs that the couple had been savagely beaten and that Mrs. Yi had been sexually assaulted.
    Two traveling magazine salesmen — Travis Rowley and Michael Lee — have already been charged in the Yi deaths.
    Bloomfield became a suspect in the Yi killings earlier this summer when forensic scientists were going through evidence in the double homicide. Detectives entered DNA collected from one of the Yis into a national database and got a match to Bloomfield, whose DNA was on file in a federal database from a previous conviction.
    Police officials confirmed the DNA link.
    The Journal has also learned that police are looking into Bloomfield’s possible involvement in at least three more homicides: the 2005 killings of Josephine Selvage and Carlos Esquibel and the 2004 death of Emery Julian.
    Charging Bloomfield in the Yi and other cases could be a political lightning rod.
    Bloomfield was on probation after an armed robbery plea at the time of the Yi killings and the death of newlywed Scott Pierce.
    Mayor Martin Chávez had cited Bloomfield as an example when he held a news conference in July criticizing judges for sentencing repeat offenders to probation and letting them out on what he called low bonds.
    Police officials said they have no plans to drop charges against Rowley and Lee. But Rowley’s attorney has filed a lawsuit against APD and the District Attorney’s Office claiming they withheld evidence, including DNA evidence against a suspect who isn’t named in the suit.
    That suspect is Bloomfield, who was arrested in June in connection with the death of Pierce, a nurse who had just moved into a home on Hannett NE with his wife a month earlier.
    That deadly attack appears to have been a mistaken identity revenge killing.
    According to court records, Bloomfield, 39, and Jason Skaggs, 35, intended to kill another man who had lived in the home before Pierce and his wife moved in.
    In the other unsolved cases:
    Emery Julian, 39, was found dead with a bullet wound to his head in his Chelwood Park NE apartment in October 2004.
    Esquibel and Selvage were strangled inside their homes three days apart in October 2005. Esquibel was a 37-year-old interior designer and Selvage was an 81-year-old retired elementary school teacher. Police are still testing DNA taken from Selvage’s home.
    At the time of the killings, police said they didn’t believe the Esquibel and Selvage slayings were related.
    Election politics
    District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said Thursday that she believed Bloomfield was involved in the Yi killings along with Rowley and Lee, but declined further comment.
    “It would jeopardize the ongoing investigation if I comment at this time,” Brandenburg said. “There has been no (plea) agreement reached at this time, and it would be inappropriate for me to do so with the investigation.”
    Meanwhile, Rowley’s attorney, Stephen Aarons, learned of the DNA match in the Yi case and filed a motion last month to have the charges against his client dismissed.
    That motion has since been sealed by District Court Judge Reed Sheppard, who is presiding over the cases against Rowley and Lee.
    Brandenburg’s challenger in the Nov. 4 election, Lisa Torraco, has criticized Brandenburg about how she has handled repeat offenders. One of the examples she has cited was Bloomfield, who was on probation for armed robbery at the time he was arrested in connection with the killing of Scott Pierce.
    Bloomfield was also on probation at the time the Yis were killed.
    “I am doing my job, and I am sorry I am running for re-election,” Brandenburg said in response to Torraco’s criticism. “It is critical we handle the case and do the right things for the right reasons, and the election has nothing to do with that.”
    No stranger
    Bloomfield, who was earlier described by police as someone with links to white supremacist groups, is no stranger to law enforcement.
    In July 2007, he pleaded no contest to robbery with a deadly weapon in connection to the Nov. 29, 2005, home invasion robbery of Edwin and Rupe Garcia.
    The plea deal set a maximum of three years of prison. District Court Judge Albert S. “Pat” Murdoch sentenced Bloomfield to four years’ probation and 201 days of community custody, which is similar to house arrest.
    Bloomfield was given “good time” credit and was released from community custody 100 days early. Had he not been given credit, he would have been in the community custody program when the Yis were killed.
    Brandenburg said her office agreed to the plea deal because prosecutors didn’t have enough evidence and would likely have lost at trial.
    At the time of the arrest, police said they had several tips and good victim identification. However, Brandenburg said testimony by the elderly victims would not have held up in court.
    “We had no witnesses, no fingerprints and no DNA,” Brandenburg said. “It was that (the plea) or nothing.”
    According to court documents, Bloomfield apparently gained entrance to the Garcias’ home, which was listed for sale, by posing as a potential buyer.
    He took a tour of the home, took out a handgun and held it to the husband’s neck, then ordered the couple into a storage room and took their wedding ring and other jewelry and valuables along with $140 in cash, according to court records.
    Police have said that Bloomfield has an extensive criminal history in Arizona, where he did prison time. He has multiple arrests in Arizona for burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault on a correction officer and theft by control.

http://www.abqjournal.com/news/metro/03954506037newsmetro10-03-08.htm

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One month update….

Here we are, July 28, 2008. One month.

I found an email in my saved mail from Scott, back in May, just after my husband and I found out we had miscarried twins.  I wanted to share part of that with you, as it shows how warm and wonderful Scott’s heart is, and how excited he was about what was coming in his future with his job and beloved Katherine.

“I am praying for you guys and hope that it all worked out this way for a reason. Positive I always say…POSITIVE You are very lucky to have what you have and how quickly it has all happened looking back. There is much more celebration to enjoy…I am really glad that you include me in your updates — lunch is in our future some day I am waiting this week to get word on being accepted to Roswell (ENMU) for their upscale RN program. I want to get this part done Then afterwards — off to UNM for my BSN. We are moving into our little home we bought this weekend and getting married in Dallas on June 21st. All is going well so far — keep me in your prayers. Keep in touch and let me know next time anything all all takes place in your life! Miss talking to you — we will talk again I am sure soon. Next time I come up I will give you a call. You know what though? I don’t have you guys number, lol! Get that to me if you don’t mind and talk soon! - Scott“

Katherine also informed me, and I read on the Albuquerque Journal this morning, that Clifton Bloomfield and Jason Skaggs are scheduled for arraignment today, and have been indicted for first-degree murder and conspiracy in Scott’s death. 

While we all continue to grieve for Scott, and support Katherine as she recovers, it is a positive sign that the system is moving forward to bring these two….creatures…..(pardon my disdain) to face the consequences of their actions.

Katherine, we’re all keeping tabs, sweetheart. Let us know if you need anything.

Lessons we can all learn….

With this tragedy fresh in my mind….my husband and I have taken a long hard look at ourselves, and our marriage. We’re holding hands more, and an extra hug or kiss going out the door in the morning. Don’t let an opportunity to tell someone you love that you love them….nothing is for certain.

The other thing that has come out of this, information and your electronic profile. If you are married, consider this;

How many times in a day, week, month…do you log into something somewhere? Social sites, your email, networking, to pay your electric or gas bill?  What about your bank accounts? Do you have anywhere online you anticipate receiving money, or a place where charges accumulate per month if you don’t log in and arrange payment? If you have an ebay account or online bill-pay….auto withdrawls, auto-shipments….right now most of us have a fairly big electronic fingerprint.

The loss of Scott has left Katherine to sort through and find things, manage things….and in many ways she doesn’t have any idea what all may be out there, or how to do it.

My husband and I, and we encourage anyone else that is married or cohabitating, even single people really should do this too:  make a list of everything you do online this month that requires a login, password or account maintenance. Get a notepad by your computer and track it for a month. You’ll be amazed at how many times you go somewhere (write down the URL too!) and log in to handle something and don’t think about it. If something happened to you….someone would have to think about it. Just letting a BMG membership or a Netflix membership cycle for a few months on auto pay is a chunk of change.

Make a list.  Exchange with your spouse, a sibling, a cousin, a best friend. Agree to be the contact point in case of emergency, have that list available somewhere. Update it every few months. Whenever you add an account, delete an account, change your status….. someone will need to know that if they have to help you in time of need, or if something should happen.

Have the acronym “ICE” in your phone, next to someone’s name, someone local, and someone in your family. It stands for “In Case of Emergency”. Paramedics and emergency teams look for that if they find your phone on you.

Do little things to make sure you can be cared for. Do little things to care for those in your life, every day. Each day is precious. Each breath a gift.  My thoughts and wishes are with Katherine….and my heart continues to weep for her, and for Scott.

News Posts: June 28-July 5, 2008

 KRQE.COM: June 28, 2008:

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A man who had moved into a northeast Albuquerque neighborhood two weeks ago was shot killed early Saturday morning at his new home.

The shooting happened around 3:30 a.m. Saturday on the 11000 block of Hannett Avenue NE, near Indian School Road between Eubank and Juan Tabo boulevards.

The victim, Scott Pierce, 40, was rushed to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he died.

 

KRQE.COM: July 1, 2008:

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A fatal shooting in a northeast Albuquerque home early Saturday morning was apparently an unusual case of mistaken identity.

Jason Skaggs, 35, and Clifton Bloomfield, 39, were arrested today and charged with several counts for the shooting death of Scott Pierce, 41.

Pierce and his new wife had just moved into a house on the 11000 block of Hannett Avenue NE a couple of weeks ago.

According to police, Skaggs and Bloomfield were apparently after someone who had lived at the house a couple of months ago.

 

KRQE.COM: July 2, 2008:

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Clifton Bloomfield, who allegedly killed an innocent newlywed after being recruited to rough up one side of a love triangle, is no stranger to home invasions, according to police and court records.

Bloomfield is suspected of killing Scott Pierce early Saturday morning after breaking into the home occupied by Pierce and his wife of six days. The couple has just moved into the home on Hannett Avenue NE, and Bloomfield apparently was looking for the previous tenant, police said.

A criminal complaint alleged Bloomfield, 39, had been recruited by Jason Skaggs to beat up a man suspected of having an affair with Skaggs’ girlfriend. Bloomfield had been working for Skaggs, 35, who confessed to investigators that he asked Bloomfield to break some limbs of the paramour, the complaint stated.

Three years ago Bloomfield was charged with kidnapping and breaking and entering for tying up a 70-year-old man and his wife in their Los Ranchos home. Bloomfield pleaded guilty to lesser charges and served less than a year in jail.

District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said opted for a plea deal because she just didn’t have a case. The couple couldn’t remember what happened and couldn’t identify Bloomfield, she said.

 

KOB.COM July 2, 2008:

TODAY TWO MEN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING THE WRONG PERSON SATURDAY. CLIFTON BLOOMFIELD’S BOND IS SET AT 2-MILLION DOLLARS CASH ONLY… WHILE JASON SKAGG’S IS SET AT 2-MILLION DOLLARS CASH OR SURETY. POLICE SAY THE TWO WENT TO A HOME ON HANNETT, NEAR MORRIS, TO CONFRONT A MAN THEY DIDN’T KNOW HAD MOVED OUT. 40-YEAR-OLD NEWLYWED SCOTT PIERCE AND HIS WIFE HAD BEEN LIVING THERE FOR THE LAST MONTH. BLOOMFIELD IS ACCUSED OF BREAKING IN THROUGH A KITCHEN WINDOW… AND THEN KILLING PIERCE WITH A SHOTGUN BLAST AFTER STARTLING PIERCE’S WIFE.

Video: http://clipsyndicate.com/publish/video/635514?wpid=3933

Memories of Scott- by Taj McNamara

Scott and I met online, and our friendship grew over the 3 years that have passed since.  I was thrilled to hear he had found Katherine and to touch base with him as their relationship grew and developed.

Scott’s loss is tragic and unfair. However, I know him to be a selfless person who loves doing good things and taking care of others whenever he can. He gave his life protecting Katherine. I think that was a way for someone as big-hearted as Scott to go, despite how much I wish he hadn’t been put in such a position.

My memories with Scott go to many conversations, live and online, web-chats, web-cams, laughter, goofiness and true friendship and support. I still can’t believe he’s gone…and I’m sure that is even more a prevalent feeling for Katherine.

Peace, my dear friend Scott. Katherine-we’re here for you, beauty.

-Taj & Tom McNamara

Welcome.

This blog is created as a forum for discussion  and support, primarily to Katherine Bailey-Pierce as she comes to terms with the recent and sudden loss of her husband, Scott Pierce.

Scott was killed on June 28, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM by an intruder.

Scott and Katherine had only been married 6 days at the time of his death.

Please visit the website: http://www.scottpiercefund.info for further information and updates, or to donate.