Angry parents seek justice

Their son, Tommy Bacon, was murdered in the early morning hours of Jan. 20, 2002 at a Redwood City taqueria, and two and-a-half years later there are still no suspects or leads in the case.

In an effort to bring attention back to their son, who would celebrate his 24th birthday tomorrow, the Bacons are offering $20,000 of their own money for information leading to an arrest. The Redwood City police department is also offering a $5,000 reward.

Tommy, a 1998 graduate of Sequoia High School, was hanging out with his friends at El Grullense restaurant at 2401 Middlefield Road when three shots rang out - one hitting him in the head.

Tommy was on life support for four days before he died.

"He would grip my hand. But the doctors said that was just a muscle reflex. On the day we took him off life support he opened his eyes, but the doctors said that was just a reflex, too," Alan Bacon said yesterday as he held back tears.

"I've cried every day since he died," he said.

On the night Tommy was shot he was with Caitlin Greenberg, 19 at the time, who wanted some late night tacos, the family said. Greenberg was slightly injured by shattered glass from one of the shots.

Redwood City police showed optimism early on, saying Greenberg was a cooperative witness. When police speculated the shooting was gang-related or retaliatory in nature the Bacons scoffed.

"Tommy never hung out with anybody that was dangerous. He was a church-going kid that everyone loved. We don't buy the gang story," Sue Bacon said.

The case has bounced around from detective to detective over the years Sue Bacon said yesterday. Currently Detective Mark Pollio is in charge of the case.

"We have a person of interest, but not enough evidence," Pollio said yesterday. "People don't want to tell us the whole truth. We've run out of leads."

The case is not actively being investigated, Pollio said.

Meanwhile, Amber Frey takes the stand in Redwood City today a few miles from the Bacons' San Carlos home on Cherry Lane.

"All the money and manpower going into this trial and it shouldn't even be in this county," Sue Bacon said.

The Bacons did say they send their condolences to the family of Laci Peterson. "We know what they are going through. Our son is dead, too. We want justice just like they do."

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail at silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.