P.O. Box 4116 - Yuma, Arizona 85366-4116 ~ Telephone: 928-246-4856
THE HISTORY
Amancio Corrales, a 23-year-old gay man who performed as a female impersonator under the name Dalila, was found murdered and floating in the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona on May 6, 2005.
On Friday, May 27, 2005, The Amancio Project was borne to address this violent crime.
Two years later, with the murderer walking the streets of Yuma and several people knowing who he was but never coming forward, the assailant was arrested as the result of an anonymous tip prompted by the efforts of The Amancio Project. After a lengthily court process - a little over a year - a plea bargain was arrived at.
The murderer was sentenced to eight years and nine months for Attempted Manslaughter with Aggravated Circumstances and ordered to pay restitution to the court and to the Corrales family. A sentence The Project and the family found far too lenient but had to accept.
The focus of The Amancio Project is now turning its eyes toward bringing attention to other bias-based crimes as well as highlighting other serious crimes in Yuma County (murder and child molestation) in an effort to solve these crimes by keeping pressure on the authorities and keep them in the public eye.
Michael H. Baughman
928-246-4856