"The victim just happened to be my brother, it could have just as easily been anyone else", Doug Anderson's family express safety concerns for Humboldt County and Arcata citizens

Three family members, who each read a letter they wrote and two others written by family members and friends of Douglas Anderson.

Patty Henderson, Doug's sister barely made it through the three letters. She talked about her elderly parents and how their mom felt guilty for encouraging Doug to move to the west for better opportunities, "which instead led to his death." She broke down when she was reading how her dad has only a few years to live and that he would spend his last few years grieving for his son.

"The victim just happened to be my brother, it could have just as easily been anyone else, " said Patty Henderson. She said that prior to watching the testimony of Juan Ferrer, her feelings about the length of the sentence were not as strong as they were now. "I witnessed his quick temper, his body language and saw his disrespect for you Judge and the prosecuting attorney. "I fear for others in Humboldt County" she said wondering what would happen if someone else crossed Ferrer's path and said something he might find offensive. This concern for the safety of Humboldt County citizens was expressed by others as well.

"Douglas Anderson was my little brother, he was my only brother." His older brother Don Anderson broke down and DDA Rees had to finish reading the letters. He mentioned the hateful flier placed on their car when they came to Humboldt County to get the first plea deal overturned.

"I cannot get the image of Doug's last minute out of my mind," said Don Anderson. "How do I move forward? I'm angry because the truth was easy for Mr. Reavis to find." He then referred to the facebook post where Doug stood up for Marriage Equality. This is the link to that post.
http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2015/05/family-of-douglas-anderson-releases.html

"Doug would have been performing music for a gay friend's wedding had he lived," said Don Anderson. "The defense is not interested in the truth, they only wanted to spin a take to get Mr. Ferrer off." Don Anderson said that the defense and Ferrer "minimised the LGBT community."

Doug's oldest sister Donna Johnson could not be in court today. Just as she was recovering from back surgery, she got a call from her elderly father, who had to tell her that her brother had been killed. Donna Johnson was like a mother to Doug. Her letter was very detailed and in a very personal way, she described the devastating loss that Doug's death has had on his family.

She said she prayed for the souls of Juan Ferrer, Nicholas Stoiber and Sophie Rocheleau and asked God to grant them forgiveness.

Don's wife, Patty Anderson was the last to read. In her own letter, she spoke very eloquently and powerfully about the anguish the family went through with the defense smearing the name of Doug in the past year and a half, , how former DA Paul Gallegos hid facts from them, would not communicate with them, tried to railroad them into accepting the plea deal he wanted to offer and how he refused to give them current DA Maggie Fleming's contact information.

"I tried very hard to find forgiveness," she said. "I found forgiveness elusive." Citing the former prosecutor and DA Paul Gallegos who she singled out in scathing words, the defense smears and the complete lack of remorse by Juan Ferrer as reasons.

Patty Anderson talked about the "irreparable damage" done to "Doug's reputation" by the "resulting publicity in the Humboldt County DA's election." And she added, "No thanks to Paul Gallegos who argued against us in court."

She mentioned delay after delay or Paul Gallegos not offering them any explaination. All this has been detailed in my coverage last year when Paul Gallegos prosecuted the case. Patty Anderson said she found out about Nicholas Stoiber's and Sophie Rocheleau's plea deal in the media, not from Paul Gallegos.

When they found out that the new DA was handling the case, "for once we were thankful for the delay." Pointing to DDA Roger Rees, "I want to publically thank him for restoring our faith in the justice system."

She mentioned how the family had to sit in court and watch Ferrer call Doug "a rabid jackal."

"He (Ferrer) fits the classic definition of a sociopath and I fear for the citizens of Humboldt County."