Alumna Murder Charge Incites Action

Alumni from around the world are standing behind Norma Patricia Esparza ’93, who has been charged with murdering her alleged rapist, through a series of petitions, protests and websites aimed at setting her free. Her case has also prompted an outcry from women’s advocacy groups, who believe that she has been wronged by a legal system unjust towards victims of sexual assault.“Thirty Exeter alumni have written letters on her behalf to the District Attorney, and others have donated to her defense fund,” Susan Peterson ‘93, a friend of Esparza, said.“Some have reached out to friends or colleagues in the media that may be able to shine a light on this case and Patricia’s character, and many alumni, who have written letters and done research, have just reached out to ask how they can help or volunteer," Peterson continued.Esparza, a professor at a university in Geneva, Switzerland, was arrested last year and charged in November for facilitating the gruesome murder of Gonazalo Ramirez, a man who she alleges raped her in her college dormitory in 1995. She was jailed after rejecting a plea deal from prosecutors that would have reduced her sentence from murder to voluntary manslaughter. Her trial is set for next month.Prosecutors state that on a night in 1995, as a student at Pomona University, Esparza went to a Santa Ana bar with a group of friends and pointed out Ramirez, identifying him as the man who raped her.Several of her friends, including Esparza's ex-boyfriend and associates, followed Ramirez into the early hours of the morning, and he was later found dead. Esparza told The Guardian that her aggressive ex-boyfriend killed Ramirez in revenge. Some individuals, many of them Exeter alumni, plan to peacefully protest her conviction at a pretrial hearing this Friday. According to the Facebook group, 31 people have signed up to attend.Supporters of Esparza’s innocence have rallied for her cause, and many of her close friends and fellow alumni have been especially involved in the case.An organization, called Set Patricia Free, is aimed at raising awareness for Esparza, providing information for those interested in her case and working to prove her innocence. A Facebook and Twitter page have been created, and many have posted on social media platforms with the hashtag “#setpatriciafree.”The page facilitates donations to Project Hope, which is based in Geneva and supports victims of sexual violence. Additionally, setpatriciafree.com directs visitors to a petition aimed at dropping the murder charges, which has received over 4,000 signatures.Some alumni, supporting her tirelessly through the whole process, have sent Esparza letters and visited her in jail. Peterson suggested that current Exeter students might hold a candlelight vigil for Esparza’s trial, in order to literally and figuratively shine light on the cause and display on-campus support.Alumni who knew Esparza were surprised by the conviction. “We had our 20th year class reunion, so we've been more in touch than usual this past year as a class. Patricia was well liked in our class. She is a loving and kind person, and the reaction by our classmates has been one of unified shock that something like this could happen to her,” Liz Witham ’93 said.She said that social media has allowed alumni to communicate easily in order to support Esparza.“When she was first incarcerated, there was a massive effort to raise awareness about her case. Friends have started a Facebook page and a website to help get the word out. Her petition was shared widely amongst our classmates.Classmates have been working behind the scenes to help in a number of different ways,” Witham said.Many have expressed interest in supporting Esparaza through her trial, by attending hearings and protesting throughout the process. For her pretrial conference tomorrow in Santa Ana, California, many friends plan to “stand in solidarity with [Esparaza], wearing purple ribbons,” according to the event description on Facebook.Russell Washington ‘89, acknowledged what he sees as a very supportive community of Exeter alumni. “There are a variety of alums who are trying to assist in any way they can, whether it be simply by showing up to support as part of a crowd, lending specific professional expertise or whatever else they feel they can offer,” he said.Due to the close group of PEA graduates, Esparza has been able rely on close friends and many fellow Exeter graduates as a significant source of support. Some alumni, supporting her tirelessly through the whole process, have even sent Esparza letters and visited her in jail. “You definitely feel like you are part of an extended Exeter family, even 20 years after graduating,” Liz Witham ‘93 said.Peterson said she spoke for all alumni in saying how important friends from Exeter will remain, even 20 years after graduation.“The friends you are making at school today will be among your very best friends throughout your life,” she said. “To be a part of this community is something that I treasure.”Witham continued, “in a situation like this, it helps immensely to have a support network. Seeing the response from my classmates has made me realize that people in the Exeter community stand by you for life and will come through for you in the hardest of times.”Corrections: This article previously claimed that "Several of her friends, including her then-boyfriend, followed Ramirez into the early hour of the morning, and he was found dead." The party that followed Ramirez was Esparza's ex-boyfriend and his associates, not her then-boyfriend and her friends. This has been updated.