My Story By Martha Sanchez

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Maria Guzman poses for a picture with her young son Adrian.

My name is Martha Sanchez, mother of Maria Guzman. I would like to get some help from you to try and catch the two men who murdered my daughter.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005 in Kansas City, Kan. Maria Guzman was riding in a car with three friends when she was shot and killed when the car she was in exchanged gunfire. This stemmed from an earlier incident, where a girl lost a fight with another girl and was seeking revenge.

My daughter was shot first. The car had 25 gunshot holes. Maria died instantly. Three of her friends were also shot. Maria's friend Michael, who was also shot, is now going to be a quadriplegic. Joshua, another friend, was shot five times (once in the face). He is doing OK but he will need some surgery to repair his face. Jodie, 17, was also shot five times in the chest. He was very lucky to survive. One of the four girls in the Explorer (all of whom were shot) also died.

One Suspect Caught, One Still At Large

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Maria Guzman shows off her cap and gown from her high school graduation.

Juan Carpio and Javier Mendoza have been charged with the murders.

Carpio and Mendoza each were charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the death of Maria and another girl, 17-year-old Diana Tovalin, who was also a victim in the shoot-out.

According to local media reports, in May 2006, Juan Carpio pleaded guilty to escape and first-degree burglary in Pueblo, Colo. He took a plea bargain that will keep him locked up for a total of 14 years. But to this point, he hasn't faced charges for Maria's death.

Meanwhile, Javier Mendoza has evaded the authorities for two years since the death of Martha's daughter, Maria.

She was my oldest daughter; very responsible, a good mother and a hard worker. Maria was employed at American Family Insurance as an agent. She was well known for helping the Hispanic community receive better insurance rates. On the weekends, without being paid, she went to the houses of clients to write out policies.