Salvador Chavo Marquez
REAL kindness in and of itself seems to come easily to very few people. I am not talking about basic manners, like saying “thank you” or asking someone “how are you?”. I am talking about that true, altruistic generosity which so few of us posses as human beings. I am talking about the difference between a man who gives someone in need five bucks for a meal-or some hooch- versus the man who is willing to take that person into their own home, give them a place to lay their head, and help them to get back on their feet. The man who shows that true, selfless, raw, human compassion is indeed rare. And it is likely that so few of us will ever have the comfort of experiencing such generosity. One could consider themselves truly blessed if their life is lucky enough to be touched by someone who shows such selflessness. Because it is not a common thing nowadays, let’s face the facts. Sixty-two year old Steven Clark of San Clemente, California was one of those rare human gems. One who wouldn’t think twice about sharing whatever he had with someone in need for the sole reason that they are, as he is, simply a fellow human being.
Stephen Clark, when described by friends and community members, was described as a “generous soul”. Stephen was loved dearly by his three children and was well-known throughout the eclectic beach side town for his unrelenting giving nature. Stephen would regularly help members of the community who were 
“down on their luck” by inviting them into his home and providing a temporary roof over their heads so that they could get “back on their feet”. People would describe Stephen as an “Angel” who helped them in their time of need. Stephen made a true difference in the lives of people. It is safe to say that anyone who was touched by this individual’s generosity was lucky that their life had crossed paths with a soul so giving, kind, gentle, and compassionate.
In 2004, Salvador Chavo Marquez was working as a technician for a satellite service provider when he and Stephen’s lives crossed paths. Salvador came to Stephen’s home to install a new system and the two struck up a friendship which grew closer over the next few years. So in 2006, when Marquez was struck by some “bad luck” and had nowhere to call home, Stephen generously opened up his own home to the young man. Despite the fact that much of Marquez’ “bad luck” was in reality, the consequences of his drug abuse and alcohol dependency, Stephen believed that Marquez was simply someone who had lost his way and needed a helping hand.
So, if you were Marquez, would you be grateful to have a buddy like Stephen? And how could you possibly re-pay your friend in return for staying at his home rent free? Maybe you would repay them by cleaning the house, cooking meals, fixing things that are broken. But would you ever think to steal from that person? Someone who has been nothing but kind to you? Well, that’s what Marquez did to repay Stephen’s generosity. In July 2006, Stephen caught Marquez red-handed, stealing items from his home. Stephen was a kind man, but make no bones about it, his kindness was not a sign of weakness. When Marquez was caught stealing, probably with plans of “clucking off” the items to get his dope on, Stephen asked him to leave his home immediately.
Marquez left the home and moved into a local motel with several other roommates. On the evening of August 5th, 2006, at 10:30 pm Marquez returned to the San Clemente home to pay Stephen a visit. Entering the home through an unlocked sliding glass door located on the side of the house, Marquez made his way through the residence until he was confronted by Stephen. At Stephen’s side was his faithful pooch, a spunky and loving poodle mix who went by the name of Charlie.
It was at that point when Marquez immediately attacked Stephen with two knives, brutally stabbing him over ninety-eight times. Marquez, the cowardly piece of garbage, then turned his attention to Charlie, who he maliciously stabbed sixty times. It would come to be known at the trial that Marquez was so brutal in his attack against Stephen and his dog, Charlie, that both knives which were used in the crimes and left at the scene were found, broken in pieces. Marquez then proceeded to stomp and kick Stephen as the dying man lay, defenseless. Then, like a scampering rat, Marquez ransacked the home, taking every item of value which he could get his grubby hands on. Coin collections, computers, jewelry, and cash were among the numerous possessions of Stephens which Marquez quickly packed into Stephen’s pick up truck. The truck was so filled with Stephen’s belongings that the camper shell could not be closed. Marquez then drove off, leaving Stephen’s garage door opened.
Marquez returned to his motel room where he met up with a roommate who noticed that there was blood on his shoes. When questioned by the roommate, Marquez was reported to have told him that he “got in a fight” and added,“don’t worry, the guy’s not amongst the living anymore”.
Marquez then convinced that same roommate to help him out by taking the truck, loaded with the stolen possessions to Los Angeles. The roommate did not think twice when offered a crisp, new “c note” for his troubles. So, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumber made their way into the night. But they never made it to Los Angeles. What with all that money burning a hole in their pockets, they decided to get drunk and careen around in the stolen truck. Those two dumb asses were so wasted that neither one of them noticed that they were low on fuel and were subsequently forced to pull over on the side of the freeway when the truck eventually ran out of gas. At that point, they decided to take a nappy-poo.
At about 1:00 am, Marquez and his roommate’s beauty sleep was rudely interrupted by a California Highway Patrol Officer who immediately suspected the two of being intoxicated. Marquez was still wearing the same blood stained shoes which he had on earlier that evening when he brutally murdered Stephen and Charlie the pup-pup. When Marquez was questioned in regard to the blood on his shoes, he stated that the blood came from some fish which he had caught and cleaned. The Officer suspected that-dare I say-”something was fishy” and carted Marquez off to the county jail to sort some things out, holding him on DUI charges for the time being. Stephen’s stolen car and items were impounded.
As the new day began, neighbors of Stephen’s noticed that his garage door was open and his truck was gone. As the day progressed and no one had heard from Stephen, his friends grew concerned as to his whereabouts. This prompted Stephen’s neighbor, who happened to reside with Stephen’s step-father to enter the residence in attempt to make contact with Stephen and check on his well-being. What they found would be much more than they could ever fathom.
They found Stephen and Charlie the dog, laying on the bathroom floor of the master bedroom. Stephen’s throat had been slashed, and his teeth were broken from being kicked and stomped in the face. Stephen’s hand laid, outstretched, on his trusty companion as though he was trying to comfort the little pooch. Think about that one people. Damn.
Authorities were called to the scene and almost immediately linked the stolen truck to that scumbag Marquez. When initially questioned, Marquez insisted that he had “borrowed” the truck from Stephen with his permission. When Marquez was further questioned as to why his bloody shoes matched imprints left on Stephen’s head, Marquez then switched his story up, claiming that he had found Stephen at the San Clemente residence laying on the floor and kicked his head because he “wanted to see if he was still alive”. Forget CPR, calling 911, or any emergency first aid, just kick them in the freaking head. Genius.
This little cowardly bastard would continue to insist that he never killed Stephen, or Charlie. It was not until he actually took the stand that he changed his story for the third time, this time claiming that he had went to Stephen’s home on the night of the murder with intentions to apologize for stealing from him in July. Marquez claimed that he asked Stephen if he would be able to move back in, but then, conveniently “blacked out” and had no recollection of slashing the man, stomping the man, slashing his dog, or stealing more than a truckload of Stephen’s personal items. Before sentencing, Marquez would state that he felt “a lot of guilt and a lot of remorse”. He would elaborate by taking full responsibility for his actions, of course, with this statement:
“I feel like some demon came over me and controlled my body and caused the actions that I took”
Please. Marquez was charged with felony murder in the first degree, one felony count of animal cruelty, and one count of unlawfully taking a vehicle. On April 24th, 2009, Salvador Chavo Marquez was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. This quote, by Charles H. Spurgeon reminds me of Stephen, now that his life has been taken so selfishly at the hands of someone who he had shown nothing but kindness or generosity toward. For the many people who knew Stephen, and were lucky to have had their hearts touched by this wonderful man, his friends, his community, his children, his family, Stephen and what he stood for lives on forever. People are forever changed for having the privileged of knowing this man.
“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”
Amen to that. Rest in peace Stephen and Charlie. Burn in hell Salvador Chavo Marquez. You took something from this world which is so rare and valuable and it is truly a tragedy that you and a man like Stephen Clark’s lives ever crossed paths.
Does Salvador Chavo Marquez Belong In Hell?
- Yes (99%, 335 Votes)
- No (1%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 337
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38 Comments »
It’s so sad when someone is repaid for their kindness with brutality and violence. No wonder no one wants to get involved today. Mr. Clark sounds as if he were a kind, decent, loving man and the world will be a much darker place without his shining star. RIP Stephen, you will be missed by your family, friends, and community. Nicely done Poptart.
Being the realist that I am (though I might be called a cynic by some), I will go forward and say that there are VERY VERY FEW good people in this world. Having been down and out a time or two in my life, I can definitely say that those good people are far and few in between, and what lies between them are those who will use and abuse others, for whatever their sick purpose. It is truly a SHAME that this disgusting person ended the life of one of those rare people who chooses to open himself up to others. Other people with care in their hearts can turn and see the example of what happened to Mr. Clark, and harden themselves to the plights of their fellow mankind. Because what is the point of helping, if your repayment comes at the hand of such malice?
This person, this murderer is in my mind a very good candidate for permanent removal from society. We as a people have put down more deserving dogs than this guy.
Philanthropic generosity and wisdom need to go hand in hand.
You don’t really know someone until you live with them.
This is exactly why there are so few helpful people today. My husband and I met when he took me in as a teenager a few years younger than him (we did not begin seeing each other until years later when we had not been living together for some time). We took people in often before having children. After our son was born, we got more “picky” and started running background checks, but we still did it. The last time it was an old friend who was like a little sister to me—18, 8 months pregnant, with her boyfriend, needing a place to stay….things were great for a couple of months, and I was there when her baby was born—as time went on it became known that boyfriend had been a dry alcholic and was becoming not so dry. Because of his drunken behavior we gave hima warning- he was not allowed to drink in our house or to be drunk in our house or around our children. Reasonable, right? Well, when he broke that rule and it came time for them to leave, he attacked my husband—fists and words only, but it was bad, and our children were in our home when it happened—and we said NEVER AGAIN—so now we have become one of the majority- unwilling to help in that manner…..and it makes me sad—but I cannot risk exposing my children to such things again.
It really sucks that when you are trying to help people out when they are down on their luck that they repay you like that!! WTF? is wrong with people these days??
Stephens family should be proud of the wonderful person Stephen was and that his compassion for those down and out will be remembered forever – so sorry for them that his life and his beloved pups life had to end in such a horrific way…Marquez is a total sack of selfish shit.
Wow. My first good cry reading a column at Pysih.
I’m currently staying at the home of my best friend, who has taken me in for the second time after my husband beat the crap out of me. This time he broke my jaw in two places, and I just got the wires out, and NO I AM NOT GOING BACK. She took me in without any reservations at all because SHE is one of these selfless people, always up and friendly and happy, and she never asked for a thing.
May the POS who took this good man’s life rot for the rest of his scummy existence in a jail cell wedded to Bubba, and spend the rest of ETERNITY in HELL. And may God Protect Every Good Samaritan.
I had to sit in on the closing arguments of this trial for a class I am taking. Let me just tell you…it was the most gruesome 3 hours of my life. The pictures of the crime scene and the details of the murder were shocking and horrendous. I seriously did not know that humans were capable of that kind of torture and decapitation. You think what you see on TV or the movies is bad? WOAH. I couldn’t eat for days, let alone think about anything else for months. I later learned that the judge offered all twelve jurors counseling for the things they had to see and hear. His poor family was sitting in front of me, crying and consoling one another each time the defense attorney got up to make excuses for him.
That fat disgusting slob (he is enormous) didn’t move a MUSCLE the entire time. He just looked down ashamed, as he should be. He knew what was coming to him, and the rough eternity he has ahead of him. He’ll wish he were back in prison while he’s rotting in hell.
poorly written.
why thank you kim – perhaps you can do better? why don’t you write up a story and I promise it will get published, as long as the subject matter is suitable. of course, none of you literary critics ever rise to my challenge, because those who can, do, and those who can’t just criticize those who do.
-editor
Go to hell.
Errr.. that was for kim, not you Max.
Thanks to Mazzi, my sentiments exactly. :)
And thanks to Max :)
And kim? I can admit there are some typos, editing on my part could always be better but what the hell? I wouldnt go so far as to call this story “poorly written”. And frankly, someone who cannot even capitalize a sentence doesn’t have a whole lot of credibility when dishing out writing advice to others. Honestly.
But really, submit something and show us all how it should be done. I am interested to see the high quality of your well written prose. LOL. I won’t hold my breath though……
Poptart, I think you did a great job as well. Don’t listen to Kim. If there were any typos or misspellings, I didn’t notice them because the imagery and story-telling were so good.
those who can’t write, criticize.
good job, poptart. go play with yourself, kim.
:’)
Thank you, eternal. I appreciate that.
We all have a natural style when it comes to writing and style is simply the way in which one puts words together when they write. Different readers have different ideas about what constitutes good writing style. However, one must never forget that the goal in writing is not to sound intelligent, but to get your intelligent point across. Poptart1, you did an excellent job in getting several intelligent points across in your own style of writing. Keep up the good work! =)
Well Kim, I don’t see you pulling a Pulitzer Prize out of your ass. So unless you take up Max’s challenge, I suggest you go play in traffic.
I didn’t think it was poorly written. I like the pictures too.
poptart, I was actually thinking as I read this that i enjoyed they way you put the story together. Once I got to the part where he was found I couldn’t help but well up with the image of this man attempting to console his dog. Its rare for me to get teary eyed while reading articles at work. This was a well thought out and well written piece. Thank you.
I also miss admin’s style. Do you think he will make a guest appearance and do another write up someday? i loved his random links. :P
I agree. Your big on criticizing others work. Though we are yet to be dazzled with anything you have written.
I say put up, or shut up. Or are you only good at judging others work?
Poptart is one of our best writers and alway puts across all aspects ( emotional, physical, criminal ) of every story she has published.
Kim’s just a tool, good job poptart1. from someone who lurks but does not comment often…
Damn, Kim is a real turd! I am a published author and I thought it was a fucking brilliant write up!
Well, now there is 1 less person who will help anybody….
Many of us will help family and friends who are practically family, while less of us will help distant friends.
When I was in college I was helped by a friend of a friend – a.k.a. a total stranger who I had a friend in common with me. While I crashed on her floor I had to play by some rules 1. I leave when everybody leaves 2. I don’t come in until somebody else is there. No key…. but I was grateful for the help…..
The funny thing I find when helping people is that when helping with a need people are grateful, even if the help does not completely meet the need! While I may be “rich” compared to these people, they don’t ask me to “sacrifice just a bit more” as to meet their needs.
BUT
When meeting someone’s wants, suddenly there is such an attitude change…. Yes I am “rich” because I do not smoke, I occasionally drink and party – such activities are not something I expect to do every day (week or even month for that matter!) Thus i find myself keeping friend who need food, work done, etc, but the ones who always seem to need a few buck for cigarettes or a trip to Mickey D’s seem to appear and disappear…… partially because they always have another need and also because I resent their jealousy – no they should not have a computer as powerful as mine while they have a cigarette hanging out of their mouth and I don’t UNLESS they earn both!
So before helping someone, I ask, can they take care of themselves? Do they really need the help or do they want the help so they do not have to make sacrifices? (If someone is asking me for food while they have a cigarette hanging from their mouth they are not hungry enough for my help)
there is a special place in hell for people like salvador…
This story is so tragic. I believe there a a lot of good people but scum like this makes fewer folks go the extra mile (ie, not just write a check, buck in a cup, etc).
The whole friggin thing makes me sick….like most of these stories do….but that the poor man was found with his hand on the dog ” like he was trying to comfort his trusty companion” who had also been stabbed 3,000 times just really takes the taco for me. What the FUCK is wrong with some people??!! And for drug money??!! Take it up the ass on a dark street corner like other junkies for christ sake!! W…T…F…???
My mother is a truely kind person. She opens her heart, her home…virtually everything she posesses to anyone who she thinks has a need. And she is constantly left emotionally hurt and ripped off. I asked her last month when she flew in to visit why she gives so much of herself. And with tears in her eyes she told me that its just becuase thats the way things ought to be. She is honestly surprised and saddened that not everyone is as she is.
In some ways i wish i could be more like her. Im such an untrusting person, and i think it would be nice to be able to trust easily. But when you know that there are those like Marquez out there…what choice do you have?
God bless Steven Clark and those other truely kind peple in the world…they are gonna need it.
It’s a shame that people feel the need to go out of their way to cause extra hurt in these people’s lives.
People like your mother can just be hurt enough when a person goes back to their old ways or ignore them, but to steal from such people is just evil.
Wow people are becoming more horrific by the day! Well I don’t quite know what to say about this other then the usual… That it’s just horrible and crappy, I am the sort of person who would give a helping hand I sure hope I dont fall on such an asshole in my life!
Great, another illegal alien in our jails.
How horrible. What a kind and generous man he was. And Marquez gets life in prison? Can’t we just kill him immediately? I was on the fence about the death penalty before I found this site. Now I think we need to get rid of as many of these fuckers as possible.
(I’m probably feeling angrier about it because of what he did to the dog… I’m a little embarassed to say…)
Don’t be embarassed, Scott. I was thinking the same thing. I cry every time I read the articles on here about children and pets. This one has two of my weak spots in it….Elderly people and animals. I would love to see this mf chained to a tree naked on a bed of fire ants.
Anyone with a heart WOULD care, Tina. It is ok.
And I agree, a bed of fire ants would suffice well.
Let this be a lesson people. Never allow brown people into your home.
Oh please!!! Im so over the racial crap that some people spew.
Your head has been up your ass so long, your tiny little brain has been deprived of oxygen. You are a racist pig, even your screen name is offensive. Evil has no color, no race, no religion, no sexual preference, or gender. Evil is. Plain and simple. This could easily have been the other way around with a Hispanic victim and a white perp. Then where would your little theory be?
Put him in a Louisiana lake with his hands tied behind his back and his feet bound let the alligators get some lovin from this guy.
thats why no one is willing to help people anymore
The part where he tried to comfort his dog Charlie especially gets to me, what a kind man… this is another one that deserves drawing and quartering before his trip to hell…