Calif. lawyer Elliot Blair killed in Mexico on wedding anniversary: family
A 33-calendar year-old California lawyer has been killed at a common vacation resort in Mexico during a trip with his spouse, a fellow general public defender, to rejoice their to start with marriage ceremony anniversary.
Elliot Blair, an assistant community defender in Orange County, died Saturday in Rosarito Beach front, on the Baja Peninsula just south of the northern border with the US at Tijuana, county General public Defender Martin Schwarz explained to the Orange County Register.
Police have not produced aspects and regional media — which includes the Spanish-language Noticias BC — claimed that Blair died as a result of an accidental fall from a room at the Las Rocas Vacation resort and Spa, the LA Periods reported.
But a GoFundMe campaign began by a pal and colleague of Blair mentioned he “was the victim of a brutal crime. His family is doing work with US Officers to get a lot more information.”
The fundraiser, arranged by Annie Rodriguez, said Blair and his wife, Kim, “have been focused General public Defenders in Orange County” considering the fact that 2017, the calendar year he handed the bar examination.
“Elliot was a compassionate lawyer who devoted his lifetime to serving indigent shoppers. Elliot was known as a affected person and caring advocate. He was the best of us and was loved by many customers of our business and the Orange County lawful neighborhood. We are heartbroken,” it claimed.
“Elliot was regarded for a smile on his confront and a intelligent thoughts. There are not enough text to categorical the stage of really like he experienced for Kim. Kim was his life,” the submit ongoing.
“They just started off building a everyday living collectively in their first calendar year of marriage. Elliot was killed on their 1 calendar year wedding ceremony anniversary. Kim’s coronary heart is shattered,” it additional.
The Orange County Sign up mentioned an attorney for Blair’s household did not return a request for comment Sunday and that Mexican authorities could not be arrived at.
US Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.), who signifies Santa Ana, where Blair labored in the Community Defender’s Place of work, informed the newspaper that his office was striving to locate out what occurred.
Law enforcement in Rosarito told the news outlet Patrulla 646 Código Rojo that hotel personnel known as authorities about 1:15 a.m. following finding Blair’s entire body, the Sign-up noted.
The area outlet mentioned investigators claimed to have observed proof that Blair was less than the influence of alcoholic beverages at the time of his death.
The Baja California Attorney General’s Workplace is investigating, in accordance to the Sign up.
Kate Corrigan, a previous federal prosecutor who is now a associate at Corrigan, Welbourne and Stokke in Newport Seashore, mentioned she realized the pair.
She instructed the California paper that Blair was nicely-highly regarded in equally the public defender’s office environment and the Orange County DA’s Business office.
“This is further than tragic and devastating on quite a few stages,” Corrigan mentioned.
Schwarz explained Blair as a “devoted partner, terrific particular person and a amazing law firm who committed his daily life to serving his clients and serving to the county’s most susceptible.
“He impacted innumerable lives and his reduction will be felt deeply by all who understood him,” he informed the Orange County Register.
“We have been in interaction with the spouse and children and are doing what we can to guidance them in this tough time, together with performing with nearby and federal officials to enable present them with answers,” Schwarz added.
