Useless Brain Vomit

Ricardo “Rico” Fuentes Released From Prison
FROM WIRE REPORTS

Ricardo “Rico” Fuentes was released from the Glades Correctional Institution on June 1st after spending 45 years in prison for the murder of Antonio “Tony” Mancini in 1958. Fuentes was sentence to 35 years to life in 1960, but was released on parole for good behavior. The murder had grabbed major headlines back in 1958 as the murder took place at a then major Miami hotspot, the Copacabana.

From testimony of eyewitnesses at the club, it seems as though Rico shot Tony during a dispute that arose from Rico making advances at Tony’s then girlfriend Lola Regalado. Lola was a showgirl at the Copacabana and Tony was a bartender, they worked from 8 till 4. “You should have seen Lola back then,” said former fellow showgirl Lucy Wenton, “with yellow feather in her hair and a dress cut down to there she would meringue and do the cha-cha, she was flawless”. “And while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar. They were young and had each other, who could ask for more?”

But that happiness was shattered on April 17th, 1958 when a then 20-year-old Rico Fuentes decided to catch the show at the Copa. “Rico was always a hothead, trying to prove what a big shot he was”, said old pal Vince Marcello, “Rico always wore this big diamond and that night he saw Lola dancing there, so when she finished he called her over. But as always Rico went a bit to far, and this guy Tony sailed across the bar. And then the punches flew and chairs were broke in two, there was blood and a single gunshot. We couldn’t tell who shot who at first. But then we saw Tony laying there and Rico took off like a bat out of hell”.

The now 67-year-old Rico says he just wants to try to live the rest of his life in some sort of normal manner. “I was a young, stupid kid. I originally just pulled the gun to scare the guy. But he went and tried to grab it from me, and the next thing I know he dead. One of the first things I did when I got out was to try and get in touch with Lola. I finally caught up with her at the old Copacabana. The building is still there, but now it’s a disco, but not for Lola. Still in that dress she used to wear, faded feathers in hair, she sits there so refine and drinks herself half-blind. She didn’t even recognize me and just kept babbling. I think she’s lost her mind. But I’ve moved on. I got a job packing groceries at the Piggly Wiggly and I’m living with a great lady named Mandy. We spend weekends in New England and I can’t smile without her. Even now it’s a miracle, but it looks like I’ve made it.”