YumaSun.com – By Jeffrey Gautreaux, Sun Staff Writer
Pink balloons were released Sunday evening from near the grave of Amancio Corrales, commemorating the two-year anniversary of the Yuma man’s unsolved murder. Corrales, a gay man who performed as a female impersonator known as Dalila, was found severely beaten to death May 6, 2005, in the Colorado River just west of Joe Henry Park.
About 20 family members and friends gathered at Desert Lawn Memorial Park to remember Corrales, whose death is considered a possible hate crime.
“I really try not to think about it, but it’s always going to be there until we get closure,” said Faviola Corrales, Amancio’s sister.
Despite the family’s grief, there is an event on the horizon that they are all looking forward to: Faviola is expected to give birth to a son next month. He will be named Amancio in her brother’s honor and memory. She hopes her son has the same bright outlook and outgoing personality that characterized her brother.