Looking For Justice
Family pursues son's escaped killer
By Victor Balta/Staff Writer
Another anniversary of their eldest son's death has dragged by, but Gary and Stephanie Selby still wait for closure.
It was seven years ago their child, Gary Jr., was killed by a drunken driver in Reno. He was 18.
Meanwhile, the family waits for his killer, Samuel A. Gallardo, to serve his time.
Gallardo was traveling in the wrong direction on Interstate 80 in Reno and had caused several motorists to swerve off the road before hitting, head-on, the car Gary Jr. was driving. He died at the scene from blunt force trauma to the chest on Oct. 4, 1992.
In Nevada, three blood-alcohol tests are performed. According to the Nevada Highway Patrol report on the incident, the results of Gallardo's blood draws were .179 percent, .183 percent and .157 percent. In Nevada, a motorist is considered legally drunk at .100 percent.
Gallardo was sentenced on April 25, 1993. After serving less than one year of his 20-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter, Gallardo apparently escaped in 1994 from the Stewart Conservation Camp 10 miles north of Carson City.
Though more than five years have passed since, the family has not abandoned its effort to locate Gallardo. In fact, just recently, the hunt has been taken to another level.
Holly Bayol, Gary Jr.'s aunt, has started a full-fledged search primarily through the power of her computer to do all she can to find Gallardo.
"(Nearly) six years have gone by, and I just can't stand it anymore," Bayol said, adding that she has been notified by the Nevada State Prison "that the only way they'll catch him is if he's jailed in another state or stopped or arrested for a crime. That wasn't good enough for me."
Bayol has the full blessing of her sister and brother-in law, Stephanie and Gary Selby.
"She's the one who's been doing so much legwork," Stephanie Selby said."
"She's helped out more than I can say," Gary Selby added.
Bayol already has submitted Gallardo's information to Fugitive Watch, a web site dedicated to posting mug shots of suspected criminals who are on the loose.
She also is trying to get a brief segment on the Fox television show, "America's Most Wanted."
"We're waiting to see if they're going to do a segment on this story," Bayol said.
While Gallardo roams free, Gary Jr.'s family continues to struggle. The most noticeable impact has been on his father.
"I can hardly even function with my family anymore," the elder Gary Selby said. "It bothers me tremendously that this guy is loose."
He said he has quit several jobs and has had trouble getting along with anyone since the incident.
"To me, it's important that I move on," Gary Selby said. "I can't because of where he (Gallardo) is right now. It's important that he gets caught and we get on with our lives."
Gary Selby said his tolerance level has decreased significantly since his son's death. He would like to see Gallardo back in prison so that he can ponder the consequences of his actions.
"It's hard for me to function some days because I think about him all the time," he said. "And I think about how this guy is free. Of course, he's got to look over his shoulder every day. But that's nothing like what I want him to think (every day) about what he did to someone."
Once his son's killer is caught, though, Gary Selby said he should feel better.
"I've just got to work it out one of these days," he said. "Once he's behind bars, I'll feel better. He won't be able to walk off like he did before."
Stephanie Selby is not so sure.
"I know he's going to get caught," she said. "I'm keeping positive about that. But I can't say if it's going to be a relief. I don't know how I'm going to feel. I will be there for all of his hearings. I don't know if it will bring closure or if it will bring it all up again."
Stephanie Selby said she can still remember the day her son left for Reno with some friends as though it were yesterday. He had spent the day with Dennis, his younger brother, at a Pop Warner football game at Vanden High School.
"He picked me up and gave me a big hug and a kiss. My eyes were on him the whole time he walked away," she said. "I saw him go up to his father, and he gave him a big hug and a kiss goodbye. He gave Dennis a handshake, and I watched him when he walking down the steps and, all of a sudden, I just didn't see him anymore."
"You don't know how grateful I am that he gave me that big hug and kiss before he left," Stephanie Selby added. "We said goodbye, but I didn't know it was going to be our last goodbye."
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