The following is a first-person narrative based on true events.

Some of the names of the individuals involved in this case and the details of the story

may have been changed for purposes of this episode.

When I first came to Orange County, California, I thought it was the most amazing place in

the world.

I had never been surrounded by so much beauty ever before in my life.

I couldn't believe I actually lived so close to Disneyland.

It used to be a place that we only would hear about, almost like it didn't even exist.

And yet now, there it was, practically in my own backyard.

We ended up moving to a city called your Belinda.

It's in the northern region of the county, so it's not near the beach.

Like whenever you think of Orange County, you first think of Disneyland and then you think

of all the beaches.

Not where we were at, but it was still very nice, much nicer than where we had come from.

I lived in a small but really pretty house with my mom, her name was Raquel, and my older

brother, Juan Carlos.

It was a dream of my mom's to give us a better life.

It was a dream of hers to come to the United States.

And when she did, she really wanted to come to California.

When we left Mexico, I was seven, and Juan Carlos was 17.

As soon as we got settled, everything about my mom changed.

She was so happy and so proud.

...