Mother Pushing to Fund Reward in Son’s Killing

Bobbi Gorena has renewed a plea for the City Council to offer a reward for information leading to the conviction of her son’s killers.

The council turned down a similar request from the woman last year when police said they were close to solving the slaying of 16-year-old Troy Gorena.

The boy was stabbed to death March 5, 1996, outside a friend’s home at Baker and Richman avenues, during an apparently random attack.

Police eventually arrested two men and accused them of murder. But after a key witness recanted her story, prosecutors had to drop the charges, citing a lack of evidence.

Police Chief Patrick E. McKinley said police are seeking other witnesses, and a reward isn’t necessary and might even motivate false testimony.

But Bobbi Gorena said she’s convinced a reward could help.

She told council members this week that a reward offer also would send a message “that Fullerton will not rest until justice is served and the murdering of our children will not be tolerated at any cost.”

Council members said they will discuss the matter at an upcoming meeting.

Meanwhile, Gorena said, she will continue her efforts to raise money for a reward fund. So far, she said, she has raised $3,000.