Gina Silva (00:00):
Elliot Blair and his wife went searching for a beautiful, peaceful setting, very much like what you see behind me, but in Mexico. It was supposed to be a relaxing getaway. Sadly, only one Blair will be coming back home alive.
John Jenks (00:14):
She’s such a good person, such an outstanding attorney.
Gina Silva (00:20):
Family and friends of Elliot Blair are demanding answers from Mexican authorities after the Orange County public defender died in Rosarito.
John Jenks (00:29):
The Mexican officials came out and said he died of a tragic accident. As an investigator, I’m thinking, okay, what are the facts? What’s the factual underpinning of your opinion?
Gina Silva (00:39):
Private investigator John Jenks worked with the 33-year-old attorney on several drug related cases. He remembers the young public defender as honest and fair.
John Jenks (00:49):
He was always looking for the truth. Some attorneys that call me, “Hey, my client says this, can you cosign that?” And Elliot was, “Hey John, just give it to me. Give it to me straight. What do you think the facts show?” Which I respect the heck out of.
Gina Silva (01:05):
Blair and his wife were in Mexico celebrating their one-year anniversary. Mexican police reported Blair died in an accidental fall from a third floor balcony at Las Rocas Resort and Spa on Saturday, January 14th. But his family tells a different story. They issued a long statement that says in part, “The family believes Elliot was the victim of a brutal crime, and is devastated that since the incident, no one from the Rosarito Beach Police Department, their district attorney’s office, or any other Mexican official have reached out and spoken to them directly.” They also allege the incident did not happen off their room’s private balcony.
John Jenks (01:45):
It just breaks my heart for his parents, for his wife, for his colleagues, his friends, and I hope they get to the bottom of it and find out what the cause of death was.
Gina Silva (01:54):
And that’s exactly what the Blair family plans to do. Their statement also says, “Due to the insufficiency of the investigation, the family feels compelled to conduct their own private investigation in search for the truth. Gina Silva, Fox 11 News.