Benevolence fund still not paid

Monday marks the anniversary of the Sept. 8, 2007, fatal shootings of three Odessa police officers, but a fund created for the families of corporals Arlie "Lee" Jones, Scott Gardner and Abel Marquez has yet to be distributed.

A hearing on the fund, which raised $492,752.08, is set for 10 a.m. Sept. 18 in Judge Stacy Trotter's courtroom.

But the hearing could be averted if representatives of the officers' estates sign an agreed order of circulation.

"They're trying to reach an agreement," Susan Glass said. Glass works for Cal Hendrick, the attorney handling the benevolence fund. Hendrick, who took the case pro bono, was out of town last week and not available for comment, Glass said.

So far, an order has been signed by representatives of the Gardner estate, an administrator for Marquez's estate and an administrator for the estate of Arlie and Rhonda Jones Glass said. Rhonda Jones, Arlie Jones' widow, died in March.

The only party yet to sign the agreement are representatives for Rosy Marquez, ex-wife of Abel Marquez, and the two children they had together, Glass said.

Glass said she didn't know who Rosy Marquez's attorney was, and efforts to reach Rosy Marquez were not successful.

Previously, Trotter had determined that the fund would be paid out evenly among the families.