Trial Underway for Accused Killer Steven Carlson 30 Years After the Murder of Tina Faelz

By AUTUMN JOHNSON

The trial for the man accused of the brutal murder of a Pleasanton teen in 1984 is currently underway at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland. Steven J. Carlson is on trial for murder in connection to the stabbing death of 14-year-old Tina Faelz. The jury selection and motions for the trial began on October 6, according to officials at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

Carlson, a registered sex offender with a criminal history involving drugs and battery, was arrested in August of 2011 and charged with the murder of Tina Faelz after police were tipped off by an FBI analysis from the Quantico, Va. lab of the evidence collected at the crime scene in 1984.

Previous: Tina Faelz’ Family Reflects, Says Sadness Killed Mom Some 30 Years Later

On April 5, 1984, Tina Faelz, a 14-year-old freshman at Foothill High School, was stabbed to death in a culvert that once crossed beneath Interstate 680, while she was walking home from school. The path was a popular shortcut that passed east of the school underneath the freeway to the Valley Trails neighborhood. Fellow students discovered her body around 3 p.m. near the creekbed. Faelz had been stabbed 44 times. For a map showing the area, click here. Pleasanton Police said Carlson, a student at Foothill High in 1984, lived on Lemonwood Way near the trail where Faelz’ body was found. Carlson was 16-years-old at the time.

Faelz’ mother, Shirley Faelz Orosco, died unexpectedly on Feb. 13, 2014— the same day the murder trial was originally scheduled to begin.

Previous: Mother of Murder Victim Dies Same Day as Murder Trial Was to Begin

In a previous Patch article, Karin Reiff, Faelz’ aunt and sister of Shirley Faelz Orosco told Patch that she believes her sister finally succumbed to the sadness of her daughter’s death.

“My sister went through almost 30 years of hell after Tina’s death and I think she finally died of a broken heart,” Reiff said. “The photos of Shirley with Tina show how happy she [Shirley] was before someone came and ruined her life. I looked at them and thought, ‘How dare someone come and take a person from their mother, brother and family and kill them?’ I mean, how dare they! Shirley’s poem was so meaningful, I thought I’d share it. I wish no other family in the world ever have to go through this. I truly do feel that if Tina had not been murdered, Shirley would be alive now. 30 years of the stress and pain finally killed her. The murderer should be up for two murders as far as I’m concerned.”

Reiff says Orosco was never the same after Faelz’ death.

“After Tina was murdered, it all fell apart for Shirley,” Reiff said. “She couldn’t take it anymore. Who could? And she never got resolution! At least Shirley and Tina are together now in heaven and pain-free. You will always be in our hearts and memories and always loved.”

Drew Faelz, Faelz’ brother says he hopes this trial will finally bring their family some closure from a nightmare.

The Remembering Tina Faelz Facebook page, established by Patch editors in August of 2011, garnered more than 160 “likes” in 24 hours. Several years later, the page now has 587 followers who keep track of the case. Faelz’ friends and former classmates post regularly on the page.

Past Pleasanton Patch coverage of Tina Faelz murder case:

• Mother of Murder Victim Dies Same Day as Murder Trial Was to Begin
• Steven Carlson Ordered to Stand Trial for the Murder of Tina Faelz
• Suspect in Tina Faelz Slaying Will be Tried as Adult
• Witness: Carlson Made Incriminating Comment The Day After…
• Friends, Relatives Leave Heartfelt Messages For Murder Victim Tina Faelz on Facebook
• Friends of Slaying Victim Tina Faelz Remember Her as Kind…
• Steven Carlson Pleads Not Guilty to 1984 Slaying of Tina Faelz
• Slaying Suspect Steven Carlson May Face Contempt Charges For Granting Jailhouse Interview
• Slaying Suspect Steven Carlson Gets New Attorney, Will Remain in Juvenile Court Until After the New Year
• Pleasanton Police Keeping DNA Evidence Quiet For Now
• Suspect in Tina Faelz Case Makes First Court Appearance
• Trial Continued for Suspect Accused in 1984 Murder of Tina Faelz

Patch editors Kari Hulac, Susan Schena and Tanya Rose contributed to this report.

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