Local author chronicles 'Murder in Pleasanton

Updated: Wed, Sep 23, 2015, 5:44 pm
Uploaded: Sun, Sep 13, 2015, 7:52 am

Pleasanton native writes detailed narrative on Tina Faelz slaying

by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Joshua Suchon was in fifth grade at Donlon Elementary in April 1984 when Tina Faelz, 14, was stabbed to death on her way home from Foothill High School, her body found on a path students used as a shortcut to the Valley Trails neighborhood. Finally, in 2011, classmate Steve Carlson was arrested on suspicion of the murder.

So four years ago when Suchon, a sportswriter/announcer, wanted to tackle a subject besides baseball and sports for his third book, he thought of the crime that was a vivid childhood memory for him -- and which at last had resolution.

"The thing that drew me to the story was my sister knew Steve Carlson," Suchon said. "He used to walk my sister home from school. A lot of my sister's friends knew him."

Why a minor league baseball radio guy wrote a True Crime book

I've always wanted to complete a project that did not involve sports.

My career arc has never been traditional. I've veered in a lot of different directions, a lot of different locations, a lot of different mediums. Newspaper reporter in the San Francisco Bay Area. Minor league baseball radio announcer in Modesto. Pre- and post-game radio guy in Los Angeles. Free-lance TV guy and book author in Los Angeles. Minor league baseball radio announcer again, this time in Albuquerque.

They've all involved sports, yet I've never considered myself purely a sports guy. My interests are much more diverse than sports. I've always fought the stereotypes of somebody who works in sports. My apartment provides little indication that I work in sports. I've always considered myself a journalist/reporter who just happen to work in sports. That's easy for me to say. It's hard to convince other people it's true.

This book was my way of proving, mostly to myself, that I can do real journalism that does not involve home runs and strikeouts.

Better Call Saul tributes

Last night, the cast and crew of AMC'S hit TV show BETTER CALL SAUL visited Isotopes Park to enjoy the game between the El Paso Chihuahuas and Albuquerque Isotopes.

In case you're living under a rock, BETTER CALL SAUL is the prequel to the sensational BREAKING BAD. Both were filmed in Albuquerque and cast members regularly attend games at Isotopes Park.

As the team's radio broadcaster, I wanted to add something to the night in a subtle way. I didn't want to say something traditional like, "welcome to the cast and crew. I'm a big fan. How cool they are here, etc."

Instead, I decided to pretend like all the characters from the show were real, living here in Albuquerque just like anybody else, and fans of the team. So I worked a few of my favorite characters into the broadcast.

Click here for the result: https://soundcloud.com/jsuchon/better-call-saul-cast-tributes

Pre-orders are available for Murder in Pleasanton

Pre-orders are now available on Amazon for my upcoming book: "Murder in Pleasanton: Tina Faelz and The Search for Justice." Order here: http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Pleasanton-Faelz-Search-Justice/dp/146711765X

The book is scheduled to come out on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015.

More details soon.

PCL Travel: Cheney Stadium -- Tacoma, Wash. (Part Two)

This was our second trip to Cheney Stadium and I don't want to repeat the first posting on the ballpark. For a review, you can find it here.

Instead, I'll just post a bunch of photos of Mt. Rainier, since the team is called the Rainiers. The locals simply call it "The Mountain" and it remains impressive. I find it interesting how often you forget that it's there, then all of a sudden you see it in the distance, and it again draws awe for its size and majestic beauty.

It caught me by surprise, waiting for a light to turn red.

And above an apartment complex.

PCL Travel: Smith's Ballpark -- Salt Lake City, Utah

The two best parts of going to Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City are the stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains ... and the massive fruit tray for the press that I annihilate every day.

PCL Day Trips: LSU campus -- Baton Rouge, Louis.

One day after heading east to Biloxi, it was time to head west to Baton Rouge to visit the Louisiana State University campus.

College campuses are among my favorite places to spend an afternoon before a night game. The architecture of the buildings are impressive, steeped with history and tradition, there's always locally owned mom-and-pop good cheap food around the campus, and sneaking inside football stadiums is usually pretty darn easy.