Daniel Koch, 33 [Updated]

Danny was my friend. I just don't understand some other of the other posters. (ironically, one of them is named "greg")

I'm dismayed that a newspaper of your supposed caliber, would chose to cover the initial murder, which you intially described as a stabbing without knowing the facts of the case. It was much more. Furthermore, while you asked for the public's help in solving this case you never tied Quinn Marez to Candido Marez. This makes it seem like a cover up. How many years has Candido (CANDY) ha! been preaching to the choir while he has produced two felon sons. Quinn was convicted of 1st degree murder with weapons charges this month for this crime, which was horribly brutal. Manson? O.J.? Were these just covered because of the amount of papers you would sell? It is your duty as a paper that represents Los Angeles to give us the initial report as well as the follow up in the crime. Daniel Koch was a human being, an artist and and educated man. He had the same right to life that all of us do. If it had been a case of animal cruelty it would have made your pages, yet this was completely ignored. Who are you hiring as reporters these days? They need to do a little research.

It's a relief to know that Justin Thalheimer and Quinn Marez, Danny Koch's killers, will be off the streets and in prison for a long long time. The streets are safer for the rest of us. Rest easy, Danny.

These boys had a morning in court today and my goodness had their appearances changed. People had posted about John Gardner looking like a huge monster...well in blue jail suits and shackled at the hip and ankles these boys no longer looked like kids..they looked like the killers they were. I hope Danny is looking down and knows that we're all doing all we can for him and for all the innocents out there that only ask for peace, beauty and life. How many parents have to lose their kids before the justice department cracks down and keeps these repeat offenders off the street. There are Danny's killers, Lily Burk's killer and now this horrible monster in San Diego. Please help us put a stop to all this craziness. The next time it could be you or me or one of our own kids.

Whats sad is most people dont even know the back story to this and they're judging these boys on what the news papers think will be a good story. This is not just black and white. yes, they were wrong, but there is no innocent in this case on either side.

Marie, what do you think these two convicted felons do? Throw water ballons at the deceased?

They were armed. They stabbed him. They ran.

Now what did the story miss?

Marie - what is wrong with you? Murder is murder and it is wrong (this is more than just 'murder' - 43 stab wounds, slit throat and wrist, battered 12 times on the head which cracked his skull multiple times and then dragged his lifeless body to the river and stomped it into the riverbed...). Black and white MURDER, beyond murder, psycho even.

Justice America is right on. Another very important part of this story (the 'back story' Marie) has been missed. Los Angeles citizens should be informed about Candido Marez' desire to hold public office in Los Angeles. Will he leading Los Angeles the way he raised his two sons?

Danny may you rest in peace!!!!!!! Both Quinn Marez and Justin Thalheimer are CONVICTED MURDER ONE MONSTERS!!!!!
Im glad they will wrought in jail, they really should be put thru what they did to you Dan but our justice system will only let them wrought. I always looked at you Dan with a sense of envy and jealousy. Most people would not or could not understand the life style you chose to live. You were a guy that lived what most men can only dream about. No Time cards, no boss. Go where you want when you want to paint your Great Art Works and trade them or sell them or barter. Yea you knew what it was like to go hungry at times and Im sure your murderers never did. They were not only murderers but drug addicts, theives with the attitude that if mommy and daddy didnt give them money they stole what they needed to survive "easy come easy go" You were a true survivor untill these punk thug killers ambushed you and did un-believable cruel things to you. Im sure you did not suffer long but they did not stop. May your sole rest in peace
and there are many people that are proud of you as the kind,EDUCATED free spirited ARTIST,FISHERMAN,SURFER,SAILOR,OUTDORSMAN you are.......
LA Times you should re-visit this HUGE STORY and give it COVERAGE IT DESERVED. YOU GOT IT WRONG BIG TIME!!!!!

DK, Decay, Dan, Bro -

You are sorely missed. You were the best bro anybody could ever have. Rest in peace bro. Until we meet again...

JK

Uncle Danny,
You were one badass guy, from your art, to your skating, surfing, and hilarious and loveable personality. I'll miss you, see you when the waves are epic in the afterlife

OK so what was the back story no one knew? LA times does not investigate beyond what is immediately avail. from police.. updates are posted as they become available from reliable/ credible sources. So share..

More than three years have passed since Danny was so brutally murdered, and we, his family, still suffer. We will never be the same. No one should have to endure what my son endured. We miss Danny so much. The trial was unbelievably horrible for us, and although the 2 murderers were rightfully convicted and are serving time in prison, we have to look forward to going to the Court of Appeal, as both murderers have filed for an appeal. We will again be there for our son. He deserves justice.

— Dan's Mom, please keep us informed. Not only be there for your son, but for the community who is saddened by your loss.

Dan's Mom: I hadn't seen this story until today and I am incredibly saddened by your words and your loss. It seems that there are some truly wicked monsters out there, true evil as in the kind referred to in the Bible and sadly that evil got to your son. I wish there was something that could be done about it...that we could find the evil first before it can destroy families. But unfortunately Satan has a ready supply and it keeps on coming. May the Lord bless you and bring you peace. Many of us out here are with you. God bless.

Its funny how noone is talking about how this guy danny was a homeless drug user/pusher and used to buy alcohol for under aged kids in the area. He was rude and disrespectful of women. I grew up in that area and as a girl was warned to stay away from him and his friends.
Don't hate Quinn and Justin for protecting someone they cared about. Murder is never right, but neither is rape or selling crack to kids.

"Honest Northridge citizen:" Where do you get your info? No truth to what you wrote. Danny was so brutally murdered for calling Quinn's girlfriend a "bitch." Danny would have had a criminal record for rape and selling drugs to kids, and would have served time in prison, if those allegations were true. If teens had asked Danny to buy beer for them, he probably did. Kids have always asked older people to buy beer for them. The victim here was Danny, and he shouldn't be blamed for what happened to him. And another thing - if he was selling drugs, he would not have been homeless, as he would have been making a lot of money!

Quinn Marez is our cousin and a young adult who obviously ran with the wrong crowd and our sympathy goes out to the family of the man he killed, but we as people can not judge others so harshly. The only one who can judge us is our Father in heaven. We need to pray for the youth in our communities especially those who live in big cities and have to deal with the pressures of drugs, gangs and violence. We live in a small farming community in New Mexico, and the pressures our young children here have to face are not nearly as bad as those who live in such largely populated areas. For those of you who seem to think that Quinns father, Candido Marez, CHOSE the life that his boys led, you are sadly mistaken! NO parent wishes their children will grow up and become felons. As parents we try to do what is best for our children. We raise them with the intention of becoming respectable, successful, adults. Life does not always turn out the way we plan it. The choices that Mr. Marez' (Candido) sons made is not an exact reflection on who he is as a man and it definately does not reflect how well he can run the city of Los Angeles.Candido Marez and his wife did the best they could in raising their sons, their sons made there own decisions. Right or wrong, after a certain point in our childrens lives we no longer control their actions. All we can hope for is that the morals and values we instilled in them growing up, sticks with them.As every parent knows sometimes our childrens friends and society have more influence over them, no matter how well we raised them. What Quinn did was terribly wrong, but his actions are not by any means, a relection on his father, Candido Marez, and for you to say it is, just goes to show how ignorant you really are! Anthony & Michelle Marez Belen, NM

I don't care what any of u think quinn is my cousin I grew up with him since whe were young he has always been good. He whould always watch over me. He may have made a mistake but whe are all human here whe are born into a world of sin and mistake, so for all of you people talking bad about my uncle and cousin your are all not perfect and either is your family! And somone one in your family made mistakes to but you don't see people blog nor make it a bigger deal than it already is. So what's done is done now leave it alone its not your problem anymore or any of your worrys!!

Preston,

When a family member kills someone the family is left to pick up the pieces. If the suspect's family members refuse to accept responsiblity for the actions of that family member then you are going to get a whole lot more negative comments. No person turns out all of a sudden and just kills someone. At least not a good person. Sure there are some cases where heat of the moment happens but even those are very difficult to plea. I'm sorry your cousin killed someone and I'm equally sorry that you have to pick up the pieces that your cousin left for you. But your anger is misplaced the person you should be mad at is your cousin and not the victim or his family.

@ Anthony & Michelle Marez

You said "Candido Marez and his wife did the best they could in raising their sons, their sons made there own decisions. Right or wrong.."

I have raised 3 biological sons and took in a 4th teenage boy for 4 years. ALL 4 are outstanding, law-abiding, respectful, hardworking MEN, I raised these wonderful boys being a single parent. My sons make good decisions because I DID the best I could in raising them.

It always, always goes back to the parents... ALWAYS

My uncle and auntie raised their kids the best way they could. Quinn did do good and was a good kid once. Drugs change people. He was convicted of a horrible crime. They said he was high on drugs and the man also sold drugs. These things dont make anything better then to put alochol in the mix no one makes good decisions when you have those two things in your system. Your sons make good decisions because YOU DID the best you could in raising them.Thats good however thats not always the case. We all do our best in raising our kids which every parent should. When they grow up we hope they make the best decisions and they use the morals we installed in them to make these choices, yet not all do. This is sad and heart breaking when they don't. Pointing the finger and calling name helps no one. This is something that is very sad. Quinns family is also left to pick up the pieces as well as Dannys family. My prayers go out to both .

@Sharlene,

You said "we all do our best in raising our kids which every parent should do"....Sadly, the sheer number of young boys whose faces are plastered all over the HR tell us a different story.

i cant believe that they convicted Justin for something he didnt even do.. if ur related to Justin and you just happen to be reading this please send me an email.. id like to get his info to write him please and thank you. xdckrazyx@hotmail.com

Can anyone tell me where I could see some of Danny's artwork?

Wow. I went to Alemany with Danny and while I didn't really know him, I remember him. Blond, good-looking... I was just out with a fellow Alemany graduate last night and he asked me if I'd heard about Danny's death and I hadn't...I was shocked when he recounted the details. I feel SUCH sadness for Danny's parents. No parent should outlive their child. Just awful. To Danny's mom and dad, if you're reading this - God Bless You. I am so sorry. :-(

Thank you, Alemany Alumni. I miss Danny so much. It doesn't get any easier, and seems harder as time goes on. Your kind words are appreciated.

Well I knew Danny, he didnt buy beer for people, he smoked pot, but I lived around Danny, his tree drawings were awsome. I give kudos to Det. Dobecker. I just wish he could find out who beat The rabbit down behind the 7-11 over in Chatsworth, he should look at two people. That lived up at the end of Canoga. I was told first hand that they found Robert @ 2 am not when they told police they found him.

The Danny I knew and loved was one of a kind. Yes he was homeless at the time he was murdered, but he had a home and a family that loved him, he was just a free spirit. Danny was a son, a brother, an uncle, an artist, a poet, a dreamer and a beloved friend to many people. He loved all the crazy things in life, and I liked him for that, we used to have so much fun exploring and hiking, driving around, and going to the beach. He was such a gifted artist and saw beyond the wall in this world, he helped me see a glimpse of that creativity and imagination. I really thought that this guy had magic sometimes. The two lost souls who took his life are paying for this crime in prison now. Just found out they got life sentences in prison… Thank god! We don’t need those two violent people wandering the streets. RIP Danny… I miss you and always think of how romantic you were.

Last month California's 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld the convictions of Quinn Marez and Justin Thalheimer, who were found guilty of first-degree murder of Danny. The panel found no errors in the trial. Missing my son every minute of every day.

It is alarming that a man like Candido Marez, whose son was convicted of First Degree murder, and his other son also convicted of felony manslaughter, would even be allowed to have his name on any ballot for any position anywhere in the City of Los Angeles. He is still trying to get his son out of prison, even though this is a convicted murderer. Now, he is trying to take the case to the CA Supreme Court to have it dismissed, as if Quinn is entitled to murder and get away with it. Again, the leadership he provides has ruined both his son's life and the victim's lives, and their families too. Is this the type of leader any agency in the City of Los Angeles would want on their team? I think not. If you will look at his history, he basically was forced out of New Mexico, and decided to move over to Los Angeles to try to 'start again'. Now we have people dead and others hurt. All citizens should be aware, and prevent this man from obtaining any position within the City of Los Angeles.