Parents, Officials Discuss Boy’s Slaying

The grisly murder of a 12-year-old brought 200 parents to Washington Middle School on Thursday night to talk with school administrators, psychologists and the police chief about the tragedy that has shaken this city.

“Certainly, moms and dads are understandably frightened,” Police Chief Steven H. Staveley said. “In a society of 260 million people, these horrible, horrible, evil people are out there and these things do happen. But this is an aberration. . . . This is a safe community.”

John Samuel Ghobrial, a 27-year-old Egyptian emigre missing his right hand and forearm, is accused of asphyxiating Juan Delgado, sexually assaulting him and dismembering his body. Police found the boy’s remains in crude cement blocks and followed a trail of concrete and blood to Ghobrial’s home on Sunday.

The investigation is continuing, but police believe Ghobrial acted alone, Staveley told the parents.

“He’s a fairly good-size fellow,” he said. “He’s a young man, reasonably muscular. I think, physiologically, it is possible. Doctors have documented that when [adrenaline] is in your system, it gives you the strength of four.”

Parents at the school meeting were offered safety tips, counseling and ideas on how to deal with their children’s grief.

“This tragedy is just something our children shouldn’t have to experience,” Stella Carranza said. “It has made us all realize how fragile life is, and how in a moment it can be taken away.”

Her daughter, an eighth-grader at Washington who was a good friend of Juan, said he was a bubbly child.

“He was always smiling, and he always made us laugh, even when he was sad or down. He was the class clown.”

Many children and their families knew Ghobrial and gave him money because they felt sorry for him, she said.

That’s what has the community so frightened,” Carranza said. “Everyone knew him. He was always walking around all the stores and the school, begging for money, and I don’t think anybody thought he could do this.”

Students expressed their fears all week by signing posters of condolence and writing letters, Washington Principal Gary Mantey said.

One seventh-grade boy wrote: “I cannot eat. The agony will not leave the heart. I’m afraid to walk home now. Hopefully, [Juan] is with all of us and will steer us all away from danger. Hopefully.”

Ghobrial is being held without bail and is awaiting arraignment.

Services for Juan will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dilday-Mottell Mortuary, 3936 Woodruff Ave., Long Beach. Burial will follow at Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd. in Westminster.

Visitation will be today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dilday-Mottell, which is donating its services.