I have to support Cobler on this one. When someone is shot and left for dead I want the paper to report the good and the bad -- that he was kind to animals is not enough information.

Rumors and Gossip something that thrives in Victoria.

yet the Advocate glorifies the likes of Pepper...I agree, why include his past criminal history, it has no direct bearing on this unfortunate and tragic crime

Wow smart one Rebecca.... Until there is a full investigation, we will never know. I hope the people who did this are caught so the family can have some closure. PatientEarth- you crack me up...white truck and all!

ummmm....rebecca do you realize you could lose your job for disclosing private health information?

Rocky was not a drug dealer for the love of God.. You CANNOT judge a book by its cover. The fruit a man bears is not external but internal. Therefore you cant assume someones a drug dealer because they drive a chrysler 300.

My friend had a Chrysler 300 & we called it the pimpmobile...didn't make her a pimp nor a pro....

What does owning a Chrysler 300 have to do with drugs? If that is the case there must be a lot of Chrysler 300 owners that are dealing drugs in Victoria.

Rocky received his high school diploma on March 25, 2000 in Edinburg, Tx

as life comes 1 day at a time....we have to understand what is happen'n....as well as what is going to happen....as a close friend to 300...aka...rocky...im greatfull to have been a major part in his life!! i thank god 4 lettin me do what was asked to be done....im also greatfull to have spoken wit his family.....and i pray that despite off what as happen.....that they keep looking up...as our loved 1's are looking down....waiting for us to get where they are....mom....hug him and kiss him 4 me....love ya d.a.d.d.i.e..... c u soon!! mmmwwaahhhhh!!!! always!!

I remember Rocky from junior high and he was the only one who made me feel like i fit in. He was always so kind to me and I will always remember that. He is in a better place. My prayers go out to his family and girl. The heaven's just gained another angel. God Bless

There's no doubt that including the background of the victim was unwarranted and done in poor taste -- and let me explain why.

If the Advocate would be CONSISTENT in stories such as these and include such information in EVERY instance, then they could justify doing so in this case. But as it stands, the Advocate seems to only pick and choose when such information reaches the press.

I know Mr. Cobler is genuinely concerned about image and integrity, but he's fighting a losing battle when avoidable debacles such as this continue to surface and serve up yet another black eye for the Advocate's reputation.

So what if his death was simply due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, what then? Damage will already have been done. This young man was a victim, regardless of his past, he should be treated as such. I doubt his previous history lead to his death & the circumstances surrounding his death, be they good or bad, will come out when the killer is caught & the investigation is complete. Shame on you Advocate, for putting his family through more than they need at this time.

I don't remember you publishing the criminal background of the guy who was beaten to death & dumped in the parking lot. Is this something new y'all are adding to your stories?

Heartbroken.......Miss you Rocky..:(

Well said. People need to remember that your past is the past, and no matter what he didnt deserve to die like that, Rocky may have done some things in his past, that doesnt make him a bad person, it makes him a man for riseing above. And if he did do stuff in the streets than that isnt anyones bussiness but him and GOD. GOD is the only one to judge, not us. My you REST in PEACE ROCKY!!!!!

I have known Rocky for a few years and he always conducted himself professionally with me. Rocky's profession was basically a general contractor. He would buy old abandon homes and have them remodeled and then sell them. He had done this on numerous occaisions. He bought is first "project" with money earned from mowing lawns and odd jobs. He did not have a HS diploma and told me that he would never let his past mistakes hold him back. His exact words were..."I can read, write and do basic math...all you have to do after that is be willing to work." I respected that in him. Yes, I know he had a checkered past. But, he also had a bright future. His willingness to work and 'can do' attitude is what really made him.

I do not know how he portrayed himself on the street, but in my eyes... he definitely could be a role model for those that don't have the 'want to' to actually work! Rocky did not depend on the state or federal government to take care of him... with a limited education and backing, he owned his own home, paid his bills, and had a dream of bigger and better things for himself and his family. That dream has been horribly cut short by the cowardly actions of a couple of individuals.....

Rocky... Rest in Peace my friend. May God accept you with open arms.

That quick. People are real good at losing focus that a Man was murdered. A man who did not have to die. Rocky touched alot of people. Someone TOOK his life. All that other mess thought and spoken is ignorance at its best. Focus.

Past criminal history should be brought up in a trial and used against that person instead of being suppressed. This has nothing to do with a person being murdered by a coward. When the persons responbile are brought to trial, then is the time to bring up pass criminal history and used also a tool when it comes time to sentencing.
To the family, may your faith bring you comfort.

You looked up the criminal history of a young man who was murdered. How about you put that info seeking ability to use and check out some of our citizens seeking public office? You want to smear this man's name, then smear a few others too.

So its newsworthy that the victim was charged with assault in 2004. What this does is plant a negative light on the victim, if he was convicted a month or maybe a year ago maybe it is relavant, but 2004. I hope you do the same type of investigative reporting when the victim has a respected name in the Victoria area.

What does his criminial back ground have to do with being killed, in cold hard murder. No isnt the time to print there past, IT IS JUST WRONG and in poor taste. He does have a family that im sure knows how to READ!!

who was the guy who was ALWAYS with Rocky? He seems to fit the discription of the man the police are looking for?

My heart goes out to his little girl, who loved her father regardless of any faults. Please remember that when you leave a comment that he was some ones son, father and friend. Show some respect.

saranpatrick: I totally agree that most people will look at his criminal background and automatically assume he got what was coming to him. Victoria Advocate failed to mention the home he was basically building and remodling from scratch for him and his little girl, or how proud he was of all the work he put into his car or any of the other good things about him. Even if people are asking "Why" nothing in his criminal history would even remotely be related to his murder, so why mention it? I think that that a lame excuse.

R.I.P. Rocky! My love and condolences go out to his family and to his beautiful little girl. It is ridiculous to involve someones criminal history especially youth criminal history in a story about their murder when it is totally unrelated. Rocky was a sweet person and while he didn't always make great decisions who among us always does. Regardless of a person's past or present no one deserves to be left to die like a dog in the streets. I hope whoever did this is found and found quickly. Luv ya Rocky!!!

WHAT DOES HIS CRIMINAL HISTORY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE INVESTIGATION? IT DOESNT! THAT REALLY COULDVE BEEN LEFT OUT. HE IS THE VICTIM HERE. READING THIS PEOPLE ARE GONNA LOOK AT HIM LIKE HES JUST A CRIMINAL.. HE WAS SOMEONES SON, SOMEONES FATHER, AND A FRIEND TO MANY.. MY CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO ROCKYS MOTHER, HIS LITTLE, AND THE REST OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Please permit me to explain why newspapers routinely report the criminal background of people who are killed. It's because one of the first questions readers have is this: Why did this happen?
We're not suggesting that anyone deserves to be killed. On a related note, we will remove comments that attack the deceased because that is against our policy.

With our coverage, we're trying to help our readers understand what might have led him to this tragic end. We also try to talk to family and friends to further answer this question and to provide a more complete picture of the victim. If you can provide more information about Mr. Neisser, please call the newsroom at 361-574-1222. Of course, please first call the sheriff's department if you have information about the crime.

dollysdad..unless you have inside information, you really don't know what led up to his "violent" end. His last run-in with the law was over 5 years ago...do you know what Mr. Neisser was doing with his life in the last 5 years? He may have turned his life around...he may have been a completely innocent victim. I don't know...I'm waiting for law enforcement to put out more information before I make judgements. You should too.

Until then, your comment was victim bashing again...orchestrated and encouraged by the VicAd article.

More trash journalism from the Advocate. Why did you include information about his previous convictions? He is the VICTIM, for god's sake.

What possible good came out of including that information? Did you do it just to add length to your article? Did you do it just because you could?
Do you run criminal background checks on everyone that dies a tragic death and publish the information? If not, why this case???

I had to laugh at the last sentemce "Attempts to contact Neisser's family and friends on Tuesday were unsuccessful". You think including the past history of the VICTIM will make them want to talk to you now??? Geez.

I don't think that it should matter what his previous convictions are. He is the victim here. And reguardless what he had done he still deserves justice. And when people look at his past history they aren't going to take this case serious.