A year ago April, Rene Perez was found dying in an empty lot in the town of Bedford, New York. Yesterday, a jury rendered a not guilty verdict to that last person to see him alive, former police officer George Bubaris, from Mt. Kisco. The court determined that Bubaris had nothing to do with Perez’ death.

Perez died from a wound caused by a blow to his stomach. A colleague in the Police Department testified that Bubaris had spoken of “going out to hunt,” in other words going off looking for Perez, on the night that he died. It is rumored that he also said to his colleague, “You are the only one who knows what happened, bro.”

Forensic experts for both sides were unable to agree on how Perez could have gotten his injuries. The defense argued that Perez, who was often drunk and homeless, had injured himself. This was not left very clear.

What is clear is that when Perez was apprehended a few hours earlier, he was alive. According to the prosecuting attorney, had he injured himself beforehand, the impact of a blow alone would have incapacitated Perez.

For Perez’ family this brings never-ending pain. What also seems never-ending is arriving at a solution to the death of not one, or two, but three immigrants from Guatemala found in Westchester.

The jury is still out on whether the county will focus on and care about these cases that concern homeless, infirm immigrants in the same way they focus on and care about cases concerning those who live in their mansions.

An alarmingly all-white jury rendered the “no guilty” verdict. A police officer who boasted of having gone out hunting for another human being is now free to go home. A homeless man is dead and a powerless immigrant community that labors in the shadow of power and opulence is left feeling more insecure.