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Valverde, Daniel (1940-2005)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Oct 3 p. 6
Birth date: 1940
By Mennonite Weekly Review staff
BOWMANSVILLE, Pa. — Tire store owner Daniel Valverde, a member of Akron Mennonite Church, was beaten to death at his store Sept. 20.
Authorities believe Valverde's assailant escaped in a used SUV stolen from the store, where it had been parked by its owner to attract buyers, according to news reports.
Valverde, 65, was a native of Bolivia who had been married to his wife, Bernice, for 39 years and had two sons and several grandchildren.
Police said a customer found Valverde beaten to death in the store shortly before noon.
A Sept.26 story in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal said police had been examining surveillance video from a nearby business, which they believe may show the suspect in Valverde's death. authorities said they had been receiving a large number of tips from the public about the suspect's identity.
Valverde was remembered as a good businessman who enjoyed helping people from his Bolivian hometown of Moro Moro.
According to news reports, Valverde had established a scholarship fund to help students from his hometown go to college.
Valverde also had helped Moro Moro get a new bulldozer to deal with frequent mudslides, friends recalled.
Neighbors were puzzled that a robbery appeared to have played a part in Valverde's death.
"He would be the kind of guy, if someone came in and threatened him, he would give them the cash drawer." said neighbor Jan King. "He wouldn't fight. He wasn't that kind of guy."
A memorial service was held Sept. 25 at Akron Mennonite Church.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Oct 23 p. 7
By Mennonite Weekly Review staff
LANCASTER, Pa. — The killer of a Bolivian native who was a member of a local Mennonite church was sentenced to life in prison without parole Oct. 3.
Steven Michael Musser, 32, of Mohnton, had pleaded guilty to beating to dath Daniel Valverde, 65, a member of Akron Mennonite Church, in his Brecknock tire shop on Sept. 20, 2005, the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal reported.
Prosecutors could have pursued the death penalty against Musser. Instead, Lancaster County Judge Joseph Madenspacher handed down the prison term, plus a $25,000 fine to pay for Valverde's funeral and for counseling for his family.
Valverde, a native of Moro Moro, Bolivia, was known for his support of the people in his home village, for whom he established a college scholarship fund and helped secure equipment, including a new bulldozer, to deal with frequent mudslides.
