Zachary Mejia would have turned 17 today

Today should be a day of celebration for the Mejia family, it’s Zach’s 17th birthday, but instead it is the 378th day without Zach.

The day is just another reminder of the son and brother that is no longer with the family.

On Dec. 9, 2020, Zach Mejia was murdered by his mom’s boyfriend, Andy Espinosa.

On that Wednesday in December, Espinosa was at the Mejia residence in Lyerly, where he sometimes lived.

The evening prior to the incident, Zachary Mejia had defended his mother and brother in an argument with Espinosa.

Espinosa was looking to settle the argument. He stabbed 15-year-old Zach multiple times with a knife, killing him. Just prior to the murder Espinosa had asked in an online forum “What does if feel like to kill someone?” according to court documents.

“A stupid argument ended my son’s life. An argument that parents have daily with their kids. Andy got mad and started yelling, cussing and throwing stuff and here comes Zach. He wasn’t going to put up with it,” said Zach’s mom, Sara, as she recounting the argument the evening before.

On August 11, 2021, Andy Espinosa 30, pleaded guilty to murdering 15-year-old Zachary Mejia of Lyerly, Georgia. After a sentencing hearing, Judge Kristina Cook Graham sentenced Espinosa to serve the remainder of his natural life in the Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole.

Over the last 378 days without Zach, Sara has found her voice in speaking out against domestic violence in hopes of helping other families in similar situations.