Michael Dennis Carico II

10/27/1963 - 11/27/2002

Michael`s Life Story

I really don`t know how to start this. It is so hard to write about your child in death. Michael was our first born. When Michael was born, he was the most beautiful baby boy I had ever seen. I remember telling everyone how special he was to me. Michael was always a good son, even when he was little. I never had to worry about him. He never lied to us and was always doing what he was supposed to.

When Michael`s oldest sister Pammie, was born 14 months after him. He loved to hold her and kiss her. They were always so close, even up until his death. Whatever he did his sister Pammie would be right there at his side. I remember Pammie had an easy bake oven when she was about 4. Michael decided to see how it worked. Michael took the whole oven apart, never could get it back right. They always went fishing and camping together.

His brother Tim was born 7 years after Michael. Michael used to keep his little brother from getting into any problems with other kids. Tim will tell everyone how Michael made him tough. Tim loved him dearly. Michael taught Tim to stand up for himself.
Then when Michael was 13, his little sister Shannon was born. He was truly a big brother to Shannon. Shannon will tell you how much influence Michael was in her life. Shannon said if it wasn`t for Michael she would not have made the decision she made 2 years before he passed, to move and start a new life for her and her 3 children. Shannon gives all the credit to Michael for helping her grow up. Shannon turned her life around because of Michael.
Michael was a wonderful father. He was always there for his 3 children. His oldest daughter Michele(16) loved to model and he was always there for her shows. He will never be able to see her gradrate from school in 2004. He bought her her class ring just a few months before he died. He was so proud of her.

Michael`s son Mikey III was his fishing buddy, always with Michael camping and fishing, right along with his sister Pammie and her family. They still were close. When one went fishing and camping the other went. Mikey loved to be with his daddy. He would even hang out in his garage with him.

Heather, Michael`s youngest daughter, would sit and count his money, that was how she learned to count. He would sit with her and have his money out and teach her to count that way. Michael would sit with her and play all kinds of games, they especially loved cards.
Michael was always there to help his dad work on his truck. If he saw his dad outside working on it he came right over to help him. That is what Michael loved doing. He would let his stuff go and be there for family or his friends, always helping. He has a friend who told me after he was killed if it was not for Michael they would not have been able to by their house. He loaned them the extra money they needed. He also helped redo their plumbing and electric. He was always there for them. They miss him so much.
As far as me, his mom, he was right there when I needed him, no matter what. I have so much to be thankful for and so many good memories of Michael.

He had a garage by his house and he was always in it. I told him one time all he needed was a bed and he could live in it. He had a stereo, chair and even built a desk- like area and that is where I would go at nights after work and talk to him. Michael lived right beside us. All his friends hung out there also. It is so hard to look over there now and not see the doors open and him in there. We even would have cook outs in there if it started to rain when we cooked out. Michael used to cook out alot and it was right in the back yard. All I had to do was open my back door and there he was cooking out. I used to tease him and ask "Is chicken all you ever cook?", but he would just laugh at me.

Michael was killed the night before Thansgiving in 2002. The night he was killed and I had to go to that hospital and see him, that was and will always be the worst day of my life. He was so peaceful looking. I tried so hard to wake him up but he wouldn`t wake up for me. That was all I wanted. The day of Michael`s memorial service there were over 200 people there. He had so many friends, ones we had never met. They all told us how much they loved him and what a great friend he was. Michael was always there for any body who needed him.
I dont now if the girl that hit the car Michael was in and killed him will ever realize what she has taken from his family and his friends. She might not pay for it now but she will one day. The girl was never charged with the red light or the death of my son. She walks free till this day. Went we saw her in court there was no remorse for what she had done and to this day she has never said she was sorry for killing Michael. She will one day answer to a higher court then here on earth. I have not yet been able to forgive her and dont know if i ever will.
All I know my world stopped the day Michael was killed. It will never be the same for me or his family.
Michael my beautiful son, I miss and love you so much. I hope one day I will be able to hold you and tell you how much I love you. I`m so sorry I couldnt keep you safe. You used to tell me not to worry about you, but I did. I wish I could have kept you safe the day you were killed. Michael I will see you again. I love you so much.

Love,

Mom

"Victim leaves family behind"

Bradenton, Fla- Michael D. Carico II had plans for Thanksgiving dinner with his family, then a camping trip with his son. But in a split second everything changed. Carico and a friend left work Wednesday and were driving to mall to pick up a turkey fryer. A vehicle driven by a young woman ran through a red light slammed into their car, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, causing Carico`s life to end.
The accident occured at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Third Street West around 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Carico, who had just turned 39, was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg where he died. He had been a passenger in a vehicle driven by Louis Vasquez Jr. 36, who suffered minor injuries.
Troopers charged the driver of the other car, Sarah Fernandes, 19, with running a red light. She was taken to the hospital and released. Fernandes faced a mandatory court date Dec. 23 in Manatee County. Trooper Gerry Smith of the Florida Highwat Patrol told the Herald on Friday that information about the crash has been forwarded to the homicide investigators.
When Carico`s parents got the word that their son had been flown to the hospital, they immediately called, said Michael Carico Sr., after whom his son is named. A nurse told them they needed to get to the hospital right away. The worst news greeted the Caricos upon arrival. Doctors had pronounced their son dead at 6:15 p.m.
"You can`t believe the pain to walk in the hospital and see your son dead," Carico said. " He was already gone when we got there."
On Friday, the family remained stunned and grief stricken. Michael Carico II`s mother, Carol, said she doubts anything will ever be the same- even in the neigborhood because her son and his family lived next door. "He was a good family man, a good son, and a good brother", Carol Carico said. "He was always helping people. That`s what he was doing when he was killed".
Carico leaves behind a wife, Angie, and three children, ages 6, 11, and 16. Born in Ohio, Carico moved to Manatee County with his family when he was 10 years old, his father said. He was a Supervisor at Pierce Manufacturing Co., a Bradenton company that makes firetrucks, and formerly served as a firefighter in Samoset for three years.
His remains will be cremated and a memorial service will be held next week so all the family can be there, family members said. The family plans to release Carico`s ashes into the Manatee River because, an avid fisherman, the river was his favorite spot, his mother added.