Town Rallies Behind Murderer Who Claims He Was Abused

May 20, 2010— -- Is it ever OK to take the law into your own hands? That question has divided a California community since the murder of a respected town businessman last February.

Aaron Vargas, a 32-year-old father about to be married, shot and killed Darrell McNeill -- a former neighbor and the father of his childhood best friend -- while McNeill's wife watched.

The news shocked the small coastal town of Fort Bragg, but residents were even more stunned to learn of the alleged dark secrets kept for decades between the two men: McNeill had been sexually abused Vargas since age 11.

As Vargas' story of abuse spread, the family said a dozen men in their thirties and forties came forward saying that they too had been abused by Darrell McNeill. Some even said they had gone to warn the Fort Bragg Police Department, but no action was taken.

"This story just kept getting worse and worse. The more we learned, it was just like when we thought things couldn't get any worse, we would find something else out," said Mindy Galliani, Vargas' younger sister.

Watch the story on "20/20" Friday at 10 p.m. ET

Galliani was so outraged that she began a grass roots campaign to tell her brother's story and how he acted to stop the cycle of alleged abuse before it ensnared anyone else. From protests and petitions, to media appearances and fundraising at Saveaaron.com, a once-skeptical community rallied for Vargas, who had been arrested and indicted for first-degree murder.

"The community just stood right up. There were just people coming out of the woodwork. They were saying, 'Let this kid out of jail,'" said Tom Hudson, Vargas' defense attorney.

In jail, Vargas also left behind his fiance Selena Barnett, who feels she's locked in a prison of her own, raising their 18-month-old daughter Josie alone. The night McNeill was shot the couple was two weeks away from their wedding.

"I'm scared to death that he won't come home. And ... if I psych myself up for coming home, then I'm not doing what I need to do for my kid, which is make sure that we have a life," Barnett said.

By keeping Vargas behind bars, Galliani believes law enforcement is perpetuating the cycle of abuse by depriving Josie of a father.

"I know it's their job to prosecute people. But I don't think that includes checking your humanity at the door when you go to do your job. I don't think that includes not having any compassion. I don't think we need to quit being humans in order to do a job," Galliani said. "He doesn't deserve it."

Prosecution Sees Different Side of Vargas

While the community came out in support of Vargas, to the district attorney's office, the case was cut and dry.

"The bottom line is the law is very clear that when you do this, there have to be ramifications," said Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Norman.

As detectives investigated, they said Vargas' abuse story didn't line up with his actions. McNeill's wife, Elizabeth, told investigators that Vargas frequently came over to the McNeill house to hang out and socialize.

"We received information that potentially Darrell McNeill and Aaron Vargas were engaged in a consensual adult relationship two to four years before his death," said Sergeant Greg Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sherriff's office.

Also, a witness reportedly saw Vargas at McNeill's office hours before he was shot and overheard Vargas tell McNeill he'd see him later. Investigators came to believe that there was nothing spontaneous about the night Vargas fatally shot McNeill, but instead it was a clear case of premeditated murder, fueled by drunken anger and rage.

"Alcohol was involved, and there was some hint of the past relationship, but all the facts that we had in the beginning, led us to believe it was first-degree murder," Norman said.

According to the only witness, Elizabeth McNeill, Vargas made no effort to assist the man he says he had mistakenly shot in the stomach as he lay on the trailer floor dying. McNeill told the DA that she wanted to call for help on the cell phone she was holding in her hand, but Vargas wouldn't let her. Investigators say she recalls Vargas stating he was glad he did it, he was glad he shot him, he was glad that he was suffering.

Tom Hudson, Vargas's defense attorney, feels the prosecution was overzealous.

"There was really no excuse to, have to charge that as a first-degree murder. It was obvious from the night, from February 8th and the morning of February 9th, that Aaron was there to see McNeill because McNeill had molested him and molested other people, and he was afraid he would molest his daughter and continue molesting young people in the community," said Hudson.

What Drove Vargas to His Breaking Point?

Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner agrees that Vargas' fear should be taken into account. "You have to ask yourself, why did the violence happen on that day, and in the way that it did?" Welner said. "He [Vargas] made no effort to avoid being detected. And that is what you see in someone who actually does snap."

In the months prior to the shooting, the family said, Vargas claimed McNeill had offered to babysit for his baby girl. The Vargas family said it sent Vargas over the edge.

Welner said that Vargas' daughter's safety and learning that McNeill's stepson John Clemons had also been a victim of abuse may have been a catalyst for Vargas.

"I think there was something about taking in the story of these other victims that heightened for him his own helplessness, the scope, and success really, of McNeil's preying on others and underlying the urgency of the threat to Vargas's daughter," Welner said.

Click here to watch more of Welner's analysis.

McNeill's Widow Supports Vargas

Despite her statements to investigators about that night, Darrell's widow seems to support Vargas and wrote a letter to the District Attorney asking for the case to be settled.

"She [Elizabeth McNeill] misses her husband and she is not happy that he's not around. Though she understands how it all played out," Hudson said. "She thinks the most important thing for Aaron would be to get counseling, and then try and make a happy life for himself with Selena and their baby."

Vargas pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in March and is expected to be sentenced next month. He is facing up to 10 years in jail.

Galliani said the hardest part has been seeing Vargas be abused by a system that was mean to protect him.

"What else are you supposed to do when the system fails to protect you? What other choice do you have? Are we supposed to just turn our backs while this guy is going around and raping children. Your child might be next," she said. "The people who were supposed to be protecting Aaron ... they were doing nothing. And Aaron did something. And I don't think he should be at fault for that."

Vargas speaks out for the first time about allegations of abuse in an exclusive interview with "20/20's" Chris Cuomo Friday at 10 p.m. ET