Friday, November 3, 2000
Home Edition
Section: Metro
Page: B-7

By: ANA BEATRIZ CHOLO
TIMES STAFF WRITER

Today in Dallas, Wendy Soltero's family and close college friends will follow four student jazz musicians in a New Orleans-style funeral march to a historic community cemetery. They will gather at her graveside and remember the young woman who loved jazz and was known as an exceptionally creative and caring person.

Today, the student newspaper of Occidental College will be devoid of all photos--except for those of Soltero, who was the paper's former photo editor and advice columnist. A four-page memorial insert will include poems, stories and the last column she wrote.

Soltero, a 22-year-old senior and studio art major, was shot in the head by a robber six days ago while sitting in her car in Hollywood. She had picked up two friends who had too much to drink and was parked in a residential neighborhood close to Paramount Studios.

The motor was still running and the emergency flashers were on when a car pulled up behind Soltero. One of its occupants, a young woman carrying a handgun, walked up to Soltero's window. She asked for money and the three young women, who didn't have much cash on them, willingly offered their wallets, according to police and family members.

Nobody knows why, but Soltero was shot once in the head. Forty minutes later, two LAPD officers witnessed a similar robbery about to take place and arrested the two suspects.

Araceli Gonzalez, 19, of Compton and Demetrio Cabrera, 31, of Los Angeles were linked to Soltero's killing. The suspects have been charged with murder with special circumstances, which means they could face the death penalty.

On Tuesday, a candlelight vigil at the small private college in Eagle Rock attracted almost 100 students and faculty. Soltero enrolled at Occidental three years ago. Quirky and colorful, if she wasn't working on her novel, she was sculpting a piece of art or dyeing her hair fuchsia to her parents' horror.

Friends asked if they remembered when someone asked her if she had watched the Golden Globes and she said, "Yeah I was watching it" and said, "Hey, I should be there!" With photos to prove it, she snapped pictures of newlyweds Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston and other celebrities.

Then there was the time that she covered her car with marshmallows to cheer up a friend.

Soltero had attended photography school in New York, but the weather and big city lifestyle didn't suit her, said sister Karen Soltero, 26. Los Angeles was perfect, Karen said, because it was a city that quenched Soltero's thirst to photograph and rub shoulders with celebrities.

"She was my best friend," Karen said. "I'm so grateful we had the opportunity to spend so much time together. She was incredibly generous and loving, a little nutty, a little crazy sometimes. She always did the unexpected but it never surprised those that knew her."

On the night she was killed, Karen came home from work and found her sister asleep on her couch with her dog. They spent some time together before Wendy left. Her big plans that night included carving pumpkins with her roommate.

It wasn't until late the next day that Karen received the news.

"I know she wants us to be really strong and really brave," Karen said, struggling to keep an even voice. "She loved living so much."