Month: February 2019

In 2017 I was feeling Mother Proud! Sander became a Deputy Chief Fire Marshal, Northeast Regional Commander, Maryland State Police. My "Baby Boy" was supervising a dozen Fire Marshals. His "Big Boss," Brian Geraci, whom I met for the first time at 2am Dec 8, 2017 when he came to tell us Sander was dead, were on the same page. We both believed in the "Sandman".
Before that, every Tuesday when Sander came over for dinner he and I searched on-line for his first house. He said it had to be in his buddies neighborhood and have good schools for his "future family". I was beyond happy! House, family, a daughter-in-law, grandchildren! Cool!!! My husband, Neil (PopaDoc), and I could see our families fabulous future coming to fruition. Then our dreams died. An illegal alien hit and killed my son and FBI Special Agent, Carlos Wolff, when he stopped on a Maryland highway to help Carlos who had hit the Jersey wall. Sander was a Volunteer Firefighter at RVFD, known as the "Rock". Medics he had worked with responded to the horrific scene. I was told there were 1600 people at Sander's funeral. I sort of heard Sander's friends and colleagues speak. I remember seeing 100s of men and women in their police and fire dress clothes. I saw people standing by the road in the cold for miles as we followed the fire truck carrying my dead child to the cemetery.
I spent the first year in the company of angels. I'm getting my happy back one day at a time. I went to Police Week and saw Sander's name engraved on their Memorial Wall. At National Fallen Fire Fighters, I saw his name engraved on their Memorial Wall. We went to the Headquarters of Maryland State Police and I saw Sander's name engraved on a Memorial. RVFD invited us to be Lifetime members. I see Carlos' widow, Marla, and her children every week. Sander's friends have invited us to their weddings. We help out at the firehouse and I am part of the Angel Families. We are bonded for life.

My husband, Carlos Wolff, was a Supervisory Special FBI Agent. Carlos was born in Venezuela and came to the United States when he was 8 years old. He joined the FBI as a special agent when he was 25, and dedicated his 11 years at the FBI to protecting America. Carlos’ life ended at 36 years old when he was hit by an illegal alien—on December 8, 2017. Carlos had been in a single vehicle accident. Deputy Chief Fire Marshall Sander Cohen had stopped behind Carlos to help him. As the two men were waiting on the shoulder for help to arrive, Roberto Garza Palacios hit and killed them both. Palacios had overstayed his visa since 2009 and was wanted by ICE in 2015 due to his numerous offense record; which included two DUI's, two counts of endangerment of life, property and person, and possession of cocaine. However, Montgomery County MD refused to hand Palacios over to ICE due to immigration laws that had changed in Maryland. Palacios was then fined $280 for hitting Carlos and Sander, and is currently out free on a $15,000 bail.

Carlos left behind his wife of twelve years, Marla, and their two young children, who were 2 and 7 years old at the time of the accident.

Considering Palacios’ record, he should have been deported in 2015 when ICE requested him from Montgomery County, MD. Our families are going through so much pain and heartache. Carlos and Sander were individuals whom were loved by many. Maryland’s sanctuary laws protect illegals over citizens. We need to see our laws changed so that others do not have to experience this unimaginable heartache.

Marla works part-time and devotes the rest of her time to raising her two young children.

Marla Wolff