Oakdale memorial spawns neighbor dispute | News

OAKDALE, CA - People living near a woman in Oakdale who mourns her son with a display that keeps growing, said it's time for that memorial to be trimmed back.

The memorial was put together by Tammy Mazzariello to honor her son Ryan who died about a month ago in the Stanislaus County Jail.  He was in custody after being accused of two killings in November outside a small Oakdale market.

"It's a shrine to her son, who was arrested for murdering two kids in town, and who died in jail.   He didn't die at this house or live at this house, yet we have this shrine here," said Kevin Johnson.

Candles and photos were the first items on her front lawn, east of downtown Oakdale.  Then Sunday a large cross made of tree limbs was added.   That pushed neighbors over the edge, who confronted Mazzariello.  Their dispute brought police to the scene.

"I don't care how it looks.  It doesn't matter.   Basically that's discrimination.  You can't tell me that I can't have a cross," said Mazzariello.

An Oakdale police officer assigned to the Sunday scene told the group it was a city code issue, not a legal question. 

If the city doesn't step in, Mazzariello said her front yard display will stay in place likely through Easter.

by tdaly@news10.net