911 tapes released from Tapia's death

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - A 911 call made from boxer Johnny Tapia's Albuquerque home reveals the moments when his family members realize he is beyond help.

Police released audio Tuesday in which Tapia's wife, Teresa, can be heard pleading for emergency dispatchers to send an ambulance.

Teresa Tapia initially says her husband is unconscious and not moving. Another woman, believed to be her sister, tells the operator Tapia appears "stiff" and "purple."

The operator tries to instruct them on CPR but Tapia's sister-in-law says, "He's gone."

"He's gone, he's gone. . He's cold; there's nothing," she tells the dispatcher.

When the operator asks if Tapia had been sick, she can only be heard saying "Why, why, why? You died? Why, Johnny?"

The operator asks if Tapia was using any drugs and his sister-in-law says no.

The 45-year-old Tapia, who had long suffered with public battles of cocaine addiction and depression, died Sunday. Still, he was a hero to many New Mexico boxing fans who called him "Burque's Best."

An autopsy is pending.

NewMexicoBoxing.com, a website devoted to covering boxing matches in the Southwest, posted details Wednesday of a public memorial service for Tapia.

According to the site, the memorial is scheduled for June 3 at 7 p.m. at the University of New Mexico in the school's arena, The Pit.