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Fred Funderburgh lost his son Billy and daughter-in-law Natalee in June when a Kia Optima slammed into the back of the couples motorcycle just outside of Elgin one Sunday morning, killing both of them.

Rodolfo Campuzano, who was driving the Kia and is suspected of being in the country illegally, fled the scene of the crash, according to police. He was later arrested at his home, intoxicated twice the legal limit.

Last week, Fred Funderburghs second son, Jason Synatschk, committed suicide.

Now, the family is asking for help from the public to pay for Synatschks funeral expenses, as well as to shine national attention to the plight of families who have lost loved ones at the hands of unauthorized immigrants.

Funderburgh is actively involved with the Remembrance Project, a nonprofit that advocates for these families.

In January, President Donald Trump flew Funderburgh and his other son James to Washington D.C. for a private meeting. They spoke in the Secretary of War Office at the White House then watched the president sign two executive orders: one to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and the other to deny federal funds to sanctuary cities that shield unauthorized immigrants from deportation.

Fred Funderburgh and his son James, who lost Billy Billy was Freds son and Jamess brother. Billys wife Natalee was also killed by an illegal immigrant, somebody that should never, ever have been here, Trump said in a speech in January.

On June 26, 2016 at 1:45 a.m., Campuzano failed to control his speed and struck the back of Billy and Natalees blue motorcycle as they were headed southbound on Texas 95 outside of Elgin, police said.

The couple was pronounced dead at the scene.

Campuzano, who fled the crash, was later found at his girlfriends house, where he failed a field sobriety test, according to his arrest affidavit. He was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter.

In September, he was released on a personal recognizance bond since a grand jury failed to indict him within 90 days.

Campuzano was arrested again in October, that time on two counts of causing an accident resulting in death. He was indicted in December and is being held at the Bastrop County Jail on $500,000 bail and a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement detainer. If found guilty, he faces two to 20 years in prison.

The Funderburgh family came out in full force to the Bastrop County Courthouse on March 1 for Campuzanos pretrial hearing, which was later rescheduled to the end of the month.

On Friday, Synatschk, one of Billys brothers, shot himself in the head.

Jason took it really, really hard, Funderburgh said. He couldnt even come to court down there because it was so emotional for him. It was so sad and hurtful and afraid this guy was going to get out again. He didnt believe in the judicial system.

Campuzano had been previously arrested for driving while intoxicated in Travis County in 2011, according to court records. He served 14 days in jail and was released.

This guy shouldnt have been here, Funderburgh said. He should have been deported after the first DWI.

Maria Espinoza, cofounder and national director of the Remembrance Project, said the Funderburghs went to the Bastrop Countys Sheriffs Office for help through victim services, which covers funeral expenses, emotional support services and crime-related travel for families of victims that have died in a crime.

Synatschks funeral services would not be covered since his death was not the result of a crime, the office said.

The family is now asking the public for help. Anyone wishing to donate can do so through a GoFundMe page set up for Synatschk.

Fred has lost two of his sons, Espinoza said. He is just trying to keep his family and whats left of it together.

The Remembrance Project was founded in 2009 and advocates against the creation of sanctuary cities, where officials do not devote resources to enforcing federal immigration policies. Sanctuary cities have been a hot-button issue this legislative session.

In February, the Texas Senate approved a bill that would criminalize police and sheriffs departments who fail to participate in federal immigration enforcement. A Class A misdemeanor could be assessed against police chiefs, sheriffs, city and county officials and anyone in a position of authority who blocks law officers from asking detainees about their immigration status or fail to honor detention requests from federal immigration authorities.

Senate Bill 4, as it is known, would also require county jails to honor federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests to extend the detention of inmates suspected of being in the United States illegally.

Sen. Kirk Watson, whose district includes Bastrop County, has opposed the measure. He said SB 4 is not about public safety.

If it were, wed listen to the professional public safety leaders who tell us this wont make Texas safer. Instead, they tell us it makes us less safe, he said.

The bill was sent to the House in February.

Campuzano is scheduled to appear again in court for his pretrial hearing on March 29.

Statesman reporter Chuck Lindell contributed to this report.

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Father who lost son in Elgin crash advocates for immigration reform - Austin American-Statesman