Guilty

Jury finds Felipe Cruz Hernandez guilty in wife’s murder
By DEBRA DeANGELO
Express editor
There is no body, but there is a verdict: Guilty of second degree murder, with malice aforethought. The jury announced their decision in the Felipe Cruz Hernandez murder trial on Tuesday, Dec. 22, at approximately 3 p.m. in Yolo Superior Court, said a spokesperson from the Yolo County District Attorney’s office.
The trial began on Nov. 9, following Hernandez’ arrest in May for the murder of his wife, Leticia Barrales Ramos, 28, who was last seen alive on April 12. Her body has never been found, despite numerous searches in the area by the Winters Police Department and the FBI.
The DA spokesperson said the jury began deliberating late Friday afternoon, Dec. 18. She said sentencing will take place on Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. in Dept. 6 at the Yolo County Courthouse.
According to Crystal Ross-O’Hara, reporter for McNaughton newspapers, District Attorney Robert Trudgeon confirmed that DNA samples from the blood found in the couple’s Baker Street apartment in Winters matched Ramos. Ross-O’Hara noted that although Hernandez was found guilty of second degree murder, he was found not guilty of first degree murder.
She added that jury foreman Mike Sullivan commented on how tough this case was because there was no body, and another juror who asked to remain anonymous commented that the trial process “restores his faith in the system.”
Following the reading of the verdict, Winters Police Chief Bruce Muramoto had praise for Winters Police Officer Sergio Gutierrez, who headed up the investigation locally, and for the Yolo County District Attorney’s office as well, calling the overall investigation and trial “great teamwork."

Posted by Thomas A. (Tad) DiBiase, No Body Guy