A young man was convicted Friday of the murders of his 14-year-old girlfriend’s grandparents, who were stabbed in their bed in Rosemead more than six years ago.
The Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated about two days before finding Roldolfo Lopez, 27, guilty of first-degree murder for the Aug. 9, 2010, killings of Jack Bezner, 71, and his 64-year-old wife, Susan.
Jurors also found true the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, but rejected allegations that Lopez personally used a knife in the commission of the crimes.
Lopez’s girlfriend, Sophia Cristo, who is now 20, was tried last year and convicted of first-degree murder charges. Jurors that heard the case against her found true the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder while lying in wait, along with an allegation that she used a knife to kill her grandmother.
The teen lived with her grandparents and her father.
Lopez and Cristo are due back at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse Jan. 24 for sentencing before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Richman.
Lopez is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole. It is unclear exactly what sentence Cristo will face because she was a juvenile at the time of the killings.
Deputy District Attorney Scott McPheron told jurors during the trial that the “heinous, gruesome” killings were premeditated.
“It was a planned act in a cowardly way while these people slept,” the prosecutor said.
Cristo’s grandfather was stabbed 47 times, and her grandmother suffered 112 knife wounds, the deputy district attorney said.
“(The) defendant was able to take Jack down with 47,” the prosecutor said, telling jurors that Cristo’s grandmother tried to fight back and that Lopez acknowledged helping Cristo with her grandmother. “They covered up the bodies as if they were sleeping to delay discovery.”
The teen’s grandfather had become aware about a week earlier that his checks were being forged and confronted her, McPheron said.
Lopez and Cristo were stopped a few days later in El Paso, Texas.
Lopez’s attorney, Simon Aval, urged jurors to acquit his client of the killings, arguing that Lopez’s statement to detectives about the crime was “not truthful.”
“Just because he said something doesn’t make it true,” Aval told jurors. “I would submit to you that my client did not commit this crime.”
He said there was “no physical evidence” linking Lopez to the bedroom or the couple’s home.
The couple was found dead under a blanket in their bed by one of their sons after family members became concerned that a relative had not heard from them on her birthday.
— City News Service