Two California brothers who beat a groom to loss of life simply hours after he stated “I do” have been convicted in his brutal baseball bat killing.
Joe Melgoza was celebrating his nuptials on Dec. 14, 2019, when he was attacked at his marriage ceremony reception, which was held within the yard of a household residence in Chino, about 35 miles east of Los Angeles.
Rony Castaneda, 31, and Josue Castaneda, 22, have been convicted of second-degree homicide by a jury on Feb. 9 for Joe Melgoza’s loss of life, the San Bernardino County District Legal professional’s Workplace introduced in a press launch dated Feb. 23.
They have been additionally discovered responsible of assault with a lethal weapon for accidents to the brother of Melgoza’s bride, Juan Bustamonte, prosecutors stated.
The Castaneda brothers are slated to be sentenced on March 14.
The brothers didn’t know anybody within the marriage ceremony social gathering, prosecutors stated, however lived close by and certain heard the festivities and went to the reception, uninvited.
Marriage ceremony crashers, a picture sales space and baseball bats
On the reception, the brothers have been seen socializing, dancing and taking pictures with feminine visitors. On the finish of the marriage reception the brothers left, then returned by way of a path behind the house, armed with baseball bats, with out the sufferer and his household figuring out.
The brothers stood behind a fence and taunted Melgoza, telling him to leap to the opposite facet, the D.A.’s workplace stated.
“As soon as Melgoza and his household jumped the fence, the brothers started hitting all of them with bats and fists,” the discharge continues. “A member of the family was in a position to pull a bat from one of many Castaneda brothers who bumped into an unrelated residence. They have been adopted by Melgoza, who bumped into the yard unarmed. A couple of minutes later the Castaneda brothers have been seen leaping the fence out of the unrelated residence with a single bat, which was by no means discovered.”
Groom died ‘inside minutes’
Chino Police Division, the preliminary company to reply to the killing first attended to an injured member of the family, and found Melgoza useless within the yard the place the Castaneda brothers have been final seen.
A medical expert decided the groom’s explanation for loss of life to be blunt drive trauma to the top, and stated he died inside minutes of the assault.
Josue Castaneda denied attending the reception, however after his arrest, a photobooth picture of he and his brother posing with a feminine visitor from the reception was present in his entrance pocket. Snapchat info additionally aided Chino police in figuring out the brothers, prosecutors stated.
“I commend my colleagues’ dedication to this case and dedication to hunt justice for a household who endured such unimaginable grief throughout a time that needs to be crammed love and happiness,” stated District Legal professional Jason Anderson. “Though this conviction can by no means undo the ache brought on by two particular person’s actions, I hope it brings a measure of closure to the spouse and family members of Joe Melgoza.”
Who was Joe Melgoza?
On the day of his killing, Melgoza married Esther Melgoza, prosecutors stated.
In keeping with his obituary:
- He was born in Los Angeles.
- Along with his spouse and different relations, he left behind his mom Isela Dubon and a younger daughter.
- He was employed at Ventura Meals in Ontario, California, for 10 years earlier than his loss of life.
Household described him as the kind of one who was at all times keen to lend a serving to hand, the Los Angeles Occasions reported.
“He at all times had a technique to make you smile,” the outlet reported Melgoza’s cousin Alice Alvarez stated.
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Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending information for USA TODAY. Attain her at nalund@usatoday.com and observe her on Twitter @nataliealund.
