A man from Turlock, Ricardo Rios, was sentenced to 51 years to life in prison for stabbing his neighbor, Pedro Ruiz, over 100 times in 2016. The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing on Wednesday.
The incident happened on November 12, 2016. Rios asked Ruiz for a ride to the store. During the ride, Rios made Ruiz pull over and then stabbed him over 50 times in the face and neck, and many more times on the rest of his body.
After the attack, Rios dumped Ruiz’s body in an orchard and burned the car at a different location. The next day, Ruiz’s body was found.
Evidence included a bloody knife at the scene and bloody clothes at Rios’s home.
Rios claimed he was not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury found him sane at the time of the crime. He was also found guilty of arson for burning the car.
During the trial, various motives were suggested, including self-defense, mental health issues, and fear of gang rivalry. Prosecutors also mentioned robbery as a possible motive, as $300 in cash, Ruiz’s cell phone, and driver’s license were found in Rios’s bedroom.