The murder of 76-year-old Tsai Chung Ren in 2019 was as gruesome as it was unexpected. Arcadia’s grandmother was found dead in her backyard after being violently attacked with a hammer, circular saw and box cutter, authorities said.
Now, five years later, Tsai’s family has received some measure of justice.
Heber Enoch Diaz, 33, of Pasadena, was found guilty of capital murder Thursday, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The prosecutor’s office announced that he could be sentenced to life in prison at sentencing scheduled for December 16th.
Prosecutors said Diaz was one of the construction workers working on renovations to Tsai’s home in March 2019 when he entered Tsai’s property and committed the first robbery.
Juan Benitez, another construction worker hired by Tsai, told ABC7 that Tsai was so shaken up by the robbery that he asked police to increase patrols in the neighborhood. Benitez described her as a very nice woman who always provided the workers with coffee, fruit and cake.
That April 9, when Diaz was no longer working at the facility, he returned to commit a second robbery and was stealing from the garage when Tsai appeared, prosecutors said. He claims that he killed him because of this.
According to the Pasadena Star, the man hit her with a hammer, stabbed her multiple times, cut her neck twice, and then stole her Lexus RX300 with $4,500 in cash, her wallet, cell phone, credit cards, ID and violin. He is said to have fled on board. News coverage of the incident.
On November 7, Diaz was found guilty on all charges. one count of murder with special circumstances and one count of murder with special circumstances. two felony counts of second-degree robbery; The felonies include one count each of first-degree burglary, second-degree robbery and elder abuse.
The jury found true the special circumstances allegation that the murder was committed during a robbery or attempted robbery, as well as the allegation that a deadly and dangerous weapon was used inflicting serious injury on the victim, who was over 70 years old. Certified.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Tsai’s family on this unimaginable loss,” Los Angeles Township said in a statement. Atty. Georges Gascon. “While we understand that we cannot truly fill the void left by her absence, we hope that a guilty verdict will bring some measure of justice and peace.”
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