Local news- Press Release
Monterey County California - Jimmy Rodriguez Sentenced To 50 Years to Life in Prison For 1999 Cold Case Murder of Salinas Businessman Elias Diaz 22 February 2024 ( news )
Monterey County , state California ( By Press Release office)
Feb 22,2024
| 21| 1
SALINAS
, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M . Pacioni announced today that Jimmy Torres Rodriguez , age 52 of Visalia , was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for the 1999 cold - case murder of Elias Diaz . In December , a jury convicted Rodriguez of first - degree murder and found true a special allegation that Rodriguez personally and intentionally discharged a firearm resulting in the victim’s death .
Diaz , age 39 , was a father of seven children and the owner of a Salinas car dealership at the time of his murder . On November 19 , 1999 , Diaz was shot and killed by a person pretending to be a customer interested in purchasing a vehicle . The shooter fled the scene and abandoned the murder weapon and the distinctive clothing he was wearing in a trash can a few blocks away . Recent DNA testing on the clothing items , along with corroborating witness testimony , linked Rodriguez , then age 27 , to the murder .
The Honorable Rafael Vazquez , who presided over the 11 - day jury trial , sentenced Rodriguez to the maximum punishment available by law .
The case was investigated by Salinas Police Department Sergeant Ruben Sanchez and District Attorney Investigator Kris Hunsaker , with the valuable assistance of many current and retired Salinas Police Department officers and the California Department of Justice , Bureau of Forensic Services Crime Laboratories in Watsonville and Richmond . The victim’s family was supported by Victim Assistance Advocate Susana Reyes .
In 2020 , District Attorney Jeannine M . Pacioni established the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Task Force , which was designed to investigate , solve , and prosecute cold - case homicides in Monterey County . Salinas Police Department has been an integral part of this effort to obtain justice for victims and their families . Multiple other agencies within the county are also partnering with the Task Force on unsolved homicide cases . For more information , please visit
https://www . co . monterey . ca . us/government/departments - a - h/district - attorney/cold - case - task - force
.
Since the establishment of the Cold Case Task Force , four defendants have been convicted of cold - case murders at jury trial . One homicide suspect was identified but died before the confirmation of a DNA match . In addition , four individuals are pending trial for cold - case murders and two more are pending trial for cold - case sexual assaults .
PLAY the NEWS
* May be useful for visually impaired persons .
Press release information :
Direct link to press release:
Click here .
