VISALIA, CA – A Tulare County jury has convicted Erika Sandoval of first-degree murder in the death of her ex-husband, Exeter police officer Daniel Green, concluding a case that has stretched over several years. However, the jury decided Thursday that Sandoval, 38, was not lying in wait, thereby removing the death penalty as a sentencing option.
Sandoval is facing life imprisonment following the verdict, with sentencing scheduled for June 5. Jurors did agree with the assertion that Sandoval had personally and intentionally used a firearm, resulting in great bodily harm.
The case stems from the discovery of Green’s body inside his Goshen home on February 6, 2015, after he failed to appear for work. His remains were found wrapped in a shower curtain, with four gunshot wounds, including one to the head.
Prosecutors presented surveillance footage showing Sandoval entering the home shortly before Green’s return and leaving about an hour later. They characterized the killing as motivated by jealousy over Green’s new romantic involvement, citing a note found in Sandoval’s possession with details about Green’s new girlfriend.
Family members of Green expressed relief at the verdict, stating that the prolonged legal proceedings often felt like their lives were in limbo. “Ten years is a long time,” the family noted, expressing a sense of closure and the ability to “move forward in many ways.”
The defense argued that Sandoval acted out of self-defense after enduring alleged abuse from Green, although no formal charges were ever brought against him related to these claims. They detailed instances of purported abuse in court, attempting to justify Sandoval’s actions as responses to Green’s behavior.
The prosecution countered these claims, focusing instead on Sandoval’s jealousy, particularly after Green posted a picture with his new girlfriend just days before his death. They suggested that Sandoval intended to threaten Green with her statement that “no one is ever going to want you.”
Sandoval’s first trial concluded without a verdict in 2019 after a lone juror could not be swayed to convict. A juror from the new trial commented on the importance of revisiting Sandoval’s confessions, which they said were more thoroughly understood upon review outside of the courtroom setting.
The conclusion of this retrial marks a significant development in a complex case, bringing a measure of resolution to those involved. Sandoval now awaits sentencing where she’ll learn the full extent of her punishment without the specter of the death penalty.