After a mistrial, Eriberto Beltran Arenas was convicted of murdering his estranged wife in front of their four-year-old son. The initial trial ended in deadlock due to arguments regarding whether the crime was premeditated. However, he later pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, resulting in a 15 years to life prison sentence, plus an additional three years for threatening his son. The prosecution hailed the decision as justice for the victim, while defense counsel expressed disappointment in the sentence's severity.
We heard the heartbreaking story in November 2021 that a Daly City man shot and killed his estranged wife Lilliam Orozco Zelaya, and did so not only with her four-year-old son in the next room.
The jury deadlocked in May 2024 following arguments that it was a crime of passion and not premeditated, leading to a mistrial.
Beltran Arenas pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison plus three additional years for threatening his son.
San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing that justice was done for the victim.
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