| For Immediate Release April 21, 2006 |
Contact: | Susan Kang Schroeder Deputy District Attorney (714) 347-8408 Office (714) 292-2718 Cell |
FIRST DEFENDANT BROUGHT BACK FROM MEXICO FOR MURDER CHARGES COMMITTED AS A JUVENILE FACES JUDGE AS AN ADULT
SANTA ANA – The first defendant extradited from Mexico for murder charges committed as a juvenile was in Superior Court for the first time, charged as an adult. Victor Manuel Garcia, 22, was charged with murder. He will be back in court to be arraigned on May 4, 2006.
On September 21, 2001, in the early morning hours, 16-year-old Ceceline Godsoe was found dead at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa. She had been severely beaten. Defendant is accused of being the last person to be seen with the victim. He is accused of knocking her down, kicking her and killing her.
Defendant is accused of trying to cover up what he did. He is accused of bathing in alcohol, burning his clothes and fleeing to Mexico. His whereabouts were unknown for a few years.
The defendant was turned over by the Mexican authorities. The defendant was arrested for domestic violence charges in Mexico and the Mexican Government extradited him to California to stand trial for the murder of Ms. Godsoe.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting the case.
###