| For Immediate Release Case # 09CF0139 April 15, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
HUSBAND SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SHOOTING-MURDER OF WIFE’S EX-BOYFRIEND
SANTA ANA – A husband was sentenced today to 50 years to life in state prison for the Christmas Eve shooting-murder of his wife’s ex-boyfriend. Victor John Disalvo, 43, Garden Grove, was found guilty by a jury March 8, 2010, of one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death.
In 2007, Victor Disalvo and his wife Rosie Disalvo divorced after ten years of marriage. After the divorce, Rosie Disalvo began dating Jorge Diaz. In August 2008, Victor Disalvo and his wife re-married.
At approximately 10:00 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2008, Victor Disalvo drove with his wife to Diaz’s Santa Ana apartment. The defendant, armed with a firearm, entered the victim’s residence. Once inside, Victor Disalvo murdered Diaz by shooting him in the head and stomach.
The defendant got back into the car with his wife and fled the scene. He then drove to a nearby gas station and disposed of the firearm used to murder the victim. The firearm was not recovered. Diaz’s body was discovered by his family early Christmas morning.
In early January 2009, Victor Disalvo was arrested by Santa Ana police after telling a friend that he was responsible for the murder.
During the jury trial, the defendant testified that he went to confront Diaz about the victim’s relationship with Rosie Disalvo. He also testified that he shot Diaz after the victim lunged at him holding an object that the defendant believed to be a gun.
During the sentencing today, written statements were provided by the victim’s brother and sister-in-law describing the difficulties they continue to deal with after the death of Diaz and the terror of being the ones to find their loved one murdered on the floor on Christmas morning.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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