| For Immediate Release August 26, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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OCDA TO OPPOSE PAROLE OF INMATE CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING AND MURDERING MAN EXECUTION STYLE
SANTA ANA – Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas is opposing the parole of an inmate convicted of kidnapping and murdering a man by shooting him point-blank in the head. Ramiro Contreras, 45, was found guilty of one felony count of first degree murder and one felony count of kidnapping on June 3, 1988, and subsequently sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison. The inmate is currently being held at Avenal State Prison. This case was originally prosecuted by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Contreras is scheduled for a parole hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. at the prison before the Board of Parole Hearings, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Deputy District Attorney Nagy Morcos will appear at the hearing to oppose Contreras’ parole.
Circumstances of the Murder
On June 5, 1987, then-19-year-old Contreras got into an argument with his girlfriend, whom he suspected of having an affair with 22-year-old Carlos Molina. Contreras hit and kicked his girlfriend several times before telling her to move out.
The next day, June 6, 1987, Contreras and co-defendant Camerino Guerra forcibly removed Molina from a car, where he was sitting with the inmate’s girlfriend, and stuffed him into their own car. Contreras then drove the victim to an orange grove located south of Irvine Boulevard. The inmate argued with Molina and struck the victim in the face with a firearm. Contreras then murdered Molina by shooting the victim point-blank in the head execution style and then left him to die before fleeing the scene.
On Nov. 17, 1987, Contreras was arrested by the Anaheim Police Department at an Anaheim inn. Prior to his arrest, Contreras fled to Mexico for several weeks and moved to Arizona for a short time.
Lack of Remorse and Threat to Public Safety
The inmate’s commitment offense was carried out in a cruel and calculated manner. Contreras exhibited a callous disregard for the life and suffering of the victim. Before being contacted by the police, the inmate told the victim’s friend that if Molina were “born today, [he’d] kill him again.” The inmate has failed to show any remorse or gain appropriate insight into his crime.