A Casa Grande teenager accused of helping his girlfriend kill her father is facing a life sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder Tuesday afternoon.
The jurors in the Jose Carlos Cruz case also convicted Cruz of first-degree burglary and theft of means of transportation.
According to court testimony, Cruz stabbed Lauro Garcia 17 times because he felt Garcia was taking too long to die from the beating he suffered at the hands of his daughter, Linda Garcia.
In December 2004, the then-17-year-old Cruz was dating Linda Garcia, then 21.
Prosecutor Kellie Johnson told jurors during opening statements that on Dec. 22, 2004, Lauro Garcia kicked Cruz out of his house for the second time after finding him hiding inside.
Garcia, a grandfather of 12, was found dead on the floor of his bedroom the next day and police immediately realized his truck and Linda Garcia were missing.
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Tucson police tracked Linda Garcia and Cruz to his parents' home after learning the two had been stopped by Eloy police while driving Lauro Garcia's truck.
Two of Cruz's cousins ultimately told police they helped Linda Garcia and Cruz vandalize the truck and set it on fire. They also told detectives the pair had confessed to stabbing Lauro Garcia, beating him with a baseball bat and stealing money and personal belongings from the home.
The older Garcia's blood was also found on Cruz's tennis shoes, despite his contention he never went back inside the house after being kicked out.
During closing arguments Tuesday morning, Johnson told jurors Garcia's death was clearly premeditated first-degree murder.
"As you are taking a knife and plunging it into a person's body 17 times, do you not have time to reflect on what you are doing?" Johnson asked the jury.
Defense attorney Richard Bock suggested to the jury that Linda Garcia was solely responsible for her father's death, saying Cruz may have bragged about participating in the slaying to boost his image.
The blood on his shoes could have simply come into contact with some other bloody object, it doesn't mean he was in the house during the attack, Bock said.
"Who had the motive in this case?" Bock asked. "Linda Garcia had the motive. He didn't have a motive."
Four witnesses testified that it was Linda Garcia who was flashing money after the slaying, Bock reminded jurors.
The defense attorney also recalled the testimony of a neuropsychologist who testified Cruz is highly likely to act impulsively in times of stress.
Bock conceded his client stole Garcia's truck, but asked the jury to find his client guilty of manslaughter and trespassing instead of first-degree murder and burglary.
Cruz, who could receive life with or without the possibility of parole, is scheduled to be sentenced July 10.
Linda Garcia is scheduled to go to trial July 5.
