(Jury reaches guilty verdict)....It was reached last week and announced by the County District Attorney's office this week.

Rodrigo Flores Gomez was found guilty of First-Degree Murder with willful premeditation and deliberation. It was determined he had murdered his estranged wife in April of last year. Sandy Fabela and her 16-year-old daughter had obtained a restraining order against the suspect in February 2024. Brawley Police had arrested the defendant in early April of last year for violating the order as well as being under the influence of narcotics. He was released and later that month he beat his estranged wife to death, placing her body in her vehicle and driving the vehicle to the Meserve Park. He was later arrested for the murder after admitting the crime to Police. While in County jail was caught trying to escape. Sentencing for both the murder and attempted escape are scheduled for August 22.