A Yucca Valley man was convicted Thursday of the 2011 torture and burning death of his ex-girlfriend, Maria Banuelos. A Rancho Cucamonga jury found 43-year-old Hector Meza guilty of one count of first degree murder, with the jury finding true the special circumstances that the murder was committed during the course or commission of mayhem, that the murder was intentional and involved infliction of torture, and that the defendant killed the victim by means of lying in wait. The jury also found Meza guilty of one count of aggravated mayhem, one count of torture, and one count of arson causing great bodily injury. On October 22, 2011, officers from the Ontario Police Department arrived at an apartment complex and found residents administering aid to 34-year-old Banuelos, who was still on fire. At the scene, the victim identified Hector Meza and three others as her attackers. While in the ambulance her dying words were: “Hector Meza set me on fire. He is abusive and obsessive.” The Ontario resident was taken to a hospital where she died two days later.
It was later determined by the coroner that the victim had been hit on the head three times with something consistent of a metal bar prior to being set on fire. Hours after the attack officers arrested Meza on suspicion of attempted murder. Lead Deputy District Attorney Kent Williams, who prosecuted the case said Banuelos left her apartment and shortly later her family heard screams. When they went out side, they saw her engulfed in flames on the ground. Meza is scheduled to be sentenced January 4, 2017. He faces life in state prison without the possibility of parole.
Following the death of Banuelos, investigators arrested four other suspects linked to the brutal attack:
Robert Chico Zapata, 24, of San Bernardino
Johnny Eugene Hernandez, 23, (No Known Address)
Johnathan Zuniga, 28, of Rancho Cucamonga
Genese Ramirez Leon, 25, (No Known Address)
The four remaining defendants are scheduled back in court next month.
