‘Keep this vicious murderer behind bars': Family of murdered Bakersfield teen speaks out as killer is granted parole
The only convicted killer who remains in custody has been granted parole.
17-year-old Amanda Zubia's family says it's outrage and agony that despite the brutal nature of the murder, Maricruz Galaviz could soon be released.
'Not one of them had an ounce of compassion or any heart to stop what they were doing,' said Savina Garcia, cousin of the victim.
Flashback to July 2004. You may remember the name that made headlines — Amanda Zubia — the 17-year-old tortured for hours, suffocated to death, then buried in cement inside a barrel in an east Bakersfield home.
'She loved Selena. She loved to sing, loved to dance, stuff like that,' recalled her uncle, Angel Aceves, with a chuckle.
Zubia's maternal grandmother, Angela Aceves, added, 'Yeah, she was our entertainment when we had get togethers at parties and barbecues.'
The latest update for the family — one of Zubia's murderers — then 27-year-old and now 47-year-old Maricruz Galaviz — was granted parole on April 17.
Governor Gavin Newsom has final say on parole cases, including Galaviz's.
'We'd like him to keep this vicious murderer behind bars,' said Garcia of the parole decision. 'We don't believe she's rehabilitated. We don't believe it's enough time, enough justice.'
In a statement to 17 News, Newsom's Office said it cannot comment on pending parole matters and that 'public safety is the Governor's primary consideration in the parole process.'
'Our family doesn't need to keep reliving this nightmare. We don't want to run into [Galaviz] in the grocery store,' Garcia added.
Five people were charged for Zubia's death — Maricruz Galaviz, Antonia Salazar, Robert Vallejo, as well as then-17-year-old Crystal DeLeon and then-19-year-old Erika LaSalde.
However, only four were convicted, as Vallejo was beat to death in custody before trial.
Antonia Salazar and Maricruz Galaviz were each sentenced to 25 years to life for murder, but Salazar died while in custody.
Crystal DeLeon got the same sentence, but, since she was a minor could only be held in custody until her 25th birthday.
'Crystal, her supposed friend, [Zubia] knew Crystal through a program with young mothers. Cause Crystal was a young mother too,' Angela Aceves said of her granddaughter's relationship to one of the convicted killers.
Erika LaSalde — Zubia's cousin — served seven years for assault with a deadly weapon.
'It was like a stab in the heart. How could you do that to your cousin? Why did you do that?' said Aceves, adding that she'll never be able to forgive LaSalde.
She noted that the conflict likely started with drugs.
'[Zubia] had called me and said, Erika's dealing drugs and I don't like that. She has a daughter, she don't even think about her daughter,' said Angela Aceves, recalling a conversation between Zubia and herself.
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The family explained Zubia's case first started off a missing person's case. Despite being extremely close to her maternal grandmother, Angela Aceves, Zubia had not shown up to her birthday celebration.
The family held hope, Garcia said, but was ultimately led to Zubia's cold body.
On July 14, 2004, Maricruz Galaviz lured Amanda Zubia to a home on Bernard Street, which family members say Crystal DeLeon was renting.
Zubia was tortured for hours — she was beaten, burned with cigarettes, had her hair cut and had a plastic bag put down her throat, and a second bag with insect repellent inside it around her face.
She was bound, gagged and forced into a suitcase that was then placed in a car.
'I can't even imagine all the pain and horror she felt,' Garcia said. 'I didn't want to accept that they found her body.
'The fact that they took pictures, how does that show remorse when you took pictures of what you did? It almost shows pride for what you did,' Angel Aceves said.
The family said they were seeking the death penalty.
'The nature of the crime is not just a murder. It's more than that,' Angel Aceves stated.
Zubia was a loving family member, just creating a family of her own. She left behind her son, Daniel, just three years old at the time. Daniel is now in his twenties with a 7-year-old daughter of his own.
Her family says Zubia's granddaughter is almost like a reincarnation of her, looking astoundingly similar and having the same outgoing personality.
'This was shortly before she died. This is how she looked,' Angela Aceves told 17 News, as she showed us Zubia's confirmation photo.
She detailed that they used that photo for Zubia's funeral, as they had to proceed with a closed casket.
Zubia would be 37.
Meanwhile, Maricruz Galaviz remains in custody at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla.
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