‘Believe in accountability': Kern County lawmaker asks Newsom to deny parole to convicted killer
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Kern County lawmaker is speaking out on the case of Amanda Zubia, the 17-year-old brutally murdered in 2004.
17 News has been in close contact with the Zubia family ever since.
In a shocking twist for them, the only convicted killer who remains in custody has been granted parole, and local efforts to reverse that decision are ramping up.
In any parole case, California Governor Gavin Newsom has the power to deny someone's release.
We're awaiting his response in 47-year-old Maricruz Galaviz's case, and State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) is pushing the governor to reverse the granting of parole for Galaviz.
In July 2004, Amanda Zubia was tortured for hours, suffocated to death, then buried inside a cement barrel in an east Bakersfield home by Maricruz Galaviz and four others.
Galaviz was sentenced to 25 years to life for first-degree murder.
Comedian Marlon Wayans set to perform at the Fox Friday
But she was granted parole mid-April.
Shortly after, state Sen. Hurtado wrote in a letter to Governor Newsom in part, 'In the Central Valley, we believe in second chances—but we also believe in accountability.'
Hurtado emphasized, 'Releasing Amanda's killer would not reflect the values our communities live by. It would betray them.'
In response, Newsom's team stated they would consider her remarks when making their decision on Galaviz's parole. We asked the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation what happens next.
The department clarified that while Galaviz was eligible for a parole hearing — and was granted parole — she will have to wait until at least her minimum eligible parole date of July 2029 to actually be released.
Simply put, that's due to ongoing state litigation on the topic of early parole for criminals.
But again, this parole decision may not even matter, if Governor Newsom, reverses it.
Only time will tell.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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