Sigreda Fernandez, a 21-year-old woman from East Los Angeles, was tragically murdered on August 5, 1998. Her death was a result of a brutal crime committed by her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Jose "Joe" Luis Saenz. Saenz, who was 47 years old at the time of his conviction, was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing Fernandez, who was also the mother of his young daughter.
The crime was particularly heinous, involving kidnapping, forcible rape, and sodomy by use of force.
The investigation revealed that Saenz shot Fernandez in the head because he believed she had spoken to the police about something. Her body was discovered in bed with a piece of clothing covering her face. Saenz left a note on the wall addressed to his grandmother, expressing his love and asking her to take care of his daughter. This murder occurred just 11 days after the killings of two rival gang members, Josue Hernandez and Leonardo Ponce, which were believed to be acts of retaliation.
Saenz was eventually apprehended in Mexico in 2012, where he had been living under a different name. He was brought back to the United States by a fugitive task force. During his trial, the jury found him guilty of multiple charges, including the murder of Fernandez and another man, Oscar Torres, who was killed in 2008. The jury also found true the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a kidnapping, rape, or sodomy.
In January 2023, Saenz was sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms without the possibility of parole. The judge described him as a "cold-blooded" killer and emphasized the brutality of his crimes. Despite Saenz's claims of innocence, the evidence against him was overwhelming, leading to his conviction. The case highlighted the persistent efforts of law enforcement to bring Saenz to justice, as he had been featured on billboards, local news, and the TV show "America's Most Wanted".
