Efrem Baldia, a 28-year-old man, was fatally shot on November 29, 1989, in the parking lot of the Rita Motel in Compton, California. The incident occurred when Baldia arrived at the motel, where Abelino Manriquez and his girlfriend, Sylvia Tinoco, had been drinking beer and using cocaine. Manriquez, upon seeing Baldia—who had reportedly been romantically linked to Tinoco—left the motel room in an angry state.
He confronted Baldia, who was unarmed, in the parking lot and shot him.
Manriquez was later arrested and charged with multiple murders, including Baldia’s. His crimes spanned a one-year period between January 1989 and January 1990, during which he killed several individuals in separate incidents. The prosecution presented evidence that Manriquez had committed these murders in various locations, including bars and motels, often following personal disputes or altercations. In Baldia’s case, the defense argued that the killing was not premeditated, but the jury found Manriquez guilty of multiple murders, including Baldia’s.
During the trial, the jury determined that Manriquez had personally used a handgun in each of the murders. The court found true the special circumstance of multiple murder, leading to a death sentence. The California Supreme Court later upheld the verdict, rejecting appeals that sought to challenge the trial’s proceedings. Manriquez’s conviction and sentencing were affirmed, solidifying the legal outcome of the case.
