David Bedolla, a 23-year-old man from Lindsay, California, was killed on October 21, 1980, in a drive-by shooting while driving to work with his wife, brother, and brother-in-law. The attack occurred between Strathmore and Lindsay, a region known for its agricultural labor force. Bedolla was heading out for a day of grape-picking when he was fatally shot.
The murder was later linked to Jose Manuel Martinez, a notorious hitman known as "El Mano Negra" who confessed to killing over 35
people across the United States. Martinez, who worked as a contract killer primarily for Mexican drug cartels, admitted to carrying out Bedolla’s murder as his first professional hit. His method often involved setting up fake traffic stops or using other deceptive tactics to lure victims into vulnerable situations before executing them.
Martinez was eventually arrested and charged with multiple murders spanning several decades. His crimes included killings in Tulare County, Kern County, and Santa Barbara County, among others. Authorities believe that many of his victims were targeted for financial gain or personal vendettas. In addition to Bedolla’s murder, Martinez was charged with several other homicides, some of which carried special allegations that could make him eligible for the death penalty.
Law enforcement officials described Martinez as cooperative and even pleasant to talk to, despite his extensive criminal history. His arrest and subsequent confessions helped solve numerous cold cases, shedding light on the operations of cartel-affiliated contract killers in the United States.
