In a tragic turn of events on July 28, 2015, Alexandria "Ali" Eastman, a 25-year-old Caucasian female from Sierra Vista, Arizona, was fatally shot. The incident occurred in a mobile home park, where Eastman was struck by a single bullet to the heart in the presence of at least six other people, all of whom were acknowledged users of illicit drugs.
The investigation into Eastman's death led to the arrest of Elda "Fldaa" Meraz, who was 22 years old at the time of her sentencing. During a six-day trial in November 2016, the prosecution presented a case built on witness testimony, as the murder weapon was never recovered, and no gunshot residue was found on Meraz. A key witness, George Ballou, who passed away before the trial, had previously identified Meraz as the likely shooter in a recorded testimony. The prosecution suggested two possible motives for the killing: jealousy over Eastman's relationship with Fabian Borquez-Martinez, the father of Meraz's child, or the belief that Eastman was a "snitch" within their drug-using circle.
Despite the circumstantial nature of the evidence, the jury deliberated for only an hour before finding Meraz guilty of second-degree murder, acquitting her of the more serious charge of first-degree murder. At her sentencing in January 2017, Meraz maintained her innocence, stating, "I did not do this. I know who did, but I'm not saying." The judge, however, sentenced her to 16 years in prison, with credit for 546 days already served. During the hearing, Eastman's mother, Annette Eastman, tearfully addressed the court, questioning what Meraz could have gained from killing her daughter and expressing that Ali did not deserve to die in such a manner.
Another individual connected to the case, Fabian Borquez-Martinez, was sentenced to six years in prison on charges stemming from the day of the shooting, which included assaulting Meraz and tampering with evidence. Meraz's defense attorney had argued for a lesser sentence, citing her troubled life as a mitigating factor, but the judge found that the aggravating circumstances of the crime outweighed them.
