Compton Girl Found Guilty Of 2011 Murders Of Her Mother, Stepdad
COMPTON (CBSLA.com) — A jury Friday found a Compton teen guilty of the 2011 murders of her mother and stepfather.
A statement issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office says jurors deliberated for about three hours before convicting Cynthia Alvarez of two counts of first-degree murder.
The 16-year-old girl will not face the death penalty because she was 15 at the time of the killings of 58-year-old Gloria Villalta and Jose Lara, 51.
The teen testified in her own defense, alleging that she had been sexually abused by the couple.
Alvarez further alleged that Giovanni Gallardo, her then-boyfriend, came up with the idea to kill the pair.
The jury was given as evidence a note written by Alvarez allegedly to her boyfriend that stated, "Why don't you kill my stepdad when he's asleep?"
Gallardo goes on trial next month.
Alvarez faces life in prison with the possibility of parole when she is sentenced next month.
