Man who beat Santa Ana resident to death with an axe handle is sentenced

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09ZF0058: December 20, 2013

MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDERING VICTIM BY HITTING HIM IN HEAD AND FACE WITH AXE HANDLE

*Defendant fled the scene in victim’s car and was later arrested for DUI

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for murdering a victim by hitting him in the head and face with the handle of an axe before fleeing the scene in the victim’s car. Jorge Santiago Avalos, 27, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 18, 2013, of one felony count of second degree murder. A previous jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict in April 2012.

On the afternoon of Sept. 12, 2008, Avalos went to the Santa Ana home of Hilario Urquiza to drink with the victim. While in the home, Avalos murdered the victim by hitting him more than 12 times in the head and face with the handle of an axe. He then left the victim face-down in a pool of blood, stole the victim’s Jeep, and fled the scene.

Shortly after the murder, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Avalos drove with a .16 percent blood alcohol level in the victim’s stolen car. Witnesses called 911 to report a possible drunken driver. At the intersection of Jackson Street and Camille Street in Santa Ana, the Jeep ran out of gas and the defendant attempted to abandon the car and leave on foot.

The Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) responded to the scene and observed the defendant near the car. When contacted by police, the defendant displayed objective signs of intoxication and was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. Officers found paperwork in a subsequent search of the Jeep showing that that car was registered to Urquiza.

At approximately 9:00 p.m., Urquiza’s son called SAPD to report that he had returned home to find his father had been murdered. SAPD investigated this case and linked Avalos to the crime.

At the sentencing today, the victim’s son gave an impact statement and told the court that he thinks about his father every day, and sees his dad every time he looks at his daughter.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Susan Price of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney 401 Civic Center Drive West Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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