Jose Carmen Cardona has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of his ex-girlfriend and her two young sons, whom he killed by setting fire to their home. The incident occurred in Stockton, California, just one day after their breakup. He received a life sentence on the day of his plea.
Jose Carmen Cardona, upset after being dumped by his girlfriend Lizbeth Gutierrez-Salazar, broke into her father's trailer in Stockton, California, and set it ablaze, resulting in the deaths of Gutierrez-Salazar, 32, and her sons Juan Gutierrez-Salazar, 10, and Julian Cardona-Gutierrez, 7.
The couple had dated for two years before Gutierrez-Salazar ended the relationship on June 24, 2024. Following the breakup, Cardona threatened to kill her, prompting Gutierrez-Salazar to take her three sons to her father's home for the night.
At 6:17 a.m. on June 25, 2024, the Stockton Fire Department responded to the fire. Firefighters discovered the three victims dead inside the trailer after extinguishing the blaze. The surviving son, aged 14 at the time, reported waking to a noise and seeing Cardona inside the home. As he pursued Cardona, he heard his mother yelling and observed the structure engulfed in flames. The fire also damaged an adjacent residence.
Investigators determined the fire was arson and identified Cardona as the suspect. Authorities issued an arrest warrant, and he was apprehended on July 11, 2024.
On the day of the plea, Cardona admitted to three counts of first-degree murder, along with one count each of attempted murder, child abuse, arson, and vandalism. He was sentenced to life in prison.
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas stated: "Today, we have secured a measure of justice for Lizbeth Gutierrez-Salazar and her two innocent young sons, Juan and Julian, whose lives were brutally taken in an act of unimaginable cruelty while they slept in their own home. While no sentence can ever bring back this devoted mother and her children or erase the pain inflicted on their surviving family, the defendant's decision to accept responsibility provides an immediate and final resolution in this case and ensures he will face severe, permanent consequences for these heinous crimes. At the request of the victims' family, we respected their wishes in reaching this conclusion. Our hearts remain with them as they continue to grieve, and we will always stand ready to hold accountable those who commit such violence against the most vulnerable among us."