Jacinto Zuniga Trujillo, the 31-year-old stepfather of slain 9-year-old Xiomara Jonsales-Fernandez, entered a plea of not guilty yesterday to murder charges and five counts of sexual penetration and oral copulation with a child under the age of 10. Prosecutors as of now have not decided whether they will seek a death sentence or not, with his next court appearance scheduled for July 10.
On April 28, Long Beach Police received a call in regards to two bodies — a young girl and a grown man — laying in the Los Altos United Methodist Church near Willow Avenue and the 405 Freeway. Upon arrival, LBPD found the young girl dead, her body lacerated. The man was unconscious with what appeared to be self-inflicted lacerations which mimicked those found on the girl; both the LBPD and Los Angeles District Attorney’s office believe the lacerations to be a failed suicide attempt.