DA TO SEEK DEATH PENALTY IN KILLING OF CORONA BOY

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, April 5, 2007: District Attorney Rod Pacheco announced today that the Riverside County District Attorney's Office will seek the death penalty in the torture killing of a young Corona boy.

Raul Ricardo Sarinana and his wife, Cathy Lynn Sarinana, are charged with murder with the special circumstance of torture as well as child endangerment in the death of their nephew, Ricky Morales, on Christmas Day, 2005.

"One cannot ignore the horrifying ordeal two young children were forced to endure at the hands of the defendants. Instead of protecting and caring for Conrad Morales, age 13, and Ricky Morales, age 11, the defendants are responsible for their brutal torture and eventual murders," said District Attorney Rod Pacheco.

"These victims were particularly vulnerable because of their youth and because they were entrusted to the defendants," Pacheco said.

"Moreover, the defendants each inflicted unimaginable suffering over a prolonged period of time on the victims," Pacheco went on to say.

The case unfolded when Conrad Morales went to live with his biological uncle, Raul Sarinana, and his wife, Cathy Sarinana in the state of Washington in August, 2004. Ricky Morales joined his brother in October. The physical and emotional abuse began almost immediately. Conrad is believed to have been killed in August, 2005. Soon thereafter, the Sarinana's moved from Washington to the city of Corona in a U-Haul truck that also carried Conrad's body encased in cement. After moving to Corona, the Sarinana's continued to torture and abuse Ricky who eventually died as a result. Conrad's body was later found encased in concrete in a trash can located in the carport of the Corona residence.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office considers a number of factors when determining whether or not to seek the death penalty. District Attorney Pacheco has created a new procedure for considering this most important decision. First, the district attorney personally meets with the victim's family members to consider their concerns and wishes. Then, a panel of top management staff, seasoned prosecutors, who have themselves tried death penalty cases, review the facts and circumstances of the case. Law enforcement investigators are also included as well as their recommendation. During this meeting, defense counsel is invited to make a presentation or offer evidence regarding the mitigating factors surrounding the defendant's case. At the conclusion of the meeting, the district attorney ultimately decides whether or not to seek the death penalty.

"After consideration by myself, and numerous senior prosecutors, of the facts and circumstances of this case, as well as all other factors in aggravation and mitigation, the decision was inescapable," Pacheco said.

"Therefore, it is the intention of the Riverside County District Attorney's Office to seek death for Raul Sarinana and Cathy Sarinana," Pacheco concluded.