A jury in San Mateo County has reached a deadlock in the murder trial of Eriberto Beltran Arenas, who is accused of killing Lilliam Orozco Zelaya, a young mother of three, while her 4-year-old child cried in their apartment.
The prosecution alleges that on November 6, 2021, Beltran Arenas, enraged by suspicions of infidelity, confronted his estranged wife Zelaya in her Daly City apartment on Bel Mar Avenue.
Incident Details
According to the District Attorney’s Office, during the confrontation, a roommate protected one of Zelaya’s children by locking the frightened 4-year-old in another room.
The child was crying when the roommate heard gunshots. Zelaya was shot twice in the head and once in the leg.
Immediately after the shooting, Beltran Arenas reportedly yelled derogatory remarks about Zelaya before breaking down a door and threatening the roommate and the crying child with his gun.
Aftermath and Arrest
After leaving the scene, Beltran Arenas called Zelaya’s mother, allegedly admitting to the killing.
He was quickly apprehended by San Francisco Police Department officers and found to have 18 firearms registered in his name.
Jury Trial and Mistrial Declaration
The trial, which lasted a month and was presided over by Judge Jonathan Karesh, saw jurors deadlocked over whether the crime was committed in the heat of passion or with premeditation.
After a second round of closing arguments, the jury remained divided: five jurors for first-degree murder, four for second-degree murder, and three for voluntary manslaughter.
Due to the deadlock, Judge Karesh declared a mistrial, dismissed the jury, and ordered Beltran Arenas to return to jail, where he is held in lieu of $11 million bail.
The District Attorney’s Office will decide whether to retry Beltran Arenas when he returns to court on June 10.
Family’s Grief and Community Response
In the wake of Zelaya’s death, her grieving family shared their sorrow on a GoFundMe page, stating that she was killed by her husband due to domestic violence.
They emphasized that all three of her children are under 10 years old.
The tragic incident has prompted the formation of a domestic violence task force in San Mateo County to address similar cases and seek justice for victims.
TDPel Media
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