STOCKTON, Calif. – A man previously deported from the U.S. on three occasions has been arrested and faces charges in a triple homicide involving a mother and her two young children, according to authorities
Jose Carmen Cardona, 59, was captured on Friday and charged in a June 25 recreational vehicle (RV) fire in Stockton that killed 32-year-old Lisbeth Gutierrez-Salazar and her two sons — Juan Gutierrez-Salazar, 10, and 7-year-old Julian Cardona-Gutierrez.
The San Joaquin County District Attornye’s Office provided the following details in a news release on Friday:
On June 25th, 2024 at approximately 6:38 in the morning, the Stockton Fire Department responded to the area of Visalia Court and Harbor Street for a fifth-wheel trailer fully involved in flames. During the suppression of that fire, firefighters discovered the bodies of Lisbeth Gutierrez-Salazar (32 years old), Juan Gutierrez-Salazar (10 years old), and Julian Cardona-Gutierrez (7 years old). One child was able to flee the fire and survived.
Homicide investigators with the Stockton Police Department and Arson Investigators with the Stockton Fire Department soon determined that the victims were killed in the fire and that Jose Carmen Cardona was responsible. It should be noted that Jose Carmen Cardona was in a dating relationship with Lisbeth, the children were not his biological children.
On June 28, 2024, the District Attorney’s Office filed a 5-count arrest warrant for Jose Carmen Cardona. A nationwide manhunt was initiated with the assistance of the US Marshalls Fugitive Apprehension Taskforce. The San Joaquin County District Attorney, Ron Freitas is pleased to announce that yesterday, the manhunt was successful with the apprehension of Cardona in Modesto.
Jose Carmen Cardona is being charged with 3 murders, 1 attempted murder, and child endangerment. The Office of the District Attorney has filed 3 special circumstances (multiple murder, arson, and torture). These allegations make Jose Carmen Cardona, eligible for the death penalty.
The U.S. Marshals Service said in a press release that Cardona (aka: J. Carmen Cardoza Rodriguez) was taken into custody at a bus station.
“At approximately 2 p.m. July 11, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) received a tip that J. Carmen Cardoza Rodriguez had been seen around a bus station in Modesto. Task force officers were able to locate him standing outside the bus station and took him into custody without incident at approximately 4:30 p.m.”
Lasha Boyden, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of California, noted the importance of the tip that led to the alleged killer’s arrest as he tried to flee the area.
“The U.S. Marshals Service Task Force in the Eastern District of California worked countless hours and traveled great distances to locate this violent fugitive,” said Boyden. “Thanks to a tipster, we were able to act quickly and take this suspect into custody safely and without incident. The loss of life in this horrific tragedy was felt by the community and our nation. I hope his capture brings some sense of relief to the victims’ family.”
According to Fox News, Cardona had been deported from the U.S. three times, yet he continued to return illegally. The news outlet did not identify his country of origin.