Jessica Lynn Lopez was convicted of murder in 2012 alongside Louis Ray Perez and Dorothy Grace Marie Maraglino. She is now seeking the charge vacated under a new law. Lopez testified for the first time, claiming she took the blame under duress so her Mistress and Master could walk free, according to a recent San Diego Union-Tribune article.
She is now awaiting the Vista Superior Court Judge Robert Kearney's decision after last week's testimony, Lopez referred to the duo as her Master and Mistress, respectively. The trio was given a life sentence without parole for their involvement in the kidnapping, torture, attempted sexual battery by restraint, and murder of 22-year-old Killgore.
However, the legal landscape has shifted since Lopez's conviction: In 2018, California law changed and limited convictions for murder in cases where the defendant was not the actual killer or did not play a significant role in the killing or underlying felony according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. This change opened the door for hundreds of people across California to request vacating their murder convictions, including Lopez.
Jessica Lopez's attorney, Sloan Ostbye, argued that her client was manipulated and ultimately became the patsy for the gruesome crime. The atmosphere in Maraglino's house, where Lopez lived as a submissive slave, saw her under constant control, going as far as eating from a dog bowl and wearing a collar. Ostbye also stated that Lopez was forced to write a seven-page confession letter and attempt suicide under Mistress Maraglino's direction.
In response, Deputy District Attorney Patrick Espinoza maintained that Lopez was a significant participant in the crime and showed reckless disregard for human life. He questioned Lopez's new testimony, challenging the credibility of her 11-year-old confession letter, which was inconsistent with her recent account in court. Espinoza will also assess whether Lopez was involved in the actual killing as accused or simply an accessory.
The burden lies upon the prosecutors to determine Lopez's potential role in the murder, whether she was the actual killer, played a significant role in the crime, or demonstrated reckless indifference to human life. This decision will come from Vista Superior Court Judge Robert Kearney, who stated that he would issue his verdict on Tuesday as stated in San Diego Union-Tribune.
If the court vacates Lopez's murder conviction, she will still face sentencing for the remaining charges – potentially up to eight years for kidnapping and seven years to life for the torture conviction. Assuming she has already served 11 years, parole may be on the horizon. Meanwhile, Maraglino and Perez are eagerly awaiting their appeals and further proceedings.
