Former Los Angeles Police Department officer Edgar Verduzco has pleaded guilty to three charges of murder stemming from a 2017 drunk driving incident that ended the lives of three family members. A statement released by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirmed the plea, detailing how the 34-year-old Verduzco operated his vehicle under the influence of alcohol at a dangerous speed of 150 mph. He now faces 15 years to life in state prison for each murder count, these terms set to run concurrently, and a concurrent three-year term for DUI-related offenses, according to KTLA.
The tragic collision, which occurred on the 605 Freeway, claimed the lives of Maribel and Mario Davila, as well as their 19-year-old son, Oscar Davila, who was a student at UC Riverside at the time. The crash also resulted in minor injuries to the driver of a second vehicle, a mother with her baby. Hochman offered his support and sympathy to the Davila family's loved ones, including Oscar's four surviving siblings, highlighting the loss of a young life full of promise. "Oscar Davila, a beloved student at UC Riverside, was just 19 years old, and his life and his parents’ lives were senselessly taken in an instant," Hochman said, per a report from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Following the incident, Verduzco was initially released due to insufficient grounds to file charges, but was later arrested and formally charged. Questions about how a law enforcement officer could so egregiously violate the public trust and law were raised, with the then-LAPD Chief Charlie Beck expressing his severe disappointment in Verduzco's actions.
The case prosecuted by LADA’s Justice System Integrity Division, and investigated by the California Highway Patrol, concluded with Verduzco's sentencing scheduled for July 11. Deputy District Attorney Kaveh Faturechi emphasized the diligence of the Justice System Integrity Division in seeking justice for the catastrophic event that occurred back in September 2017. On the night of the crash, Verduzco ostensibly posted a video to his Instagram account filmed at a bar with the hashtag #dontdrinkanddrive.
