A Sonoma County jury on Tuesday convicted Cody Molica of fatally shooting his 80-year-old father, wrapping up a months-long case that began when deputies were called to the family home on Stony Point Road north of Rohnert Park. Molica, 39, has been held in the Sonoma County Jail since his arrest.
According to The Press Democrat, the jury of seven women and five men returned the guilty verdict yesterday, and Judge Paige Hein ordered Molica back to court for sentencing on Jan. 15, 2026. Jurors found him guilty of fatally shooting his father, Richard Molica, 80.
Deputies were dispatched to the 4300 block of Stony Point Road after Molica called 911. When they arrived, they found Richard Molica unresponsive in the living room and detained his son on the front balcony, according to KTVU. Local reports say both Molica and his 72-year-old mother were booked into the Sonoma County Jail during the initial investigation.
What jurors heard
Prosecutors told jurors the living room showed signs that someone had tried to stage a mutual shooting. Shell casings were scattered on the floor, bullet holes marked the walls, and a revolver was found under the victim. They also played the 911 call in which Molica said that his dad is dead, according to The Press Democrat. Deputy District Attorney Adam McBride argued that those details, along with an approximately 15-hour delay before Molica called for help, undercut any claim of self-defense.
Earlier run-ins
A week before the killing, deputies had been called to the same home after an argument in which, according to court testimony, the son shoved his father and threatened family members. He was arrested and released on conditions that included no contact with his father and no firearms, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Prosecutors later pointed to that earlier incident at trial as part of their effort to show motive and a pattern of threats.
What’s next
Molica remains in custody and will be brought back to Sonoma County Superior Court for sentencing in January, where the judge is expected to hear arguments from prosecutors and defense lawyers before setting his prison term, according to local reports. With the conviction in place, the case now shifts fully into the sentencing phase of the county court calendar.
