A North San Jose apartment became the scene of a deadly domestic violence case on June 11, after police say months of stalking and harassment ended in the stabbing death of 45-year-old Maria Liliana Vanegas Parra. Her estranged husband, 46-year-old Pablo Andres Aguilera Mora, is now accused of tracking her with hidden GPS devices, slashing her tires, bombarding her with messages, and ultimately killing her in spite of court orders that were supposed to keep him away.
How investigators say the attack unfolded
San Jose police were called to an apartment on Descanso Drive around 11:45 PM on June 11. According to prosecutors, officers found Parra suffering from multiple stab wounds and Aguilera Mora also injured at the scene. Parra was taken to a hospital, where she later died after identifying Aguilera Mora as her attacker, authorities say.
Prosecutors say Aguilera Mora had a self-inflicted wound and was treated at a hospital. He is also accused of threatening the witness who called 911. These details are described in a news release and police reports, as reported by NBC Bay Area.
Alleged stalking and hidden trackers
Court records reviewed by SFist paint a chilling picture of what prosecutors say led up to the killing. Aguilera Mora allegedly placed multiple GPS devices in Parra’s car, tracked her at her home, workplace and church, and slashed her tires. He is also accused of sending more than 100 texts and voicemails that she did not want.
The same records say he tried to get a job where she worked and even followed her to a police station when she went to report the harassment. Officers confronted him outside the station, where he allegedly admitted putting trackers on her car because he loved her, according to the filings. Those alleged actions formed the basis of a March stalking arrest that came months before the fatal attack.
Prosecutors and court status
Prosecutors say Aguilera Mora was arrested on March 18 on stalking charges and then released under supervision. According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the court ordered him to wear an ankle monitor, and he was served with an emergency protective order and a no-contact order that required him to stay away from Parra’s home, workplace and other known locations.
Those stalking charges were still pending on June 11, when prosecutors say the fatal stabbing occurred. Aguilera Mora is now being held on murder and related counts as the case moves forward. District Attorney Jeff Rosen has pointed to a recent string of domestic-violence homicides in Santa Clara County while investigators try to determine how this one was not prevented.
Legal implications
Under California law, the kind of behavior Aguilera Mora is accused of goes beyond unsettling and straight into criminal territory. Penal Code §637.7 makes it illegal to use an electronic tracking device to determine a person’s location without consent, and Penal Code §646.9 defines stalking as a crime that can bring tougher penalties when the accused violator is already subject to a restraining or protective order.
Prosecutors say those statutes will help shape how they pursue the case. Court filings list charges including murder, assault with a deadly weapon, dissuading a witness and contempt of court.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website for confidential support. San Jose police and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office are continuing their investigation and are asking anyone with information to contact the San Jose Police Department Homicide Unit.
