Van Nuys : Man Sentenced to Life in Rape-Murder

A North Hollywood man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ending a six-year effort by a tenacious prosecutor to try to convict the man in the rape, kidnap and murder of his ex-girlfriend.

Ruben Dario Garcia, 25, who had fled to New York after the 1989 Christmas Eve slaying of Anna Alfaro, showed no emotion as he was sentenced by Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Sandy Kriegler.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Shellie Samuels said she was pleased with the sentence.

“I’m glad he’s off the streets,” Samuels said. “He’s a very dangerous guy.”

Although Garcia was eligible for the death penalty because he was convicted of murder with the special circumstances of rape and kidnaping, officials in the district attorney’s ofice had decided prior to trial not to seek a death sentence because Garcia did not have a record of prior violent convictions.

The murder took place outside the Van Nuys home of Alfaro’s parents. Alfaro and her new boyfriend, Luis Diaz, had just finished delivering Christmas gifts when Garcia jumped out from behind some bushes, according to court testimony. Garcia struck Alfaro, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to an alcove behind a garage, where he raped her.

Diaz called police, who arrived to see Garcia point the gun at Alfaro. As the officers were exiting their car, Garcia shot Alfaro twice in the head and then fired at the officers, who ducked for cover. By the time backup officers arrived, Garcia had disappeared.

New York authorities learned about the California murder warrant for Garcia after he had been arrested several times on drug charges using various alias, but insisted Garcia finish his New York sentence before transferring him to California last year.