Arizona Man Guilty in 1998 Slaying
An Arizona man has been found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery in the 1998 slaying of Deitrich Bay, 24, of Ojai.
A Pima County jury returned the verdict against Erik Scott Maloney, 21, on Monday. He faces 25 years to life in prison when sentenced Jan. 11.
A second suspect, Daniel Patrick Cordasco, also 21, is awaiting trial on the same charges.
Bay was reported missing May 21, 1998, when he failed to return to Ventura County after driving to Tucson to allegedly buy drugs, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department officials.
Authorities believe Bay was driving his Mercedes sedan carrying between $20,000 and $100,000 in cash to purchase marijuana from the two men and was killed during a robbery.
Bay’s car was recovered in Obregon, Mexico, but the money was not found. Authorities believe the men stole the cash and spent it on furniture and trips, including one to Disneyland.
The same day Bay was reported missing, railroad employees working in eastern Tucson found a blood trail leading to a fresh burial site, authorities said.
Dental records proved it was Bay and an autopsy revealed he had been shot several times.
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