Man gets life term for grandmother’s murder

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A 32-year-old man who fatally stabbed his grandmother, saying he wanted to escape her control, was sentenced Thursday to a life term in prison.

Juan Valdez was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison plus one year, according to court records. A jury last month found him guilty of second-degree murder.

Maria Magdalena Valdez, 70, had two stab wounds to her head when police arrived at her Flower Street home on July 13, according to court documents. She was taken to Kern Medical, where she died on July 21.

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Juan Valdez told police he’d lived with his grandmother since he was 3, was unemployed and received disability benefits for anxiety, nervousness and insomnia.

His grandmother controlled his money, which angered him, prosecutor Larry Fields said at trial, and he decided to attack Maria Valdez as she slept.

Deputy Public Defender Julius Cruz told jurors Juan Valdez’s mental health issues — which included hearing voices — led to the attack. He said Valdez only meant to hurt his grandmother, not kill her.

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