Stanislaus County man who stabbed neighbor over 100 times gets heavy sentence
A Turlock man convicted of stabbing his neighbor over 100 times in 2016 was sentenced to 51 years to life in prison, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday.
Ricardo Rios, 37, murdered Pedro Ruiz and burned the evidence Nov. 12, 2016, the Modesto Bee previously reported.
The crime happened on the outskirts of Turlock when Rios asked Ruiz for a ride to the store. During the investigation, Rios told a detective they pulled off a road and that’s when he stabbed Ruiz over 50 times in the face and neck then dozens more times throughout the rest of his body.
Rios dumped Ruiz’s body in a nearby orchard then drove the vehicle to a different location, where he burned it. Ruiz’s body was found the next day.
A bloody knife was found at the murder scene and bloody clothes were found in Rios’ home.
Rios pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Two court-appointed psychologists testified, but had opposing views of his sanity at the time of the murder.
The jury deemed Rios was sane at the time of the crime and was tried as such.
Rios also was found guilty of arson, related to the burned vehicle.
Several theories of a motive were presented during Rios’ trial. His attorney claimed it was self defense, mental health issues and that Rios was a former gang member, afraid Ruiz was a member of a rival gang, according to previous reporting.
In closing arguments, prosecutors mentioned that robbery could have also been a motive — $300 in cash. Ruiz’s cell phone and his driver’s license also were discovered in Rios’ bedroom.
