Gerardo Almanza of Simi Valley Convicted of Murdering Father and Threatening Family
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (KEYT) – Gerardo Arroyo Almanza of Simi Valley pled guilty to the second-degree murder of his father, Alfredo Arroyo Sancen, as well as three counts of criminal threats against other family members.
Almanza also admitted to a prior strike offense and a special allegation that he used a deadly weapon to commit the murder added the Ventura County District Attorney's Office in a press release Monday.
On April 3, 2024, several members of Almanza's family drove to his home in Simi Valley to check on his well-being shared the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
While the family members parked their vehicles across the street, Almanza exited the house, confronted his family members with a knife, and threatened to kill them detailed the local prosecutor's office.
Almanza was chasing his mother and father around a parked car when he caught his father and pinned him to the ground before stabbing him several times noted the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
According to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, Almanza fled the scene as neighbors began to gather and one neighbor with EMT training started provided first aid to Alfredo Sancen until he was transported to a nearby hospital.
Sancen later died while receiving medical treatment at Los Robles Regional Medical Center stated the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Simi Valley Police Department officers located Almanza hiding a block away and arrested him in connection with the incident noted prosecutors.
On March 6, 2025, a court-appointed mental health expert deemed Almanza too incompetent to stand trial for the murder, but he was later determined to be competent enough to be charged on October 6, 2025, explained the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Alamanza is currently scheduled for a sentencing hearing on September 11, 2026, where he faces 30 years to life plus an additional nine years and four months in state prison shared the local prosecutor's office.
He remains in custody without bail added the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
"This guilty plea brings accountability for Gerardo Almanza's brutal act of violence against his father and his threats of violence against other family members," said Senior Deputy District Attorney Theresa Pollara, the prosecutor who argued the case. "Our hope for the family is that they are able to move forward in their healing."
