VISALIA – The man arrested in connection to the death of his 14-year-old autistic stepson admitted to getting into a fight with the boy and then strangling him to death, according to authorities.
Miguel Villegas Pacheco, 32, was arrested in late November after the body of Damiean “Luke” Gulley was found in Sequoia National Park on Nov. 21. Pacheco and Gulley’s mother had reported him missing several days earlier.
According to police testimony during a preliminary court hearing, Pacheco admitted to detectives that he and Gulley and gotten into an argument on the night of Nov. 17, which turned into a physical altercation.
Pacheco told detectives that he and the boy were wrestling on the ground when Pacheco was able to put him face down on the ground. Pacheco then grabbed a fan cord within reach and strangled the teenager, according to authorities.
Although Pacheco’s defense attorney argued that the killing was unplanned and Pacheco should face a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, Judge James Hollman determined that Pacheco will stand trial for premeditated first-degree murder.
Pacheco will be arraigned on Dec. 31.
Read more:
ABC 30: Visalia step-father arrested for the murder of 14-year-old Damiean “Luke” Gulley
The Fresno Bee: Visalia teen’s body was found in Sequoia park; stepfather arrested
Visalia Times-Delta: Stepfather arrested in Gulley’s death
