Police Search for Violent Boyfriend in Killing of Girlfriend
ELK GROVE—Police continue their search for a man with an extensive violent criminal history who has been accused of killing his girlfriend in Elk Grove late last year.
Marissa Pineda De Almanza, 37, a mother of two, was found dead in her apartment—the Terracina at Laguna Creek Apartments in Elk Grove— in the 9200 block of Franklin Boulevard, just before 5:00 p.m. Nov. 5, 2014, according to a news release from the Elk Grove Police Department. It was her husband who found the woman’s body. It is unclear what Almanza’s personal situation entailed. Police only said her husband made the discovery and that Moses Valdez, 38, her boyfriend, has been accused of the killing.
Marissa Pineda De Almanza from Legacy.com
Officers identified Valdez for the first time on Wednesday, February 11. He is a known gang member who was on post-release community supervision in accordance with Assembly Bill 109. Elk Grove police also confirmed that Valdez was released last August under California’s prison realignment.
It is also unclear exactly what led police to Valdez as the homicide suspect. Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest and are actively looking for him.
“Here we go again,” said Lynne Brown, a public safety advocate with the Electric Blue Foundation, and a staunch opponent of AB 109. “Another so-called nonviolent offender with a violent criminal history being released to our neighborhoods under prison realignment and marketed as a low-level offender.”
According to court papers, Valdez—also known as “Crazy Moe” and “Demon”—– pleaded guilty in 1995 to two counts of manslaughter. In 2009, he pleaded no contest to recklessly fleeing from a police officer.
“He does have an extensive criminal history, so we are definitely seeking the community’s help in finding him,” said Officer Chris Trim, a spokesman for Elk Grove police.
In November, during the homicide investigation, Elk Grove police called multiple agencies to support officers in their search for Valdez. Investigators shut down the neighborhood for hours and prepared for a dangerous confrontation with Valdez, but were unable to find him.
Almanza’s family members told police they want closure. They are increasing Crime Alert’s current $1,000 maximum reward for Valdez’s capture. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Elk Grove Police Department’s Detective Bureau at (916) 478-8060.
