HOLLISTER — On August 10th, David Jose Quiroz sat in a San Benito County Court House and pleaded no contest to the charge of murder for the 2012 death of his friend, Heather Carroll of Hollister.
Quiroz was arrested after a brief standoff with Hollister Police on October 13th, 2012 at his residence on Cerra Vista Drive. After his arrest, police recovered the body of Heather Carroll hidden on his property. The home is just across from Cerra Vista Elementary School, in southeast Hollister.
During an initial interview, Quiroz told law enforcement officials that Heather, whom he was friends with along with her husband, died at his home the morning of August 10 when she was reported missing by her father, who lives out of state. She had dropped off her child at school, but failed to return at the end of the school day. When her father was contacted, he in turn reported her missing.
Quiroz tried to get rid of the evidence by burning her vehicle, which was later found by police on Enterprise Road and Glenview Drive on October 11th, just a few blocks from his home. After his arrest, Quiroz told police that she died after they had got into an argument on the morning of her disappearance.
Victim Heather Carroll, file photo.
Quiroz entered a plea of “No Contest” on Monday, August 10 to the charge of first degree murder. The charge includes a minimum sentence of 25 years to life in prison, which means that he would have to serve 25 years before seeking parole.
Quiroz will have to wait until September when he will be formally charged. This marks the end of a horrific ordeal for the community of Hollister, who banded together to search for Heather. Quiroz was even reported to have participated in a search before he became a suspect in her death.
The County’s District Attorney Candice Hooper said, “I would like to thank all the assisting agencies for their collaborative efforts in reaching this conclusion, and I would once again offer my condolences to the family of Heather Carroll.”
