Decades-Long Pursuit Culminates in Sentencing: Juan Gabriel Nunez Receives 18 Years to Life for 2002 Homicide
After nearly 22 years, justice has been served in a case that haunted authorities for decades. Juan Gabriel Nunez (46) was apprehended in September 2021 after nearly two decades on the run in connection with a homicide dating back to August 8, 2002. On May 16, 2024, he received a sentence of 18 years to life in prison for his role in the crime.
In 2002, Salinas Police Officers responded to 349 Iris Dr. following a report of a missing woman and her child. Upon arrival, they discovered Loretta Paluszynski deceased from multiple stab wounds. Paluszynski’s ex-boyfriend, Juan Gabriel Nunez, quickly emerged as a person of interest due to a documented history of domestic violence between them.
Despite fleeing to Mexico immediately after the murder, Nunez was relentlessly pursued by Salinas Police Detectives. After years of following leads and anonymous tips, Nunez was arrested by Mexican authorities in April of the preceding year. Following an extradition request, he was brought back to the US in September 2021 and detained in the Monterey County Jail.
The Salinas Police Department remained dedicated to ensuring accountability even after Nunez’s apprehension, committing extensive resources to the case. While the loss of Loretta Paluszynski is mourned, her family finds solace in the closure provided by Nunez’s conviction.
