Man convicted of two murders, escaping Monterey County Jail sentenced to 150 years to life
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) A man found guilty of two first degree murders has been sentenced to 150 years to life in prison, plus two years and 8 months for escape, according to Salinas Police.
Santos Longoria Fonseca was found guilty of both crimes on July 24 after a week-long trial.
Fonseca escaped from the Monterey County Jail in November 2019 through a hole created in a bathroom ceiling. The escape led to a large-scale search, and two days later, he was found trying to cross back into the U.S. from Mexico at a point of entry in San Ysidro.
The first murder happened in June 2018 when investigators said an incarcerated gang member told him to commit the murder.
Fonseca found 37-year-old Lorenzo Acosta while he was visiting family in Salinas. He was in his car video-chatting with his wife after a trip to the grocery store when investigators said Fonseca approached him, opened the car door and shot him repeatedly in front of Acosta's wife during the video chat.
Three days later, investigators said Fonseca was told to kill again. They said he accessed the Facebook profile of his girlfriend, Alexandra Romayor, and sent messages to 22-year-old Ernesto Cruz. The DA's Office said Fonseca told Cruz to drive to El Dorado Park to meet with Romayor. At the park, investigators said Fonseca told Romayor to get into Cruz's vehicle, keep him occupied and get out when Fonseca arrived.
When Fonseca got to the vehicle, investigators said he ordered Cruz to get out before shooting him repeatedly. Witnesses were able to identify Fonseca and Romayor to police, and they were arrested the following day during a traffic stop. In the vehicle, investigators said they found the gun that was used in both murders.
Romayor was sentenced to 17 years and 8 months-to life in prison after entering a no contest plea in June 2019. She pleaded no contest to second degree murder, accessory to murder and possession of a loaded gun charges.
