Extradition likely for suspect

Deepa Bharath

The man who is suspected of bludgeoning a 16-year-old girl to death

in Fairview Park more than two years ago, will not face the death

penalty or a life sentence without the possibility of parole,

officials said.

Victor Garcia, 19, was arrested in Mexico City on Oct. 7 on a

domestic violence charge. The Orange County District Attorney has

filed papers with the U.S. Department of Justice to have Garcia

extradited.

Ceceline Godsoe was found dead on a trail in the park during the

wee hours of Sept. 21, 2001. Police believe Garcia hit her with a

blunt object and beat her up so badly that she drowned in her own

blood. Garcia’s arrest in Mexico came after the case was featured

twice on “America’s Most Wanted.”

Mexico will not extradite suspects who face death or life in

prison without parole, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Laird, who

handles extraditions for the district attorney’s office.

“But our relations with Mexico have improved tremendously over the

years,” she said. “Although we can’t say when the extradition will

happen, we are certainly hopeful in this case.”

The district attorney’s office, however, did not have to strike a

compromise to request Garcia’s extradition, said Deputy Dist. Atty.

Matt Murphy, who is prosecuting the case.

“[Garcia] was 17 at the time,” he said. “He was a juvenile. So he

can’t get the death penalty anyway.”

Murphy added that life in prison without the possibility of parole

is not a penalty that is normally imposed in an alleged crime where

there are no “special circumstances,” such as premeditation, murder

for financial gain or gang affiliation.

So far, the Mexican government has been “extremely cooperative”

with this case, Murphy said.

“Extradition is a very detailed and involved process,” he said.

Garcia is being held in a jail in Mexico. Mexican officials

arrested him on charges of beating his wife, Murphy said.

“Now, it’ll be up to the Mexican judicial system to determine

where he goes from there,” he said.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at [email protected].