The suspect Braulio Lomeli Gonzales who was charged with Santana’s murder was found guilty and sentenced by a Merced County judge to 37 years in California’s state prison. Gonzales will be available for parole after serving 15 years of his sentence due to the youthful offender sentencing guidelines for individuals under the age of 25.
A majority of the evidence against Gonzales was based on his own probation ankle monitor, GPS, social media, cell tower pings and text messages. Including statements.
The strongest eye witness against Gonzales was his own girlfriend Angalee Mendoza. According to court documents, upon Mendoza’s arrest she made some incriminating statements that not only placed her at the scene of the crime but revealed how she had lured Santana out by saying she was feeling uncomfortable with the men where she was at and asked if Santana could pick her up. This was nothing more than a lie and part of a bigger plot.
Out of the goodness of his heart Santana went to pick up his ex girlfriend Mendoza only to be betrayed, setup and murdered.
During trial when Gonzales’s girlfriend Mendoza was called to the stand by the district attorney she would not repeat the same statements she made to the arresting investigators in a one hour video during questioning submitted into evidence.
Mendoza chose to answer questions with ignorance and simplicity for example- “I don’t know” “I don’t remember” with a childish look on her face. Mendoza knew those responses weren’t what she said to the investigators during their interrogation. Although Mendoza wouldn’t testify in court she had already made damaging statements against Gonzales, the father of their child. Ultimately this would be helpful to the district attorney prosecuting the case.
The day of Gonzales’s sentencing family and friends made impact statements on how this tragedy had effected their lives and how much Santana meant to them.
The District Attorney had a letter of apology from Gonzales which she read to the family privately. The letter fell on def ears only further solidifying how much of a coward Gonzales is by not reading it himself in court during sentencing.
Although Gonzales has been sentenced, the one thing that was never revealed is how Santana’s car got into the Delta Mendota.
Santana was found in the trunk of his car with two bullet wounds to his chest area. This was the cause of death according to the Merced county coroner’s report.
Santana was just 19 years old at the time of his death on August 22nd of 2022. Less than one month away from his 20th birthday on September 17th. Santana is a son, a nephew, a cousin, a friend and person with a big heart who loved life and lived life. Rest In Peace Santana. You’re forever loved and forever missed by your true friends and family who continue to keep the candles lit in honor of you. #SantanaForever