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RANCHO CUCAMONGA – A 44-year-old Fontana man was convicted of strangling his estranged wife to death using a cord and dumping her body in 2013 District Attorney officials said.

Loma Lopez, 40, had told her husband, Victor Lopez that she was planning on divorcing him. On March 12, 2013 both Victor and Loma were reported missing by relatives. Investigation led to a search of couple’s 41-year-old nephew, Joseph Rodriguez’ home in Huntington Park. During the search, evidence, including a bag of blood soaked clothes was found. The Fontana Police put out a news release regarding the couple being missing in order to procure additional leads.

Victor Lopez saw himself on television as a missing person and contacted his family telling them that he had only left for a few days and was not missing. He also told his family that he was unaware of Loma Lopez’ whereabouts or that she was missing. Victor Lopez was questions by Fontana Police, during which time they confronted him with the bloody clothes they located. With the clothing in front of him, he admitted to authorities that he and his wife were involved in an argument. In addition to that admission, VIctor Lopez told authorities where Loma Lopez’ body could be located.

While testifying in court, Victor Lopez took the stand and said he killed his wife under “heat of passion” when he found she was seeing someone else. It was determined that Victor Lopez was made aware of his wife’s new love interest on March 8, 2013, just four days prior to the murder. Loma Lopez told Victor Lopez that she had planned to file divorce papers on March 13, 2017. “On March 12, the defendant strangled his wife to death following an argument and took her body to a site in Chino where he dumped it,” said Alejo.
Victor Lopez was found guilty of first degree murder and will be sentenced on Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court. The couple’s nephew, Joseph Rodriguez was charged with accessory after the fact and pleaded guilty in June 2013. He was sentenced to 68 days in jail, but was released with the time served of just over a month due to conduct credit. He was also sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation, and required completion of a drug counseling program.