Jurors convict man in ‘vigilante’ killing
Jurors on Thursday convicted an Oklahoma City man in a killing described by prosecutors as “vigilante justice.”
Adrian Escajeda, 36, was found guilty of firstdegree murder in the death of Ulises Lopez, his girlfriend’s half-brother. The Oklahoma County jury chose life in prison as punishment. He’ll be eligible for parole in his 70s.
Escajeda testified he went to beat up Lopez, 21, for allegedly sexually assaulting a young girl. He said his girlfriend had told him about the assault. He said things escalated when he confronted Lopez.
The young girl, though, told jurors that Lopez actually never hurt her. The child testified that she said Lopez sexually assaulted her only because her mother “was so annoying” and was repeatedly asking.
“An innocent person ended up dead,” Assistant District Attorney Kelly Collins said during closing arguments Thursday. “A terrible lie led to Ulises Lopez ending up dead.”
The prosecutor called Escajeda the “judge, juror and executioner” for Lopez.
“He gave Ulises Lopez a death sentence he did not deserve,” the prosecutor told the jurors.
Lopez was found dead Dec. 5, 2016, lying on the floor of his Oklahoma City bedroom. The victim had duct tape around his head, a belt around his neck and a plastic zip tie around one wrist, according to police. Prosecutors called it a “torture killing.”
Defense attorney Bill Foster contended the killing was done in the heat of passion. The defense attorney was seeking a lesser conviction of first-degree manslaughter.
“He didn’t intend for it to go that far but it did,” Foster said during closing arguments.
Escajeda testified he brought a fake gun, duct tape and zip ties to confront Lopez.
“I didn’t go there to kill him,” Escajeda told the jury.
He testified that during the attack, Lopez said, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Escajeda said he took that as a confession to the alleged sexual assault.
The defense attorney said this caused Escajeda to “snap.” Escajeda testified he had been sexually abused as a child.
Lopez died from asphyxia. The duct tape around the victim’s head covered his airways. The victim also was strangled with the belt, which tested positive for Escajeda’s DNA, according to prosecutors.
After the killing, Escajeda and his girlfriend, Della Marie Nichols, now 31, fled to Mexico, prosecutors said. Nichols also is charged with firstdegree murder. Her trial is scheduled for April.
Police reported Nichols had Escajeda kill Lopez because of the alleged sexual assault.
“We were advised Della said she sent ... Escajeda to assault the man and do street justice,” police reported in a court affidavit. A witness told police “the man” was Lopez.
A few hours after Lopez was found dead, Escajeda texted Nichols, saying, “I love you. I did this for you,” police reported.
Nichols denies wrongdoing. In a letter written to a judge, she stated she “played no part” in the killing.
In a letter written to Nichols’ attorney, Escajeda stated he acted alone and “she’s innocent.”
The trial began Monday before District Judge Michele McElwee.