In California, a jury has delivered a verdict of first-degree murder against Eric Mills, a 41-year-old resident of East Palo Alto. The case revolved around the tragic ambush and killing of his former roommate, Teodoro “Teo” Gutierrez, who was 52 years old, on a foggy New Year's Day in 2021. The incident unfolded after a dispute between the two men, allegedly sparked by Mills' history of drug use.
Once sharing an apartment as roommates, Gutierrez had subsequently evicted Mills from their shared living space. Authorities argued that an embittered Mills, following the eviction, targeted Gutierrez and meticulously stalked him one morning as he left work after a graveyard shift at a local dairy.
The fatal encounter occurred shortly after 8 a.m. on New Year's Day, as Gutierrez approached an intersection about half a mile from his workplace. Prosecutors contended that Mills lay in ambush at the fog-shrouded intersection. It was reported by the California Highway Patrol that Gutierrez appeared to have been shot in the head from outside his vehicle. When discovered, Gutierrez's lifeless body was still inside his car, which was parked in a nearby field just north of the intersection.
Despite suspicions of Mills' involvement in the shooting and the issuance of a warrant for his arrest in April, he was not apprehended until July 2021. Mills was taken into custody on unrelated charges in June, and after resolving those issues, he was booked on the murder charges.
In addition to the murder conviction, Mills was also found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the case. Following the jury's verdict, Mills now faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 17, where his sentencing will be determined.
Gutierrez's girlfriend revealed that Mills had previously threatened to harm her partner. They had contemplated filing a police report but ultimately decided against it.
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