One of the canal murder suspects convicted

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – One of the suspects in the murder of 29-year-old Erik Cruz of Yuma in June of this year appeared in court for her hearing on Tuesday.

Brittney Garcia, 31, was sentenced to 25 years for second-degree murder and five years for theft of transportation.

Both sentences are scheduled to run consecutively and the other charges she may have faced, including armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and tampering with evidence, have been dropped.

During the hearing, Cruz’s mother shared how much the loss of her son has affected her family.

“His son with autism asks and asks about him. What should we tell him?” Cruz’s mother commented.

While the mother expressed her sympathy for Garcia, she also spoke about the inner pain she continues to struggle with.

“I just want to tell her that I have no bad blood. My son will not return. Nothing will ever bring him back to me. “My heart is not poisoned by the cruelty she inflicted on him,” Cruz’s mother said. However, she adds that she is disappointed that Garcia appears to have shown no remorse for her actions during the trial. “I hope she comes out of this shattered and that the man she lived with made her his puppet. He did whatever he wanted to her and she’s not even that guilty.”

Another family member was also able to approach the court and say that no matter what happens in the future, the family will never feel right.

“No amount of money or time served will feel like justice to my family,” the family member said.

Garcia will now be sent to the Arizona Department of Corrections and could be released in mid-2054.

The other suspect in the case is 35-year-old Fernando Malta, who will be back in court later this month.