A 23-year-old Selma man accused of fatally stabbing his 19-year-old brother will remain in custody after a judge rejected his request for release while the case moves forward.
Jose Miranda Jr. is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of his younger brother, Diego Miranda. The fatal stabbing happened Monday, Sept. 21, at a home on East Saginaw Avenue in Selma, California.
Fresno County sheriff’s deputies were called to the residence shortly before 11 a.m. after receiving a report of an injured person. When deputies arrived, they found Diego suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jose Miranda remained at the home when deputies arrived and was later arrested. Investigators with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and crime scene personnel collected evidence and interviewed people as the investigation continued.
During a subsequent court hearing, prosecutors provided additional details about what happened inside the home. They said the attack took place while the brothers’ parents were out taking their youngest child to school.
Prosecutors also told the court that when the parents returned and asked Miranda what had happened, he initially referred to a rabid animal before later claiming self-defense.
The defense maintained that there had been a confrontation between the brothers. Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the killing, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Prosecutors alleged that Miranda used a large, Rambo-style knife during the attack and stabbed his brother in the abdomen.
The question of whether Miranda should be released before trial became a major issue during the hearing. His attorney argued that he had been working between 20 and 30 hours a week before the incident and regularly helped care for his younger siblings while their parents worked.
The defense asked the court to consider monitored release, including pretrial supervision, GPS monitoring and anger-management requirements. The attorney also argued that the incident appeared to be isolated.
Prosecutors opposed the request, arguing that Miranda presented a public-safety and flight risk. They also pointed out that the person who died in the alleged attack was himself one of Miranda’s younger brothers.
Judge Stephanie Negin ultimately denied the request for release. The court determined that Miranda posed a danger to the community and to members of his family if he were allowed to return home and resume caring for his younger siblings.
Miranda remains in the Fresno County Jail with bail set at more than $1 million.
The case is still under investigation, and the allegations against Miranda have not been proven in court. His next scheduled court appearance is Nov. 4.
