A Kern County jury has found Victor Farias Jr. guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Yolanda Rojo, the mother of his two young children.
Farias, 34, was also convicted of two counts of child abuse and resisting arrest following a two-week trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 2 and faces a prison term of 25 years to life, with an additional year possible based on the charges.
The case stems from the March 25 killing at the Shadow Ridge Apartments on College Avenue in Bakersfield.
Children Were Present During the Attack
Police were called to the apartment shortly before 10 p.m. after a report of a domestic disturbance. Officers found Rojo, 30, badly injured on the floor.
She was taken to Kern Medical but later died from her injuries.
The couple’s daughters, who were 4 and 6 at the time, were inside the apartment during the attack.
Evidence presented during the trial included surveillance footage from outside the apartment. The footage showed the older child leaving the home while Farias followed her. The girl could be heard calling out for him to stop before she and her younger sister went to a neighbor for help.
Investigators said the 6-year-old had also tried to contact police during the incident. According to prosecutors, Rojo told her daughter to get help from a neighbor.
The neighbor then contacted authorities.
Autopsy Revealed Extensive Injuries
The trial included testimony about the extent of Rojo’s injuries.
An autopsy found more than 90 injuries, including 23 stab wounds and dozens of other sharp-force injuries to her head, neck and back. She also had defensive wounds on her hands and arms. Three wounds to her head caused skull fractures.
A forensic pathologist testified during the trial that one of the wounds to Rojo’s neck cut through her carotid artery and would have been fatal.
Prosecutors argued that the number and severity of the injuries showed Farias intended to kill Rojo rather than acting in a moment of uncontrolled anger.
Defense Argued the Killing Was Not Planned
Farias’ defense did not dispute that he was responsible for Rojo’s death. Instead, his attorney argued that the stabbing was an impulsive act and that the evidence did not establish the premeditation required for a first-degree murder conviction.
The defense therefore sought a second-degree murder verdict.
Jurors ultimately rejected that argument and found Farias guilty of first-degree murder.
Farias Fled After the Killing
After the attack, Farias left the apartment in a black Nissan Altima.
The vehicle later crashed into a big rig on Highway 58 near Tehachapi. Farias left the damaged vehicle and continued fleeing on foot.
Authorities located him in Tehachapi on March 26, the day after Rojo was killed. Prosecutors said he initially gave officers a false name and resisted arrest.
The arrest added to the criminal charges that were ultimately decided at trial.
Sentencing Is Set for November
The guilty verdict brings the trial phase of the case to an end, but Farias still faces sentencing in Kern County Superior Court.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2. Based on the first-degree murder conviction, prosecutors say he faces 25 years to life in state prison, along with an additional year tied to the other convictions.
The case has drawn attention because Rojo’s two young daughters were present during the killing and because evidence from the apartment, surveillance footage and testimony about the children’s actions became important parts of the prosecution’s case.
For Rojo’s family, the conviction marks the latest legal development in a case that began with her death at the Bakersfield apartment in March.
