On April 11, 2007 Alfred Suniga III of Visalia was sentenced in Count 1 to life without the possibility of parole plus 25 to life plus an additional sentence in Count 2 of life without the possibility of parole plus 25 to life for crimes committed on September 19, 2005.

28 year old Alfred Suniga III, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murder, as well as a special allegation for the personal and intentional discharge of a firearm.

On September 19, 2005 the defendant was with his family at an Oakland Raider’s game. The defendant got into a fight with his wife, Cindy Suniga prior to the game and he hit her. The defendant walked away and the group was not able to find him before the game started. The defendant’s mother drove to Oakland to give him a ride home. Upon returning to Visalia the defendant entered his house and shot his wife Cindy Suniga five times, twice in the face and three times in the back. He also shot his mother in law, Olivia Baldiviez once in the back. Both women died at the scene. The defendant then fled the residence, taking the gun with him. The defendant’s 5 and 7 year old children were home during the murder. They found the bodies of their mother and grandmother and called 911.

Judge James Hollman sentenced Suniga to serve the required statutory time of life without the possibility of parole in state prison for each count of murder. He was also sentenced to serve an additional 25 years to life on each count for the intentional discharge of a firearm.

Suniga will also have to pay a restitution fine in the amount of $10,000 and actual restitution in the amount of $9000. He will have to provide samples of his blood, saliva, and thumb and palm prints pursuant to Penal Code section 296.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Ralph Kaelble of the District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Division. The case was investigated by Detective Kevin Grant at the Visalia Police Department and Rob French of the District Attorney Bureau of Investigations.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney Carol Turner, 733-6411.