California man beat mother, stepfather to death with baseball bat, assaulted brother, police say

HACIENDA HEIGHTS, Calif. — A California man was charged Tuesday with the fatal beatings of his mother and stepfather, who were bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat, authorities said.

Nelson Fermin Garibay, 44, of Hacienda Heights, is charged with two counts of murder. He is also charged with one count of willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder for assaulting his brother, according to Los Angeles County prosecutors.

Garibay faces 57 years to life in prison.

“The facts in this case are truly disturbing and we will ensure that there is accountability for these senseless killings,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement.

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Authorities said that Los Angeles County deputies went to the home of Irma Garibay, 65, and her husband, Mario Flores-Romero, 73, the afternoon of Jan. 11 after someone called 911 to report that screaming was heard coming from the family’s back yard. When they arrived, Nelson Garibay’s 37-year-old brother told them his Garibay had attacked him with a baseball bat.

“The same victim directed the deputies into the residence, where they located a male and female Hispanic,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. “They were both suffering from significant head trauma and were pronounced dead at the scene.”

Irma Garibay was found in the garage of the home. Flores-Romero was dead in the back yard.

Nelson Garibay had fled in a 2001 green Toyota 4Runner before deputies arrived. Bulletins were sent out with photos of the suspect and his vehicle, and he was eventually spotted and taken into custody Jan. 21 in Otay Mesa, a community more than 130 miles south of Hacienda Heights, along California’s border with Mexico.

The motive for the attack was not immediately known.

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A GoFundMe page set up to aid the family of the slain couple described Flores-Romero as a hardworking man.

“Our father, Mario, dedicated his life to working hard and raising his children,” daughter Martha Flores-Viera wrote. “He was now retired and looking forward to enjoying his days with his grandchildren. He loved baseball and singing at our family gatherings.

“Irma was a loving grandmother who always had a smile on her face and (was) always helping others. She was very involved in collecting toys and clothing for children and women in need.”

Nelson Garibay is being held without bond in the Los Angeles County Jail.

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