The last hours in the life of Alexandria Nicole Smith were detailed in court Monday by witnesses who said she was kidnapped, robbed, tied up, and later suffocated by a group of people at a party in National City.
The long delayed preliminary hearing of three people accused of killing Smith, 30, in Oct., 2017 began before San Diego Superior Court Judge Steven Stone. The hearing may last until Nov. 12.
Smith was allegedly suffocated inside her own car by Jonnie Alexander Isaguirre, 24, who had invited her to the party held at the La Siesta Way house of Amber Star Suarez, 39, who is also known as Amber Leal.
A witness quoted Pablo Victor Valadez, 37, as saying “we’re going to have to kill her” after Suarez kicked her and tied her up. Isaguirre, Suarez, and Valadez are accused of murder with the special circumstances of murder during torture and during a robbery.
The motive appears to be robbery as Suarez was trying to raise money for bail for “Droopy,” who was a friend of Suarez. The trio are accused of stealing Smith’s car, purse, coat, phone, and other items.
Smith’s body—minus four fingers amputated after her death–was found Oct. 12, 2017 off Aruba Road, an unmaintained fire road not far from the Riverside County line, according to National City Detective Kenneth Springer. A Wal-Mart bag was found over her head.
Riveting accounts of what transpired that night came from witnesses who were interviewed by Springer and former National City detective Leiderson Zeferino, who is now a District Attorney investigator.
Both Springer and Zeferino testified about their conversations with Crystal Lopez Melendez, 35, and Maria Yvette Pereira, 28, both of whom have signed cooperation agreements with the District Attorney’s office.
Melendez has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and robbery and faces a prison term of 15 to 20 years to life, said Zeferino. Pereira has pleaded guilty to robbery and faces a 5-year prison term. A murder charge was dismissed against Pereira.
It was Melendez who used pruning shears to cut four fingers off the body after her death because she was concerned about DNA that might be found under the victim’s fingernails, said Zeferino to a question by Deputy District Attorney Matthew Williams.
Surveillance video from the Wal-Mart on Broadway in Chula Vista shows Valadez and Melendez purchasing white duct tape, gloves, and rope there. White duct tape was found around Smith’s wrists. Sunglasses believed worn by Valadez in the Wal-Mart photos match the type of sunglasses found in the victim’s car, said Zeferino.
The hearing began with a photo of Smith, of San Diego, on a screen, and Suarez cried upon seeing it. Springer said Smith’s mother filed a missing person’s report after Smith never returned from the Oct. 2 party.
Springer said a media release described her missing Toyota Corolla, and a neighbor of Suarez reported to police she saw it parked several days earlier parked outside Suarez’s home.
“We got this bitch’s car sold,” said Suarez, according to Pereira’s account to Springer.
Smith’s phone was found cracked and not charged in a dumpster outside a 7-Eleven store in Vista by a man looking for recyclables. The man re-charged the phone and called Smith’s mother after hearing several messages from her.
Springer said they found a text message sent by Smith in her final hours to a friend which read, “I really need your help. I’m in National City being held against my will.” Her friend asked her for an address, but Smith couldn’t reply back, said Springer.
All five defendants remain in jail. Isaguirre, Valadez, and Suarez have pleaded not guilty.
