By Khalida Sarwari
Gilroy police today announced an arrest in a 2010 home invasion robbery in which a 75-year-old man was killed.
The man arrested, Russell Edward Garcia, is suspected of attacking two residents with a baseball bat the night of April 13, 2010, at a home in the 1000 block of Montebello Drive in Gilroy, police said.
Officers responding to a report of a disturbance arrived at the home around 10:15 p.m. to find 75-year-old Marcelino Cardenas on a couch in the living room with severe head injuries and the second victim, a 40-year-old man, lying in the kitchen with wounds to his legs.
Cardenas died on April 25, 2010. The second victim was treated at a hospital and released.
Investigators identified Garcia as a suspect in the case in July. He has been in custody at Santa Clara County Jail on unrelated charges since May, according to police.
Police said the district attorney’s office charged Garcia with murder and assault with a deadly weapon on Wednesday. A district attorney’s office spokeswoman was not immediately available to confirm the charges.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact police Detective Michael Bolton at (408) 846-0350. People wishing to remain anonymous can call (800) 78-CRIME.
