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Thread: Phil Garcia Found Guilty in 2005 CA Murder of Anthonie Wendler, Sentenced to LWOP

  1. #1
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    Phil Garcia Found Guilty in 2005 CA Murder of Anthonie Wendler, Sentenced to LWOP

    A jury was seated today for the trial of a Hemet resident accused of killing a man for whom he arranged sex and drug deals in order to steal his assets.

    Phil Cardwell Garcia, 44, could face the death penalty if he is convicted of the April 2005 murder of 54-year-old Anthonie Wendler, and jurors find true a special circumstance allegation of killing for financial gain.

    Garcia is also charged with fraud, possessing stolen checks and theft.

    Opening statements are scheduled Monday in the courtroom of Riverside County Superior Court Judge F. Paul Dickerson.

    According to testimony at Garcia's December 2008 preliminary hearing, the defendant befriended Wendler after he came into a large amount Advertisement

    Sandra Bright of money from his late grandmother's estate.

    Garcia would allegedly arrange dates with prostitutes and drug purchases for Wendler, who had a predilection for methamphetamine, according to witnesses.

    The District Attorney's Office alleges that Garcia wanted to steal the victim's money. During the preliminary hearing, prosecutors showed the defendant had made numerous purchases on Wendler's charge accounts and had a driver's license with Wendler's information but Garcia's photo on it.

    The victim's body was discovered by his adult daughter on the floor of his Hemet home on April 25, 2005. He had been dead for several days.

    Garcia has prior convictions for auto theft, burglary and identity theft, according to court documents.


    http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/48467/

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    Two men convicted of 2005 first-degree murder of Hemet victim

    A jury deliberated over portions of two days before finding Phil Garcia, 44, and Keiron Elias, 24, guilty of first-degree murder.

    Two Hemet men have been convicted of murdering a 54-year-old man in a case that partially turned on a hair that was discovered on the victim, according to the prosecutor.

    A jury at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley deliberated over portions of two days before finding Phil Garcia, 44, and Keiron Elias, 24, guilty of first-degree murder, said Deputy District Daniel DeLimon. The verdicts were announced Tuesday.

    Garcia was found guilty of killing Anthonie Wendler and the jury agreed the murder was done for financial gain, a special allegation that means Garcia could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The panel could not agree that Elias killed Wendler for financial gain.

    The trial lasted about four weeks.

    Wendler was strangled and his body found in April 2005 at his Hemet residence. The victim’s body was discovered by his adult daughter on the floor and it appeared he had been dead for several days, according to police.

    DeLimon said the victim’s truck and wallet were missing and investigators eventually tracked Garcia to Las Vegas. DeLimon said DNA tests conducted on a hair that was found on the victim were connected to Elias.

    According to testimony at Garcia’s December 2008 preliminary hearing, the defendant befriended Wendler after he came into a large amount of money from the sale of his mother’s home. Garcia would allegedly arrange dates with prostitutes and drug purchases for Wendler, who had a predilection for methamphetamine, according to witnesses.

    The District Attorney’s Office alleges that Garcia wanted to steal the victim’s money. During the preliminary hearing, prosecutors showed the defendant had made numerous purchases on Wendler’s charge accounts and had a driver’s license with Wendler’s information but Garcia’s photo on it.

    DeLimon said the defendants will be in court Wednesday and a sentencing date selected at that time. Because of an outburst by Garcia when the verdicts were announced, the judge decided to remove the defendant from the courtroom, DeLimon said.


    Read more: http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-river...#ixzz14jvOSqCq

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    Hemet man sentenced to life in prison for murder of wealthy man for whom he arranged sex and drug deals

    MURRIETA - A Hemet man who murdered a wealthy acquaintance for whom he arranged sex and drug deals was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    Phil Cardwell Garcia, 44, was convicted in July of first-degree murder and a sentence-enhancing allegation that the April 2005 strangulation of 54- year-old Anthonie Wendler was carried out for financial gain.

    Garcia's co-defendant, Keiron Marquett Elias, 25, was also found guilty of murder, but jurors deadlocked on the enhancement, for which he's expected to be retried later this year.

    According to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, Garcia befriended Wendler after the victim came into a large amount of Advertisement
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    [ Tenkobushi ] money from his late grandmother's estate.

    Garcia would arrange dates with prostitutes and drug purchases for the victim, who had a predilection for methamphetamine, according to witnesses.

    The defendant wanted to steal the victim's assets, leading to a murder plot, according to prosecutors.

    Garcia made numerous purchases on Wendler's charge accounts and obtained a driver's license with his photo and Wendler's information on it.

    The victim's body was discovered by his adult daughter on the floor of his Hemet home on April 25, 2005. He had been dead for several days.

    Garcia had prior convictions for auto theft, burglary and identity theft, according to court documents.

    http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/51355/

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