Family of Murder Defendant to Receive $8.5M Settlement in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Nearly a year after double murder defendant Tony Garcia died from a jail attack, his wife and son will receive an $8.5 million settlement from the County of Ventura. 

The payment comes after Patricia and Anthony Garcia filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court, alleging that the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s failure to protect the Todd Road Jail inmate resulted in his homicide.

Tony Garcia pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in the 1981 killings of Camarillo resident Rachel Zendejas and Oxnard resident Lisa Gondek. He was awaiting trial when he was attacked a fourth and final time in April 2024 by another inmate.

Read more at VC Star