West Covina man found guilty of killing wife
A West Covina man was convicted June 18 of killing his wife and leaving her body in the trunk of her car, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
After deliberating for about two hours, a jury found Tomas Rodriguez Infante, a 62-year-old Filipino, guilty of first-degree murder.
Charito Vega Tolentino, a 57-year-old Filipino, was found Jan. 13, 2013, in her abandoned red Toyota RAV4 in the parking lot of the Hawaiian Gardens Casino in the 11800 block of Carson Street. She had been stabbed and beaten to death.
According to Deputy Dist. Atty. Miriam Avalos, at the time of the killing, Infante was having an affair with another woman. When his girlfriend found out he was married, she ended their relationship. The next day, Tolentino disappeared.
On the witness stand, Infante's son testified that he believed his father had killed his stepmother. Additionally, cellphone records and blood evidence found at his home connected Infante to the crime, Avalos said.
On January 14, sheriff's investigators arrested Infante at the West Covina home he shared with his wife.
Infante, who faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life, is expected back in court July 8 for sentencing.
-- Veronica Rocha and Maloy Moore
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