Jury issues death sentence for man convicted in South Land Park quadruple homicide of family members

Has not been used in California since 2006

A Sacramento County Superior Court jury has issued a death sentence of a man convicted of a quadruple homicide.

The rare sentenced was issued on Friday, May 12 against Salvador Vasquez-Oliva who was convicted on May 1 on four counts of first-degree murder, with allegations of personal use of a deadly weapon and the special circumstance of multiple murders..

In March 2017, Vasquez-Oliva killed his wife, Angelique Vasquez, and their two children, Mia and Alvin Vasquez.  He also stabbed to death his niece Ashley Coleman.

All four murder victims were discovered inside a South Land Park residence after a family member requested the Sacramento police conduct a welfare check at the home. Within hours of the victims being found, police officers were able to locate Vasquez-Oliva in the Bay Area and took him into custody.

Although California still has capital punishment, it was last used in 2006 under former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he will not impose the death penalty saying “I will not oversee the execution of any person while governor,” when he declared a moratorium.

Final sentencing is scheduled for August 25, 2023, at 10 a.m. in Department 20 Judge Michael Sweet.