Galindo sentenced to life in prison
Andres Flores Galindo is sentenced to life in prison in connection to the death of a Wellton woman in 2013.
He is convicted of 1st degree premeditated murder, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence. He will owe $10,000 in restitution, which will be split with co-defendant Jose Jimenez.
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June 3rd, 2016-
Andres Flores Galindo, the man charged with the murder of Wellton resident Christal Figueroa, was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder Friday morning.
The jury also found him guilty on one charge of aggravated assault and one charge of tampering with evidence.
The jury came to their verdict in less than one day, following the trial that lasted about three weeks. Galindo will be sentenced following a mitigation hearing on August 16.
Figueroa’s body was found March 22, 2013, in a citrus grove near County 17th Street and Avenue 2E in Yuma. She was shot 16 times, according to officials.
Figueroa was a mother of three children.
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June 1, 2016-
In closing arguments Wednesday, the state’s prosecutor stated, “One man didn’t shoot her 16 times. Two men did and one of those men is sitting in this room.” He highlighted Galindo’s affiliation with the Arizona Mexican Mafia and SOMA, a Somerton-based gang.
In closing, defense council discounted witness testimonies saying, “this case isn’t about Christal Figueroa being in bed with Ramon Ramirez. It’s about the state being in bed with the witnesses,” referencing the fact that testimonies in the trial stem from plea deals and immunity.
Jose Jimenez and Ramon Ramirez are also in custody in connection to Figueroa’s murder. In a plea deal with the state, Jimenez is serving 25 years in prison. Ramirez accepted a plea deal from the state in April 2016.
The sequence of events leading to Figueroa’s murder are currently based on police interviews with Ramirez and Jorge Rios. Ramirez and Rios say they were taken along for the ride when Galindo and Jimenez took Figueroa to the citrus groves, where she was found dead. Ramirez and Rios both testified they remained in the car during her murder. Jimenez attempted to shoot Figueroa. After missing twice, Galindo handed Jimenez another gun which jammed. Jimenez then told Galindo to shoot her.
Ramirez also stated that Galindo didn’t really know Figueroa personally. Galindo just happened to be there when Jimenez walked in and found Figueroa in the same hotel room with Ramirez. Ramirez makes clear that him and Figueroa did not have sexual intercourse, but was afraid of the repercussions of Jimenez finding him alone with Figueroa.
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May, 12 2016-
The first witness on the stand Thursday was Sergeant Ron Rodriguez (ret.) with the Yuma Police Department. Rodriguez testified about interviewing Figueroa’s family members following her death. He said that they had mentioned Jimenez.
The state then presented images of Figueroa’s body as evidence, drawing reaction from family members present in court.
The second witness who took the stand was Dr. Reena Singh, a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Figueroa. She was able to confirm what was shown in the images presented by the state.
Galindo is facing first degree premeditated murder among other felony charges.
Figueroa’s body was found March 22, 2013, in a citrus grove near County 17th Street and Avenue 2E in Yuma. She was shot 16 times according to officials.
Figueroa was a mother of three children.
The trial is expected to last three weeks and currently set for May 11, 12, 17-20, 24-26, 31 and June 1st.
