San Diego County District Attorney

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The San Diego County DA’s Office prosecutes all felony crimes in the county and misdemeanor crimes committed outside the City of San Diego. The office files about 40,000 criminal cases a year and balances prosecution with numerous crime prevention programs. District Attorney Summer Stephan leads the office of more than 1,000 dedicated employees who pursue fair and equal justice, and support victims daily across San Diego County.

06/11/2026

In this week's DA News, San Diego County District Attorney DA Summer Stephan discusses a major development in the Southcrest human remains investigation.

What began with the discovery of human remains beneath a Southcrest home in December 2025 has now led to three additional murder charges against a 74-year-old defendant already facing prosecution for murder. The charges are linked to multiple victims spanning more than three decades, including two cold cases dating back to 1993 and 2002.

DA Stephan highlights the extraordinary work of prosecutors and law enforcement partners who spent years following evidence, connecting cases, and pursuing justice for victims and their families. She also discusses the ongoing investigation and the continued effort to identify additional victims and locate information related to unresolved cases.

Anyone with information regarding Danice Galloway or Antenogenes Gomez Velasquez is encouraged to contact the San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

For more information, read the full news release linked here: https://danewscenter.com/?p=10277
EN ESPAÑOL: https://danewscenter.com/?p=10281

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN SOUTHCREST HUMAN REMAINS CASE:The investigation that began after human remains were discovered ben...
06/10/2026

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN SOUTHCREST HUMAN REMAINS CASE:

The investigation that began after human remains were discovered beneath a Southcrest home in December 2025 has led to three additional murder charges against a 74-year-old defendant already facing a murder charge.

Investigators and prosecutors uncovered evidence linking the defendant to multiple victims spanning more than three decades, including two cold cases dating back to 1993 and 2002.

This significant development reflects years of relentless investigative work and a steadfast commitment to seeking justice for victims and their families—no matter how much time has passed.

The investigation remains ongoing but you can read more details in the news release linked here: https://danewscenter.com/?p=10277

EN ESPAÑOL: https://danewscenter.com/?p=10281

Please join us in welcoming this year's Summer Intern Class of 2026! This year's intern class includes 25 students from ...
06/05/2026

Please join us in welcoming this year's Summer Intern Class of 2026! This year's intern class includes 25 students from across the country attending law schools including USF, USC, UCLA, University of Chicago, Richmond, USD, California Western, Thomas Jefferson, and Cornell. Say hello to these fresh new faces when you see them around the office. They are enthusiastic about their assignments and are especially looking forward to the annual George Bennett Closing Argument Competition, which is in its 14th year and set to take place on Friday, August 7.

Learn more about our internship programs open to law students: https://www.sdcda.org/office/legal-internship

06/04/2026

In this week's DA News, DA Summer Stephan highlights the important work the DA's Victim Services is providing in the aftermath of the recent mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ( ) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the m...
05/31/2026

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ( ) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Jack Yeh, who has been with the DA’s Office since 2018, and is currently the misdemeanor team leader in the South Bay Branch.

Read more about what inspired him to pursue a career at the DA’s Office, below.

Why did you choose a career in public service/what inspired you to pursue this career?
“I’m an immigrant from Taiwan. My mother and my grandparents were all public servants for the Taiwanese government. When I arrived in Texas in 1998, I saw that members of the Chinese American community generally regarded law enforcement with fear and apprehension. As I grew older, I saw that this fear often led to an under-utilization of public services and under-reporting of crime within the Chinese American community. One of the many reasons I chose this career is to show, through representation, that the criminal justice system belongs to everyone in the community.”

What does AANHPI Month mean to you/why is it important?
“Asian American history runs deep in California, but it’s also important to celebrate the impact that AANHPI have had on the arc of the broader American history. Some of the earliest non-native settlements in continental North America were established by Filipino sailors brought to Louisiana on Spanish ships. After the founding of the United States, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907 reversed demographic trends on the West Coast and indirectly led to the landmark United States Supreme Court case of U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) 169 U.S. 649, which established birth-right citizenship for all under the 14th Amendment, regardless of ethnicity. AANHPI Heritage Month is a celebration of the accomplishments and impact AANHPI have had on our home.”

A fun fact about you or what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
“When I’m home, I enjoy spending time with my baby, Atticus. When I’m away, I enjoy talking about the best boy in the west: Atticus. Explore AAPI in prosecution with the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutor’s Association (NAPIPA)!”

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ( ) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the m...
05/30/2026

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ( ) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Min Yoon, who has been with the DA’s Office since 2012, when she was a summer intern, and she officially joined as a Deputy District Attorney in 2015 at our North County Branch. Most recently, she served in the DUI Homicide Unit, and has now transitioned into a new role within the Family Protection Unit.

Read more about what inspired her to pursue a career at the DA’s Office, below.

Why did you choose a career in public service/what inspired you to pursue this career?
“I was drawn to public service by a desire to advocate for victims. When I was an intern, I had the chance to observe a young girl testifying about her traumatizing experience. Seeing how she handled the testimony and her resilience afterward was a life-changing moment for me. That moment made me realize that I want to dedicate my career to serving our community and making a meaningful impact on people’s lives during their most vulnerable moments.”

What does AANHPI Month mean to you/why is it important?
“As an AANHPI prosecutor, this month is a reminder of how important representation is in our field. It’s about community building, celebrating our shared culture, and opening doors for the next generation. This is a major reason why I serve as a board member for NAPIPA (National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association), to help ensure our voices are heard and to support the attorneys coming up after us. “

A fun fact about you or what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
“These days, my weekends are usually spent cheering for my two kids as they just started to get into youth sports. I love being there to support them as they try out new activities. When we are not at the fields, I really enjoy spending quality time with my family, hosting friends for home karaoke nights, or planning out elaborate dinner party menus.”

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ( ) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the m...
05/29/2026

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ( ) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Departmental Safety Coordinator Lavena Agarma, who has been with the DA’s Office since 2012, when she was a Student Worker then she became an Office Assistant in 2013. In her current role in Facilities, some of her duties include analyzing facility needs, monitoring building maintenance as well facility improvement and new building projects and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and safety standards.

Read more about what inspired her to pursue a career at the DA’s Office, below.

Why did you choose a career in public service/what inspired you to pursue this career?

“I wanted to make a difference in the community and at the time as clerical staff, I wanted to be a part in serving justice to victims. Although my role in the office has changed and I worked more on the facilities side of things—I still love being here at the DA’s office.”

What does AANHPI Month mean to you/why is it important?

“AANHPI is important because it honors our culture, traditions, and our heritage. I want to raise my second-generation kids to know and love who they are and where their ancestors came from. My parents both migrated from Laos and worked tirelessly to give our family a great life here in America and I want to be able to do the same for my kids while teaching them the importance of our culture.”

A fun fact about you or what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

“I enjoy cooking, gathering with friends and family for different occasions and watching my boys grow up.”

05/29/2026

Kandynn Wilson, who was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder and a lying in wait special circumstance in December, was sentenced to life without parole plus one year in prison for killing Ericka J. Wilson, 29, his wife of six years and mother of their child. At his sentencing hearing on May 27, 2026, Ericka's family gave emotional victim impact statements to the court.

“This Defendant murdered his estranged wife in cold blood displaying a vicious brutality in lying in wait and stabbing her multiple times,” DA Summer Stephan said. “We must keep fighting to safeguard victims of domestic violence and hold their abusers accountable. I’m grateful for the service of the jury that rendered this just verdict and for the work of law enforcement and our prosecution team. I hope today’s sentencing brings a measure of justice to the heartbreaking loss of the victim’s family.”

In January 2022, Kandynn Wilson took a vacation day from work and drove from Oakland to the victim’s place of employment, waiting for her to get off work so he could ambush her in the parking lot. After realizing he was at the wrong location, he drove to her apartment complex and parked in her parking lot. He reclined his seat and waited for her to return from work. Close to midnight, as Ericka Wilson pulled into the parking area and began to get out of her vehicle, the defendant approached her wearing a ski mask. He grabbed her and carried out a brutal stabbing attack, inflicting 23 wounds to her neck. She died at the scene. A brave neighbor saw the attack, and chased the defendant with a bat, forcing him to flee on foot and leave behind his vehicle, gloves, and murder weapon.

He was located a few hours later covered in Ericka’s blood.

“Intimate partner violence continues to be one of the most common and dangerous forms of violence we confront, and this case is a stark reminder of its devastating impact,” DA Stephan said.

In 2024, seven people were killed by a current or former intimate partner and there was one additional homicide victim, such as a family member, new boyfriend, or bystander, who died during domestic violence related incidents. While this is an increase from five domestic violence-related homicides the prior year, these types of homicides continue to remain lower than the average from the prior two decades. Figures for 2025 won’t be available for several months.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Alexandra Lorens.

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ( ) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the m...
05/28/2026

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ( ) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Crime Analysis Administrator Peter Villaver, who has been with the DA’s Office for eight years. Peter provides business intelligence and data analysis that support executive decision-making and collaboration with government and justice partners. His work includes analyzing case issuing and disposition trends, analyzing crime trends in the region, as well as evaluating the regional implementation and impact of new laws such as Proposition 36. He also specializes in application of digital evidence analytics on criminal investigations where he still gets the opportunity to directly work with our Deputy DAs and investigators to help build and review their cases. Prior to joining our office, he worked for the San Diego Police Department.

Read more about what inspired him to pursue a career at the DA’s Office, below.

Why did you choose a career in public service?
“Public service wasn’t my first career option when I graduated from college during the Great Recession, especially because many agencies were under hiring freezes at the time. I began my career working in transportation systems consulting for government agencies in the D.C. metro area, and that experience gave me firsthand exposure to how public agencies shape safe, connected and livable communities through infrastructure and public safety initiatives.

Over time, I developed a real appreciation for the responsibility that comes with serving the public. I realized that effective public service requires not only technical expertise, but also integrity, honesty, and objectivity in decision-making.

I come from a family of public servants. My father served in the military, both my siblings are in federal government service, my partner also works for the County and I’ve encouraged my niece to pursue public service as well.

Ultimately, I chose public service because I value work that has a direct and lasting impact on communities and the people who live in them.”

What does AANHPI Month mean to you/why is it important?
“America is shaped by people from many different backgrounds, and AAPI communities represent one important piece of that larger cultural mosaic. Celebrating is not just about highlighting one group — it is about recognizing how diverse cultures together strengthen the country through different perspectives, traditions, languages, and experiences.”

A fun fact about you or what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
“Fun Facts about me –
I have a 10-month-old Corgi named Portia Valentina.
I grew up in Japan and lived there from sixth grade to junior year of high school. I’ve been visiting the country almost every other year even before the pandemic.
I regularly get invited and enjoy presenting topics on digital evidence in criminal investigations to students at a local law school.
I have been in two crime documentaries on VH1 and Peacock/NBC talking about major cases that occurred in San Diego!”

05/27/2026

This morning, DA Summer Stephan joined FOX 5 San Diego to discuss the ongoing law enforcement response to the tragic and heartbreaking mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Our hearts remain with the victims, their loved ones, and the entire community impacted by this senseless act of violence. The DA’s Office is working alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure a thorough investigation.
In times of tragedy, support for victims and families is critical. The DA’s Office Victim Services team is providing crisis response, resources, and compassionate support to those affected as our community begins the healing process.
We stand united against violence and hate. For victim services just call (619) 531-4041 or visit SanDiegoDA.gov and search for Victim Services or follow this link: https://www.sdcda.org/helping/victims/victim-services

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