Man's Trial For Allegedly Killing Girlfriend In Monrovia Expected To Start Tuesday

MONROVIA, CA -- The trial for the man accused of killing his girlfriend in 2014 in Monrovia is expected to start Tuesday at the Pasadena Courthouse.

Joel Velazquez, 52, is accused of killing Alice Medina-Kaplan who was 46 at the time. Her body was found in an SUV behind her Monrovia home.

The woman’s father, Raymond Medina, said that his daughter was mentally ill and had been living in her vehicle when she left a treatment center where she met the defendant.

Velazquez’s parents called deputies at the sheriff’s Industry Station and asked them to check on their son and his girlfriend.

Maria Cortes told KCAL9 that her son told her by telephone and text message that he was hurting himself, and it was too late for his girlfriend.

“It was terrible, really terrible. He cut his arms,” Cortes said.”I guess she drank a beer or something or had some drinks and he just like really lost it. He was trying to make her quiet. I guess he choked her.”

Cortes said her son and Medina were mentally ill.

“My whole life I’ve been trying to help him, to get help. Never in a million years would I believe this was going to happen, never,” she said.

Monrovia police told Channel 4 they had been to the address at least five times this year on reports of domestic violence.

Velazquez has been jailed on more than $1 million bail since his arrest.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo via Shutterstock