Jury Finds Temecula Man Guilty Of Murder In Landmark Fentanyl Case

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — In a landmark case for California, on Thursday a jury found a Temecula man guilty of second-degree murder for the fentanyl-related death of a 26-year-old woman. It was the state's first-ever guilty verdict by a jury in a fentanyl murder trial.

Jurors at Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta found Vicente David Romero, 34, guilty in the June 16, 2020, Temecula death of Kelsey King.

It took the jury one day to return the verdict to Judge Timothy Freer. The prosecution and defense rested earlier this month, but due to illnesses and other unforeseen factors, closing arguments were delayed to Wednesday.

“Today, our office has successfully provided justice to a victim’s family by securing the first-ever guilty verdict by a jury in a fentanyl-related homicide trial in the state of California,” Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said following Thursday's verdict.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jerry Pfohl, who "not only demonstrated that the law can be upheld in a fentanyl-related murder case but also established a precedent for future cases," Hestrin said. "This verdict is a testament to our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities, providing justice for victims, and holding those accountable who engage in the distribution of illicit fentanyl resulting in death."

The case is the first of 23 active homicide cases in Riverside County related to fentanyl deaths to go to trial. The DA's office alleges all the defendants knowingly supplied the drug despite the risks of death. In order to meet the threshold for murder and get convictions, prosecutors must prove the defendants knew they were supplying fentanyl and that the drug could kill.

In early 2021, Hestrin, along with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, announced the county's first fentanyl-related murder charge and the two lawmen promised to crack down on dealers whose products kill.

During the five-day Romero trial, the prosecution called 10 witnesses to testify and showed body-worn camera footage in which the defendant said he gave and split a pill known as a "blue" or "M30," with King, which he knew contained fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is more than 50 times stronger than heroin, and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is often added to other, more expensive illicit drugs because of its extreme potency.

In an open plea to the court prior to the trial, Romero admitted to five additional charges, including possession of drugs while armed, being a convicted felon and drug addict in possession of a firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Romero and King were acquaintances, and according to the prosecution's trial brief, the two ran into each other in Temecula on June 16, 2020, both seeking to get high on drugs.

Romero was a reputed drug dealer, and on the day of the meeting, he had multiple fentanyl-laced M30 pills in his backpack, prosecutors allege.

The defendant later admitted during an interview with sheriff's detectives that he and King went to a spot on Jefferson Avenue, underneath Interstate 15, where he crushed one of the pills and used a straw to snort the contents, according to the brief.

"King then snorted the other half of the pill," the brief said. "The defendant and King began to feel better and were laughing for about five minutes. The defendant then remembered that he started sweating and feeling funny. He checked his phone camera to look at his face. That was the last thing that the defendant claimed he remembered before passing out."

He awoke hours later to find King unconscious, face down, with her buttocks in the air, prosecutors said.

"The defendant remembered King being cold to the touch when he tried to shake her and wake her up," according to the narrative.

He walked to a Chevron gas station several blocks away on Rancho California Road and asked the attendant to call 911, then began vomiting uncontrollably, court papers said.

Deputies went to the Chevron and questioned Romero, who was leaning against a trash bin, throwing up. After confirming he was a probationer, the deputies searched his backpack and discovered a loaded handgun, as well as five "blues," according to the brief.

Romero told them about King, pointing out where he had left her. A patrol unit went to the location, and a deputy discovered the woman dead shortly after 9 p.m., prosecutors said.

"The defendant was transported to Temecula Valley Hospital, where he was treated for the fentanyl ingestion, as well as methamphetamine," the brief stated.

A Riverside County Coroner's Office autopsy on the victim determined her cause of death stemmed from the "effects of methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl," court papers said.

While speaking with detectives, Romero allegedly acknowledged that King's death "is on me because I gave her the pills," according to the brief.

"The defendant confirmed that King had never used fentanyl before, but that she had taken shots of 'black,' referring to heroin," the prosecution wrote.

Romero remains in custody at the Southwest Detention Center. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6. Second-degree murder carries a potential sentence of 15 years to life. Romero's additional charges carry a sentence of up to six years and eight months in prison.

Court documents show Romero has prior convictions for assault, unlawful intercourse with a minor and burglary.

According to public safety officials, there were more than 500 confirmed fentanyl-related fatalities countywide last year, compared to just under 400 in 2021, a 200-fold increase from 2016, when there were only two.