Shivangi Sinha
In February 2015, Daniel Green, a police officer from Exeter, California, was found shot in his home. A thorough and detailed investigation soon pointed to his estranged wife, Erika Sandoval, with whom he had been experiencing serious relationship issues in recent years. During the investigation, another name that surfaced was Brenda Vela, a woman Daniel had recently posted a photo with on social media. Authorities speculated that this post may have played a role in triggering the event. The CBS episode of ‘48 Hours’ titled ‘The Killing of Officer Green’ explores the case in-depth and provides a clear timeline of the events that unfolded.
Brenda Vela’s Picture With Daniel Green Ultimately Led to His Death
Brenda Vela was just 20 years old when she met 31-year-old Officer Daniel Green. At the time, she was living in Exeter, California, with a bright and promising future ahead of her. She had gone on a few casual dates with Daniel, but on February 6, 2015, she was shocked to learn that he had been fatally shot in his own home. Things took an unexpected turn when the police began questioning her. According to official reports from that period, about a week before the murder, Daniel had posted a photo of himself with Brenda on social media. Following this post, his ex-wife, Erika Sandoval, reportedly began bombarding him with phone calls, which investigators believed might have been a triggering factor in the chain of events.
The police believed that Erika Sandoval was driven by jealousy after seeing the photo Daniel had posted with Brenda, which ultimately led her to shoot him. During the investigation, authorities found a yellow Post-it note in Erika’s purse with Brenda’s full name and birth year written on it. Investigators also uncovered that Erika had suspected that Daniel was seeing other women when she had hopes of reconciling with him. However, the photo of Brenda seemed to imply a serious relationship. The latter was questioned about a message Daniel had sent her in which he had asked her to marry him. She testified at Erika’s 2019 trial but was never considered a suspect in the case. Despite facing intense public scrutiny, Brenda chose to remain silent and did not make any public statements at the time.
Brenda Vela is Raising Her Daughter Away From the Public Eye Today
Brenda Vela has largely stayed out of the public eye since the events surrounding Officer Daniel Green’s death, and understandably so. Given the highly sensitive nature of the case and the intense media attention she endured, despite never being a suspect, she chooses to maintain a low profile. Some reports suggest that Brenda eventually resumed a sense of normalcy in her life. She is believed to have completed her college education at Santa Barbara City College and later married a man named Morgan. Together, they are said to be raising a daughter named Ellie. By all accounts, she is now living a quiet, peaceful life focused on her family. She appears content, keeping out of the spotlight and adjusting to the stability and simplicity that come with a more private existence after such a turbulent chapter in her past.
Read More: Officer Daniel Green: How Did He Die? Who Killed Him?
