Suvechha Sarkar
Veronica C. Pineda Reyes was a loving mother of four, a beloved sister, and a responsible daughter. However, the life of the 30-year-old came to an unexpected end under shocking circumstances when she was shot in front of her workplace in Carson, California. What followed was an extensive investigation that led to someone close to Veronica. In the episode titled ‘Death Roll’ of ‘Homicide Hunter: American Detective,’ the focus is on the circumstances surrounding the murder and how the killer was later found outside the country. The episode also features interviews with her loved ones and the law enforcement officials who helped serve justice.
Veronica Reyes Was Found Dead From Gunshot Wounds in Her Own Car
Irene and Louie Pineda were overjoyed when they welcomed their daughter, Veronica C. Pineda, into their lives on October 13, 1977. She grew up in a loving household in Blythe, California, alongside her beloved sisters, Lucy Villalon and Jessica Pineda. Veronica’s loved ones often described her as a hardworking person and someone with a contagious laugh. She pursued early education at a school in El Centro before her family moved to Wilmington when she was around 20. Over the years, Veronica worked in several positions at multiple companies, including Febco, Nortrica, and Drive Time. By the time she turned 30, she was working as an Administrator at Coastal Logistics. When Veronica was in high school, she crossed paths with Carlos Guadalupe Reyes, and they soon began dating.
Sometime around 1999, Veronica and Carlos tied the knot. Over the next few years, they welcomed their children, Klarissa V., Isaiah C., Lezley K., and Samantha T. into the world. Her life revolved entirely around her children, and she was focused on her career to give them the life they deserved. However, everything changed on October 8, 2008, when Veronica arrived at her workplace on 989 East 233rd Street in Carson, California, around 8:30 am. She was on a call with her sister, Lucy, when the latter heard Veronica saying, “Oh no! Oh no!” before hearing popping sounds. In the meantime, authorities received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the parking lot of Veronica’s workplace.
When officials arrived at the scene, they discovered Veronica slumped over in the driver’s seat with two gunshot wounds to the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and the forensic experts observed stippling on her face, indicating that she was shot at close range. Authorities uncovered several shell casings in the parking lot and bullet holes in Veronica’s car. Moreover, they uncovered eight .40 caliber shell casings on the floor of her car. Although they initially suspected carjacking, they found no evidence supporting the theory. The autopsy report revealed that Veronica suffered 11 gunshot wounds, seven of which were fatal. She had gunshot wounds in her abdomen and a defensive wound on her left arm. Veronica’s cause of death was determined to be the fatal gunshot wounds.
A Web of Evidence and a Border Arrest Sealed the Fate of Veronica’s Killer
During the initial investigation, detectives reportedly learned from Lucy that Veronica and Carlos had recently separated after she filed for divorce 11 days before the murder. In her statements, Lucy told the officials that Carlos was verbally and physically abusive towards Veronica, which led her to file for a divorce. Reports state that CCTV footage recovered from the crime scene captured a black BMW entering the parking lot within seconds of Veronica’s arrival. The driver then got out of the vehicle before shooting Veronica multiple times. It reportedly captured the shooter fleeing in the black BMW. The vehicle was discovered a few blocks away from the crime scene on Banning Boulevard and 233rd Street. According to reports, when authorities searched the car, they discovered Carlos’ driver’s license inside.
Investigators also uncovered a receipt from a nearby hotel in the name of Paige Sanchez dated one day before Veronica’s murder. When surveillance footage from the hotel was checked, it captured Paige with Carlos before they left separately around 7 am on October 8. Reports indicate that the footage also captured him carrying a metal box, which appeared to contain ammunition. When Paige was questioned, she told authorities that she had known Carlos for 3 months and when they parted ways on October 8, she felt Carlos was saying goodbye to her for the last time, as per reports. Further investigation revealed that Carlos was actually a member of the Eastside Wilmas gang. Investigative records suggest that digital forensic experts reviewed his cell phone records, which revealed that he was traveling toward the Mexico border on I-5.
While attempting to enter Mexico at the San Ysidro point of entry, Carlos was stopped for a secondary inspection by Mexican authorities. During the search, they reportedly discovered a gun from a hidden compartment in a vehicle, and Carlos provided them with a false identification under the alias Arturo Lopez. Ultimately, Carlos was taken into custody by Mexican Customs in October 2008 for illegal importation of a firearm into Mexico. There, he was convicted and sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison. In the meantime, detectives in the US discovered that the gun that was found in his possession was the murder weapon. After serving his sentence there, Carlos was extradited to the US and arrested in May 2014. He was charged with first-degree murder, stalking, and second-degree robbery, with the special circumstance of discharging a firearm causing death.
Carlos Reyes is Currently Incarcerated at a California Prison Facility
Carlos Reyes’ jury trial finally began in early 2015, during which the prosecution argued that he had a history of stalking and threatening Veronica prior to her death. They claimed that the murder was premeditated and presented witness testimonies recounting that on September 11, 2008, he visited Veronica’s workplace and reportedly smashed her car windows. Furthermore, the prosecution emphasized that he immediately fled the country after the crime and allegedly committed the murder owing to divorce disputes with Veronica. On the other hand, the defense focused on challenging the elements of intent and the prosecution’s narrative that the murder was premeditated.
During the ongoing trial, Carlos reportedly interrupted the prosecutor and sometimes spoke over the judge. On April 29, 2015, he was convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree robbery, and stalking. The jury also determined that Carlos personally used a firearm in the commission of the crime. He was ultimately sentenced to 54 years to life in prison on July 10, 2015. The tentative date for Carlos to sit before the parole board for a consultation is scheduled for May 2029. As of writing, Carlos is serving his sentence at the California State Prison, Centinela in Imperial, California.
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