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SALT LAKE CITY — A jury Wednesday found a Salt Lake man guilty of attempting to rob a man in a Millcreek home, killing him in an ensuing struggle.
Francisco Garcia, 35, was one of four people charged in the death of 32-year-old Gildardo Toledo. He stood trial alone this week, with a jury finding him guilty of murder and aggravated robbery, first-degree felonies, after two hours of deliberation.
Richard Trujillo, 28, Alisha Hope Moore, 30, and Sarah Ortiz, 26, were also charged with murder and other crimes in Toledo's May 2015 death.
Toledo's body was discovered May 29, 2015, at 875 W. Meadowbrook Expressway, after neighbors told police the sliding glass door of the home had been open for four days and they had heard gunshots in the early morning of May 25. The apartment belonged to Toledo's girlfriend
Moore told investigators that she had been with Toledo in the early morning hours on May 25, including using his cellphone to send text messages to Ortiz up until 3:55 a.m., charging documents state. Moore told police she left, later returning with Ortiz, Trujillo and Garcia to rob Toledo.
Moore arrived first, charges state. Ortiz came next, opening a back door for Trujillo and Garcia, who came rushing in minutes later, according to police.
Toledo attempted to grab the .45-caliber handgun that Trujillo pointed at him, starting a struggle, the charges state. Garcia threw a bottle at Toledo and Trujillo fired, striking Toledo once, killing him, according to the charges.
The group fled, reportedly stashing the gun in some bushes and destroying the SIM card from Ortiz's phone that had received the text messages from Toledo's phone, charges state. Police say Trujillo retrieved the gun the next day and sold it.
Sentencing for Garcia is scheduled for April 28.
A four-day jury trial for Trujillo is set to begin March 27.
Moore pleaded guilty in December to manslaughter and robbery, both second-degree felonies, and is scheduled to be sentenced April 14.
Ortiz has a change of plea hearing set for April 14.
