Tag Archive for: first-degree murder

Photo of Gavel and prison cell.

Point Loma Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Executing Sister and Nephew, and Shooting his Mother

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a 61-year-old man who killed his sister and nephew and seriously injured his then 86-year-old mother in an August 2024 family dispute, has been sentenced to two terms of life without parole plus 82 years in prison.

William Bushey was convicted by a jury in January of two counts of first-degree murder, with a use of a firearm allegation and the special circumstances for multiple homicides. He was also convicted of premeditated attempted murder and elder abuse with a firearm. In August 2024, Bushey shot and killed his sister, Laurie Robinson, 61, and her son, Brett Robinson, 33, and seriously wounded his mother, June Bushey, who survived but sustained critical injuries during the attack.

“Family violence shatters lives,” DA Stephan said. “When tragedy strikes within the home, the effects are devastating and reverberate far beyond the immediate victims. Our hearts are with the loved ones left behind, and we remain committed to holding violent offenders accountable for their actions.”

The case underscored the profound harm caused when domestic conflicts escalate into violence.

During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello presented evidence showing that the defendant found himself on the verge of being kicked out of the family home for his poor behavior and he blamed his sister and mother for it. This tension within the family ultimately erupted into the fatal shootings.

Bushey lived with his elderly mother without contributing to the household and interacted very little with family members for over a decade in the family’s Point Loma home. He became upset when his sister moved into the home.

Over the course of nine days, Bushey’s agitated and aggressive behavior became so concerning that police were called to the house twice for disturbances, although none of the reported acts rose to the level of criminal conduct. By the day of the shootings, the family was on the verge of beginning the eviction process for Bushey and had ordered a surveillance system to be installed in the home. The internet system that was based in Bushey’s bedroom was relocated to another area of the home, upsetting him even further.

Bushey confronted his family about the Wi-Fi being turned off and then went into his bedroom and retrieved a shotgun that he had purchased in 2012 but had kept secret. He loaded the shotgun to maximum capacity and armed himself with additional shells and went looking for his family. He fired six rounds from the shotgun as he pursued his mother and sister who fled toward the back patio.  Bushey’s actions resulted in the deaths of his sister and nephew and caused catastrophic injuries to his mother who lost most of her right hand and suffered a “through and through” wound to her left upper abdomen, missing her heart by mere centimeters.

“This defendant was savage and ruthless in the way he hunted down his own family,” DA Stephan said. “I hope today’s sentence brings a measure of justice to the family of the victims and the community at large. I’m proud of the dedication and excellence that Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello and the DA team brought to this complex case.”

Preventing and prosecuting domestic violence and elder abuse and supporting victims through the tumultuous criminal justice process is a cornerstone of the work done by the District Attorney’s Offices. Thousands of crime victims are served through the DA’s two Family Justice Centers in San Marcos and National City, where they can obtain comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual assault and other forms of family violence. The office coordinates training for professionals across the county to recognize domestic violence warning signs, partners with community organizations to expand culturally sensitive support services and participates in public awareness and outreach efforts such as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

For more information about available services, visit: https://ospsandiegocounty.gov/

Photo of gavel and scales of justice.

DA Opposing Release of Two Violent Inmates Under Elder and Youthful Parole Laws

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that two defendants have been granted hearings before the Board of Parole tomorrow because of laws that allow early release for inmates under elder and youthful parole laws. The DA’s Office is vigorously opposing the release of both individuals—a convicted murderer and a self-confessed serial rapist.

Last year, the San Diego DA’s Office handled 136 hearings that were scheduled due to Youthful Parole, 202 hearings scheduled under elder parole, and 58 hearings that qualified pursuant to both early parole laws. That means 69% of the parole hearings were scheduled pursuant to elder and/or youthful parole last year.

“In many cases, new parole laws in California have undone the reassurance to murder and rape victims of justly imposed lengthy sentences and the promise of protection of our communities,” DA Stephan said. “In some cases, murderers and rapists get a chance at early parole under youthful parole laws and then have another chance at age 50 under ridiculous elder parole laws. Victims and survivors have zero early parole from their loss and trauma.”

Serial Rapist

Between 1993 and 1996, Robert Dean Rustad, known as the ‘Del Mar Rapist,’ broke into the residences of seven women and brutally sexually assaulted or raped six of them. Most victims were threatened at knifepoint and tied up; one was badly beaten. Rustad was between the ages of 19 and 22 when he committed the crimes and pleaded guilty to 39 criminal counts, including rape, forced oral copulation, sexual battery, false imprisonment, and residential burglary. Rustad received a sentence of 326 years and four months-to-life in 1997.

After a hearing in February 2024 to weigh his suitability for release, parole officials denied Rustad’s request and said he should not be up for consideration again for another three years. However, his next hearing was moved up pursuant to the Board of Parole Hearings’ Administrative Review process. He will receive special consideration at the hearing under the state’s elder parole law because he is 51-years-old and has spent more than 20 years in prison. The District Attorney’s Office is vigorously opposing Rustad’s parole and will do all it can under the law to keep him in prison.

“This defendant’s horrific actions and motivations for his serial rapes were sadistic and cruel and he has not accepted responsibility making him a serious threat to society,” said DA Stephan. “Justice was served last year with the board’s denial of early parole. Unfortunately, victims will once again suffer through the process of re-living their trauma in an attempt to keep this defendant behind bars.”

In 2020, Rustad was eligible for parole early through the state’s youthful parole law and was denied release for five years. Due to changes in the law, he is no longer eligible for youthful parole but is now eligible for elder parole. He was eligible again for the 2024 hearing by filing a petition to advance his hearing, which was granted. Two of Rustad’s victims were present at the 2024 hearing and gave powerful impact statements, leading to the three-year denial. Rustad has claimed his actions were driven by a desire for a girlfriend-type relationship.

Convicted Murderer

Aerith Asora (the defendant was prosecuted under different legal name) was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder, along with the inmate’s sister and co-defendant Brae Hansen. The pair had hatched a plot to kill their stepfather, Timothy McNeil, for financial gain. Asora purchased black clothing at a Goodwill store before driving from Phoenix to McNeil’s home in San Diego. When MacNeil arrived home the day after his birthday, he had plans to take Hansen out to eat. Asora was already inside MacNeil’s home with Hansen. Asora put on a mask, was armed with a firearm and pretended to commit a robbery of McNeil and Hansen. Asora directed Hansen to zip tie MacNeil’s hands, and then Asora zip tied Hansen’s hands. McNeil asked to go to the restroom and managed to get free, struggling for his life before Asora shot him four times, including twice in the head at point blank range.

Asora was convicted of murder on April 15, 2009, and sentenced to 25 years-to-life in prison. Asora was 19 years old at the time of the murder. Under California’s youth parole law, nearly all defendants sentenced to 15 years or more for a crime that occurred before their 26th birthday are eligible for an advanced parole hearing before the parole board. There are narrow exceptions for sentences imposed under the Three Strikes Law.

“This was a callous, premeditated murder based in greed and the justly imposed lengthy sentence by the court, which weighed all the evidence, should be honored,” Stephan said. “While there may be cases where a defendant deserves a second chance based on their age at the time they committed a crime, this is most certainly not one of them. Releasing this inmate early would be an emotional gut punch to the victim’s loved ones.”

In 2024, there were 577 lifer parole hearings scheduled in San Diego County. Of those, 70 inmates received parole grants from the California Board of Parole Hearings. The remainder of the hearings –507– resulted in denials, postponements, or stipulations to a denial of parole.

The DA’s Lifer Hearing Unit, under the leadership of Deputy District Attorney John Cross, has two main goals: to ensure that dangerous prisoners with life sentences are not released carelessly or improvidently, and to ensure that crime victims and their families are given an opportunity to participate in the parole hearing process and have their voices heard. When a defendant is given a life sentence, the Lifer Hearing Unit processes the case to ensure that it is ready for future parole suitability hearings. This involves preserving victims’ statements and documenting the gravity of the crimes to ensure the offenders serve sentences proportional to their crimes.

In addition, the Lifer Hearing Unit tracks court activity on lifer cases and assists the Attorney General’s Office in opposing writs of habeas corpus seeking release. The Lifer Hearing Unit has submitted amicus briefs on behalf of the California District Attorneys Association on important cases and actively works on legislation concerning the parole hearing process. The Lifer Hearing Unit is the statewide leader in lifer matters and San Diego County serves as the training office for other prosecutors who seek to understand the complex laws governing parole hearings.

Stock photo of two bullet rounds on the floor next to a crime scene marker.

Defendant Sentenced for First-Degree Murder of Ex-Girlfriend’s Fiancé

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Jesse M. Alvarez has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional 25 years to life for killing Mario Fierro, the fiancé of his ex-girlfriend, in February 2021.

Last March, a jury found Alvarez, 34, guilty of first-degree murder, including the special circumstance of lying in wait.

“The defendant ambushed the victim and repeatedly shot him to death in a most cowardly and cruel manner,” DA Stephan said. “The victim, Mario Fierro, was a beloved teacher at Cathedral Catholic High School and his death left his school, family, fiancée and community grieving. I’m proud of the excellent investigation by the San Diego Police Department and the tireless work of the prosecution team led by Deputy DA Ramona McCarthy, who brought a measure of justice to this cold-blooded murderer.”

Defendant Alvarez prepared, planned, and executed the cold-blooded murder of a Cathedral Catholic High School teacher after he discovered he was engaged to Alvarez’s ex-girlfriend. On the morning of February 1, 2021, Alvarez arrived at the home of Fierro, ready to kill him. After waiting one hour for Fierro to come out of his home, Alvarez ambushed him, shooting him six times, four of which were at close range.

It’s not unusual for a new romantic partner to become a target of violence, as in this case and many others prosecuted in San Diego County. Domestic violence has many forms including physical aggression, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, stalking, or financial abuse.

The District Attorney’s Office not only prosecutes domestic violence offenders, but also works to prevent such crimes, providing resources to victims so they can safely leave their abusers and move on with their lives. If you or someone you know is being abused, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. More resources can be found on the District Attorney’s website.

In addition, One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center provides support services all under one roof to anyone who has experienced child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, a hate crime, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, family violence, or other abuse or victimization. OneSafePlaceNorth.org