In a dramatic turn of events, nearly 15 years after the murder of actor and nightclub owner Hermilio Franco, Los Angeles County prosecutors have announced charges against Manuel Quintero, a reputed member of the Mexican Mafia, in connection with the case.
Franco was killed in a home invasion at his Downey residence in the early morning hours of November 3, 2010.
The incident reportedly unfolded when two masked intruders broke into the home, waking up Franco and his wife with threatening language.
In a desperate attempt to defend themselves, Franco retrieved a chrome-plated .45 caliber handgun from under his mattress, leading to a chaotic exchange of gunfire that ultimately resulted in his death.
One of the intruders, who was later paralyzed by a bullet during the confrontation, was identified as Larry Trujillo.
Though Trujillo was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2014, the identity of the second intruder remained a mystery until recently.
The newly charged Quintero, who had previously dated Franco’s daughter and was known to have once been part of their lives, denied the charges against him in court.
His attorney, Randy Collins, emphasized that there was no credible evidence linking Quintero to the murder that occurred over a decade ago.
Collins noted that another man, Trujillo, had already been convicted for the crime, which raises questions about the validity of the current charges.
“There was no credible evidence linking Manuel Quintero to these charges more than 15 years ago, and the same is true today,” Collins stated, asserting his client’s innocence.
The entangled history between Quintero and Franco’s family is particularly troubling, considering Quintero’s previous relationship with Franco’s daughter Adriana, who was present at the time of the murder.
In an unsettling twist, Quintero’s connection to the crime scene deepens the implications of betrayal; he was not only a former boyfriend but allegedly a participant in a life-altering act against Franco.
Franco, originally from Sinaloa, Mexico, immigrated to California as a teenager and worked a variety of jobs before gaining recognition as an actor and nightclub owner.
He owned El Farallon, a notable nightclub in Lynwood known for performances featuring narcorridos, songs that portray the saga of the drug trade.
Franco’s life was embraced by the vibrant culture of traditional Mexican music, attracting well-known performers from the genre.
However, despite his success, rumors of Franco’s involvement in the drug business shadowed his reputation.
In testimonies from his wife during the murder trial of Trujillo, she asserted that Franco was a hardworking man, denying any implication of drug-related undertakings.
On that fateful night, Franco and his wife were abruptly awakened by their intruders.
After a shot from one of the assailants killed Franco, his wife, in panic, managed to retrieve a shotgun from their closet, fleeing the scene while narrowly avoiding Trujillo’s body as she exited.
Interestingly, Adriana, their daughter, heard the commotion and witnessed a man escaping through a backdoor, although she was unable to identify him.
The series of events leading to that night were just as turbulent.
Quintero had a criminal past that included serving time for manufacturing methamphetamine, and he had recently escaped the grasp of the law before Franco’s murder.
In the days preceding Franco’s death, Quintero was allegedly involved in a kidnapping with Trujillo, which added to the web of criminality linking him to the murder itself.
Testimony from a witness revealed that the plan to rob Franco was hatched just before the fatal incident, implicating both men in a sinister plot.
Trujillo had initially entered a gurney after his injuries, expressing a desire to make amends, which only dredged the details of their actions further.
Despite Trujillo’s paralysis, he attended his trial and was ultimately convicted in a scheme that spiraled out of control, leading to Franco’s tragic death.
Years unfolded with Quintero shifting further into crime, leading to his arrest for subsequent charges until county authorities finally laid murder charges against him.
The testimony surrounding Quintero’s life has now shifted, as his advocate painted an image of a man attempting to walk the straight and narrow.
His attorney claims he has led a legitimate life since his release from prison, running a trucking company and a restaurant while actively contributing to the community.
Quintero’s charitable efforts, claiming to provide school supplies to underserved children, are cited as evidence of his rehabilitation in the wake of such serious charges.
In recent proceedings, despite arguments from Collins pushing for Quintero’s release on bail, the judge denied the motion, leaving him detained.
As the legal battle continues, the specter of the past looms large over the lives shattered by Franco’s murder—a haunting reminder of the violence that can arise from ties intertwined with the criminal underworld.
image source from：latimes
