A young man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of a high school acquaintance who was stabbed 31 times at an Eastlake townhome complex in 2015.
Saul Johnathan Orozco, 21, faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison the slaying of Carlos Gutierrez, 18, that occurred on Aug. 4, 2015.
Sentencing was set for March 8 by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Garry Haehnle. A torture charge was dismissed just before he was to have stood trial. Orozco remains in jail on $2 million bail.
Deputy District Attorney Kristi Gill said Orozco chased Gutierrez for 100 yards outside Gutierrez’s home with a kitchen knife. Gutierrez called for help and was bleeding heavily after being repeatedly stabbed in the 2800 block of Cielo Circulo.
A combination of all the stab wounds caused his death, according to the deputy medical examiner. Gutierrez’s arm was broken, and the knife penetrated his skull. The victim died within minutes of the injuries.
Gutierrez and Orozco were acquainted in high school. It is not known what dispute Orozco had with Gutierrez.
Chula Vista homicide detectives answered a radio call at 5:44 p.m. and Gutierrez was found at a nearby house. Others saw a man running from the crime scene while covered with blood. Officers used a police dog to arrest him. He had some minor stab wounds on his hands and was treated at a hospital before taken to jail.
