The 3-hour sentencing of David Enrique Meza ended Monday with the Otay Mesa man receiving a life sentence in federal prison for killing his wealthy boyfriend in 2015 so he could inherit his estate.
David Enrique Meza, now 27, declined to say anything in a packed courtroom before U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Miller in San Diego.
Family members of Jake “J.C.” Clyde Merendino, 52, spoke about the horrific murder in which his throat was slashed twice and he was stabbed 24 times on May 2, 2015.
Merendino’s body was dumped in a ravine outside Rosarito, Mexico around 3 a.m.
Meza was convicted May 2—the 2-year anniversary of the slaying—by an eight woman, four man jury following seven days of deliberations. He was also convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
After Merendino died, Meza filed a 1-page handwritten will that was on the stationary of the Hercor Hotel in Chula Vista, where the two of them stayed a few days before the slaying. Jurors got to read the will which said this: “I leave everything to David E. Meza.” Meza sent it to a Texas probate court.
Meza married his girlfriend, Taylor Marie Langston, now 22 and from Chula Vista, before their arrests on Dec. 23, 2015. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice and was sentenced June 16 to 21 months in prison. She has been given a release date of Dec. 26, 2018 and is housed at a federal prison in San Bernardino County.
Meza’s attorney, Reuben Cahn, urged Miller to impose a 25-year sentence instead of a life term. He said the relationship with Merendino began as “a commercial transaction” when Merendino responded to Meza’s Craigslist ad as an escort.
“He wanted to show Mr. Meza off as a possession, as arm candy,” said Cahn.
Cahn recited a text message Meza sent to Langston during this time which said: “Be patient. The reward will be great. One day we’ll have more than we need.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Ciaffa told the judge Merendino bought Meza a $12,000 motorcycle, a $45,000 car, plus many cash payments of $20,000 as well as vacations in Houston and Las Vegas.
“He preyed upon him. He groomed him, and then he slaughtered him. All for money,” said Ciaffa.
Mark Faggard, Meza’s cousin and a Texas attorney, blasted the defense for trying to “trash the victim.” Faggard said Merendino was a generous man.
“He played our cousin’s affection like a fiddle. This crime affected a lot of people in Southeast Texas,” said Faggard. “David Meza showed no mercy. Twenty four stab wounds and a slit throat.”
Miller said the murder “was unusually heinous, unusually cruel.” Miller said Meza used “deception over a significant period of time” and was manipulative.
“A life term is warranted in this case,” said the judge.
Miller ordered Meza to pay restitution of $9,916.08 to five of Merendino’s cousins and to a friend. The cousins had to pay funeral costs and transportation of the body from Mexico.
Meza has been in prison since December 2015, but will receive no credits because a life term was ordered. There is currently no option for Meza to be paroled on a life sentence. Meza and his wife have a young daughter who is currently being cared for by Meza’s father.
