Life Sentence for the 2016 Murder of Cecilia Cabrera
Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Francisco Javier Valdivia, age 45, to life in prison for the 2016 murder of Cecilia Bravo Cabrera.
“I commend the prosecution team for remaining steadfast in the pursuit of justice for Cecelia Cabrera,” said District Attorney Tim Ward. “Securing justice is even more challenging when the victim has not been recovered; both for the evidence at trial but also for the emotional toll remaining on her family. On behalf of the men and women of this Office, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them.”
Valdivia and Cabrera were married in Fresno in 2008. Despite the marriage, the pair did not live together and did not have children, as several people close to them said that the marriage was for immigration purposes. Valdivia had a relationship with Rosalina Lopez, age 46, with whom he had four children and lived in Goshen. Over time, however, Valdivia and Cabrera became close, with Valdivia paying various bills and rent in Farmersville for Cabrera.
Late in the evening of June 8, 2016, Cabrera picked up Valdivia to celebrate her upcoming birthday at the Tachi Palace in Lemoore. After a short time gambling, the pair left just after midnight.
Just before 5 am on June 9, the Tulare County Fire Department was called to a fully engulfed car fire in Traver. The car was discovered to be Cabrera’s, and her family filed a missing person’s report.
Despite significant search efforts, Cabrera has never been found.
“Often, we think of the conclusion of a case as “closure,” but I am afraid that is not absolute for Cecilia’s grieving family. We continue to ask that anyone with any information regarding her whereabouts contact law enforcement,” continued Ward.
During the investigation, detectives from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office observed that calls to Cabrera had been erased from Valdivia’s phone. In an early interview with Valdivia, detectives noticed scratches on his arm. Valdivia claimed that he was at his home in Goshen the rest of night after he watched Cabrera drive off. Investigation into the defendant’s cell phone location data demonstrated that this was false and that his phone was in the vicinity of the burning car between 4 and 5 AM that morning. On a prior occasion, Valdivia threatened to kill Cabrera if she were to leave him or begin a relationship with another man.
In December 2020, Rosalina Lopez pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to 3 years in county jail.
In early July 2025, a Tulare County jury convicted Valdivia of first-degree murder and arson of property. According to current California sentencing laws, Valdivia must serve 25 years in prison, not including CDCR credits, before being considered for parole. Valdivia has remained in custody since his 2016 arrest.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Clare and was investigated by Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Communications Director Stuart Anderson (559) 636-5494