Life Sentence for 2019 Homicide

Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Isaiah Elias Garcia, age 25, to life in prison for the stabbing death of a man in 2019.

During a party on February 23, 2019, at which Garcia and the victim attended in Visalia, a fight broke out among two groups of attendees. After departing, one group of attendees, which included Garcia, sent an invitation over Snapchat for the groups to meet up again and finish the fight. When the invitation was refused, the group gathered its members and drove to its opponents’ location. During the second fight, Garcia stabbed and slashed the victim in his chest. The groups immediately fled, and the victim died from massive blood loss as a result of a stab wound to his heart. Through digital forensics and witness accounts, Garcia was sought and arrested for his involvement.

At trial on March 28, 2025, a Tulare County jury convicted Garcia of second-degree murder and the special allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon (knife).

According to current California sentencing laws, Garcia must serve 16 years in prison before being considered for parole.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jessica Weatherly and Deputy District Attorney Victoria Frazer and was investigated by Corporal Cabello with the Tulare Police Department.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Jessica Weatherly (559) 636-5494