Porterville Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Wife’s Murder

Today in Department 17 of the South County Justice Center in Porterville, the court sentenced Victor Lopez, age 37, to 25 years-to-life in prison for the 2018 murder of his 31-year-old wife, Samantha Quintanar-Lopez.

Around 10 am on November 27, 2018, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department deputies were dispatched to 1127 E Date Ave in Porterville for a welfare check after the victim’s co-workers became concerned after she failed to report to work. At the residence, deputies contacted Lopez who stated that he and the victim had an argument the night before, and the victim had left around midnight. A 9-year-old daughter of the victim also confirmed to law enforcement that her mother was not at the home.

At 1:20 pm the same day, another welfare check was requested, this time by the victim’s ex-husband. When deputies again contacted Lopez, he refused entry into the residence and locked himself inside with the victim’s children: two 9-year-old females and a two-year-old male. Shortly after, Lopez attempted to flee the home through a window but was subdued after a foot pursuit. Upon a search of the residence, deputies discovered the victim’s body covered in a pile of blankets with a green shopping bag covering her head. The cause of death was determined to be manual suffocation.

After a multi-day trial beginning on November 7, 2022, the jury convicted Lopez of first-degree murder and felony domestic violence causing great bodily injury on November 16.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Kirk Davis and was investigated by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494