Sheriff in California wants governor to lift death penalty ban in cases involving children

VISALIA, Calif. (KMPH) — A sheriff in California asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to lift the ban on the death penalty, especially in cases involving children, two weeks after six people were killed in Goshen.

Elyssa Parraz, 16, and her 10-month-old son, Nycholas, were both shot in the head execution-style on January 16, Boudreaux said. Four other people in her home were also shot and killed.

I will say arrests will be made in this investigation and once they are, this is a message that I'm asking and sending to Gov. Newsome. I would like him to lift the ban on the death penalty in cases where small children are murdered," Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said during a news conference on Monday. "This should be a death penalty case.

The sheriff said the killers remain at large.

Boudreaux said it was not immediately known if it was a cartel but added that there are two operating throughout the state, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel.

Many of the cartels work closely with gang members in the area.

Investigators suspect the killings are gang-related and may have ties to cartels.

Going in and massacring an entire family goes above and beyond," said Boudreaux. "That's why I continue to focus back on a high-level gang-style execution and or cartel execution because this is not normal."

Boudreaux also said Child Welfare Services took the baby from his mother three days after he was born and placed into foster care and an investigation with the Visalia Police Department ensured.

"It was because Elyssa wasn't able to provide sufficient care," he said. "Elyssa was, however, allowed supervised visits once a month until January 13, at which time she did receive full care and custody and care of Nycholas under the supervision of Child Welfare Services."

Boudreaux also said a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killers has been increased to $20,100 after $100 was donated by a woman from Maine. He said she sent a letter, saying that her heart was broken by the tragedy.

The reward also includes $10,000 from ATF, $5,000 from Crime Stoppers, and $5,000 from a man in New York, who wishes to remain anonymous.

The sheriff said he expects another $10,000 to be added later this week.

"Our investigators have been working day and night -- literally 24-hours a day on this case," he said.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: The National's Desk Jessica A. Botelho contributed to this report.