Davis Man Manuel Bermudez killed his 14-month-old son in 1994
(Woodland, CA) – December 6, 2018 – District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that on December 6, 2018, Board of Parole Hearing Commissioners denied parole for another five years to 48-year-old convicted murderer, Manuel Bermudez. The hearing took place at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton, California where Bermudez is currently serving life in prison.
In November of 1994, a Yolo County jury convicted Bermudez of murder and child abuse as a result of the beating death of his 14-month-old son. Bermudez committed the murder in Davis in January, 1994, and the Davis Police Department investigated the crime with the assistance of Yolo County Child Protective Services and the Winters Police Department. Bermudez lived in Davis but was located in Winters after the crime.
According to court records, and as stated by Board of Parole Hearings Commissioner Michelle Minor, the infant had been severely abused, with injuries noted from head to toe, including some that were weeks old and others that were just a few hours old. The emergency room doctor reported that the offense was the worst case of child abuse he had seen in 17 years as an emergency room doctor and having treated 12,000 to 15,000 children. Two surviving siblings were permanently removed from the home by Child Protective Services.
Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Larry Barlly, who prosecuted the murder in 1994, argued before the Board that Bermudez should remain in prison. In denying parole, the Board noted the severity of the crime, Bermudez’s lack of remorse, empathy, or understanding as to what led up to the crime or how to address those issues, and the risk of danger his release would present to the public.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig commended the decision of the Commissioners stating that, “there is no greater victim than a helpless infant who looks to his parents for protection.” Reisig added, “We remain committed to protecting the public long after the end of the court proceedings.”
Manuel Bermudez will be eligible for parole again in five years.
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