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The judge overseeing the trial of a 35-year-old San Juan man accused of fatally stabbing his friend’s husband four times called a mistrial due to a deadlock, according to District Attorney Toribio “Terry” Palacios.
Ramiro Escobar had been on trial since Oct. 1 for the death of Miguel Adrian Ramirez Alonso when state District Judge Fernando Mancias called a mistrial Friday because the jury was hopelessly deadlocked.
Palacios stated Tuesday morning that the jury couldn’t reach a unanimous decision due to one juror and a mistrial was called.
According to the probable cause affidavit, police were called on New Year’s Day in 2020 to the Lantana Apartments complex at 1200 N. 1st Ave. in reference to a stabbing.
Once there, Ramirez was found lying face down on his stomach on the floor near the kitchen door with two stab wounds on the left side of his chest and two on his chest.
Ramirez’s common-law wife, Cynthia Gutierrez, told police that she asked Ramirez who stabbed him, but the only word he was able to speak was “Chrysler,” the document said.
His last words would eventually help detectives track Escobar down.
Gutierrez told police that Escobar owned a Chrysler 300.
Detectives were then able to find Escobar at his apartment in San Juan but said that he was uncooperative and was detained for more questioning, the affidavit said.
However, Escobar requested his attorney after being read his rights.
Investigators eventually learned that Escobar’s Chrysler 300 was seen driving into the apartment complex and leaving around the time of the stabbing.
They then found the Chrysler 300 in Escobar’s friend’s possession.
That friend told police that Escobar confessed to him that he went to Gutierrez’s apartment and got into a fight with him before stabbing him, according to the affidavit.
Palacios said there will be another trial.
Escobar has been out on a $25,000 bond since 2023.
