Jury Urges Death for Killer of Girl, 9

A Texas drifter should die in the gas chamber for kidnaping, raping and murdering a 9-year-old schoolgirl he lured into his car by posing as a teacher, a Superior Court jury recommended Monday.

Jurors deliberated a little more than four days before unanimously deciding that Richard Lucio DeHoyos, 35, should be sentenced to death for the March 29, 1989, slaying of Nadia Puente of Santa Ana. The child’s body was found in Los Angeles, stuffed in a garbage can in Griffith Park.

DeHoyos pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Defense attorney Milton Grimes told jurors that DeHoyos suffered from a mental illness that caused uncontrollable, violent outbursts. Such an outburst led to Nadia’s death, Grimes claimed.

Although several jurors agreed that DeHoyos suffered some mental illness, foreman Gregg E. Plambeck, 38, said Monday all concluded that his attorney had failed to prove that the illness compelled DeHoyos to kill the girl.

“We felt that there may have been some underlying illness that he had, but the defense . . . did not pinpoint (how that illness) related to the crime,” Plambeck said.

Grimes reacted angrily when told of Plambeck’s statement.

“We had more than 10 experts testifying about Mr. DeHoyos’ illness--his inability to control his rage,” Grimes said. “That was a chain-link fence that showed how his sickness was linked to his action. I don’t know how many more experts we have to bring in to show that he was and is a very sick man.”

Orange County Superior Court Judge Everett W. Dickey scheduled an Aug. 27 sentencing hearing, at which he will decide whether to uphold the jury’s recommendation.

Monday, as the clerk read the jury’s recommendation aloud, Nadia’s family gasped and cried.

“I have waited a long time” for the recommendation, Nadia’s mother, Sara Puente, said in a breaking voice. “I’m glad at this point that it’s done.”

The jury’s recommendation marks the second time that a jury has determined that DeHoyos should die for his crimes. A jury reached the same decision in 1991, but that verdict was overturned because of jury misconduct, requiring the second trial.