BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The California Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) denied release to a man convicted of murder back in 2015.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office said on February 20, 2026, BPH found that convicted murderer Guadalupe Ruiz continues to pose a current and unreasonable risk to public safety.
The DA’s office said on November 9, 2015, Ruiz participated in the fatal beating of 55-year-old Abel Prendez. At around 4 p.m., the victim returned home to his apartment with his girlfriend. When they parked their car, Ruiz and his partner parked in the stall next to them and went inside a neighboring apartment.
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Both Ruiz and his co-defendant had been drinking. The victim and his girlfriend started to unload items from their car when Ruiz’s co-defendant came outside yelling and cussing. The DA’s office said as he passed the victim, he yelled, “What the fuck are you looking at?” Ruiz’s co-defendant went towards the victim and began hitting him repeatedly in the face. Ruiz came out of the apartment.
First, he approached the victim’s girlfriend and stood “nose-to-nose” with her. Then, Ruiz began brutally assaulting the victim. With the victim lying on the ground, Ruiz repeatedly kicked the victim in the head and face while wearing steel-toed boots, according to the DA’s office. The men left the scene before the police arrived.
The victim was taken to the hospital and was treated for numerous facial fractures and multiple brain injuries. The victim died as a result of a very serious brain bleed 18 days later.
The DA’s office said on September 13, 2017, a Kern County jury convicted Ruiz of murder in the second degree. On October 12, 2017, a Kern County judge sentenced Ruiz to 15 years to life in prison.
Guadalupe Ruiz is sentenced Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, in Kern County court in Bakersfield, Calif., for second-degree murder (KBAK/KBFX photo)
Ruiz is currently 42 years old and has served about 10 years in prison. On February 20, 2026, the BPH conducted Ruiz’s initial parole hearing. At the hearing, Ruiz’s commissioners focused on his institutional behavior that involved drug sales to other inmates and gang activity while in prison.
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In addition, Ruiz’s commissioners questioned him about his lack of insight into his criminality. The BPH found that Ruiz was not suitable for parole because he continued to pose a current unreasonable risk of danger to society.
The Board of Parole has the option of denying an inmate parole for a period of 15, 10, 7, 5 or 3 years. Ruiz’s commissioners issued a three-year denial. As such, Ruiz’s next hearing could be 18 months from now.
District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said, “Mr. Prendez didn’t know these men and he certainly didn’t deserve the senseless, callous attack that took his life. Anyone capable of such violence and who continues to exhibit serious misconduct while incarcerated, demonstrates a clear threat to public safety.”