BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — A Kern County jury found a man guilty last week of stabbing his aunt to death in east Bakersfield in December 2024. He now faces a sentence of nearly three decades to life in prison, according to the Kern County District Attorney.
Christopher Kaulaity was found guilty on April 17, 2026, of first-degree murder in the killing of his aunt, Maria Carmen Torrez, 45. He was also found guilty of personally using a deadly weapon during the crime.
The jury rejected a separate claim that Kaulaity was legally insane at the time of the murder.
On Dec. 6, 2024, Christopher Kaulaity and his aunt, Maria Carmen Torrez, were living in a home with seven other adult family members in the 1800 block of Haley Street. The home’s single toilet was clogged, and a family argument involving Kaulaity and Torrez took place over issues with the toilet.
Over the next 24 hours, tension built in the house. Several family members warned Kaulaity that if problems continued, he and his adult sister would need to move out.
The following morning, on Dec. 7, 2024, Torrez was on her way to the bathroom, and while passing Kaulaity in the hallway, she insulted him. When she was in the bathroom, Kaulaity got pepper spray from his bedroom and a knife.
That’s when Kaulaity kicked open the bathroom door, pepper-sprayed Torrez to “blind her,” and stabbed her repeatedly in the back and neck, said prosecutors. She was stabbed seven times.
After the incident, Kaulaity called 9-1-1 and said he had just stabbed his aunt to death. Deputies responded and arrested Kaulaity.
Attempts to save Torrez’s life were made, but she died from the injuries in her home. The Kern County coroner said Torrez was found dead by deputies at 8:21 a.m.
In an interview with KCSO, Kaulaity explained in detail why he murdered Torrez.
Christopher Kaulaity. Photo: Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
In the trial, the defense argued that Kaulaity’s mental health disorders caused him to hallucinate, making him unaware of his actions. However, the jury rejected this claim, citing Kaulaity’s behavior and statements on the day of the murder, as well as testimony from a second psychologist who confirmed that he was aware of his actions and knew they were wrong.
“Kaulaity’s murder of his aunt was a tragic act against a woman who should have been safe inside her home. The District Attorney’s Office and its prosecutors are committed to seeking justice, against individuals like Kaulaity, who commit violent crimes and attempt to excuse their behavior through unwarranted claims of insanity,” stated Cynthia Zimmer, Kern County DA.
Kaulaity is set to be sentenced on May 20, 2026, and faces up to 26 years to life in prison.