BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A Bakersfield man who was initially sentenced to 16 years to life for fatally stabbing his 70-year-old grandmother in the head was resentenced to 12 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter on Thursday, according to Kern County court records.
PREVIOUS REPORTING: Man gets 16 years to life for killing 70-year-old grandmother in July 2023
Juan Andres Valdez, 34, was convicted of murder in March 2024 for the killing of 70-year-old Maria Magdalena Valdez. Court records show he pleaded not guilty both times.
Photo: Kern County District Attorney’s Office
Court records show Valdez’s initial conviction was reversed in November 2025 after legal paperwork was filed that caused the court to close the case. The exact reason was not available on the court website.
The case stems from a July 13, 2023, attack in the area of Flower and Tulare streets. According to court documents, Valdez stabbed his grandmother twice in the head, once near her left temple and by her left ear.
Bakersfield police arrived shortly after and found a kitchen knife, and said it had been washed after. Maria Valdez died a week later at a hospital.
Court documents also state Valdez admitted stabbing her in the head while she slept on a couch in the living room. According to court records, Valdez told officers he feared her and was tired of her controlling him, and said he wanted her to stop.
Courtesy: Kern County Superior Court documents
Valdez, who was unemployed at the time, told police he was also on medication that treats mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and that he meets with a doctor monthly.
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Officers questioned Valdez to determine if he knew right from wrong, and based on his answers, they felt he was mentally sane in the interview.