BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — David Lopez Lilly has been convicted of murder and related charges in connection with the alleged hit-and-run DUI crash that resulted in the death of Steven Alvidrez, the Chief of Police for the Kern High School District, in 2011. The Kern County District Attorney announced the conviction on Wednesday.
Lilly pleaded no contest to second-degree murder on Jan. 14, 2026.
PREVIOUS REPORTING: Bail denied for man accused of killing KHSD police chief in 2011, arrested after 13 years
Steven Alvidrez. Photo: CHP.
The case dates back to June 17, 2011, in a crash that claimed the life of Alvidrez, who was riding a motorcycle, and severely injured his wife, a passenger. Investigators determined Lilly was the driver at fault and fled the scene. Prosecutors said he was heavily intoxicated, driving at speeds of 90 to 100 miles per hour.
At around 11:30 p.m., on Highway 99 near Pond Road, Alvidrez, then Police Chief of the KHSD, and his wife were on a motorcycle traveling north to visit family in Visalia. At the same time, Lilly was also headed north, swerving all over the road, said the DA.
Lilly approached the motorcycle and rear-ended it, said prosecutors. Both Alvidrez and his wife were thrown from the bike, killing him. His wife suffered significant injuries.
PREVIOUS REPORTING: KHSD honors former police chief, killed by hit-and-run driver
The DA said Lilly then fled to a family member’s home and immediately began repairing the front-end damage to his vehicle.
After about six weeks, investigators with the CHP determined Lilly’s involvement. By that time, Lilly had fled to Mexico, where he remained a fugitive for 13 years, until his capture on Jan. 15, 2025.
A man has been indicted of killing a Kern High School District police chief in 2011 in a hit-and-run. PHOTO: KCSO, CHP
Between January and June 2024, investigators obtained new information indicating Lilly was living near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Coordinating with FBI agents in Guadalajara, authorities apprehended Lilly on Jan. 15, 2025. Mexican immigration officials escorted him from Puerto Vallarta to Los Angeles International Airport, where CHP took him into custody.
CHP revealed that Lilly had two prior DUI convictions, leading to murder charges following his indictment by the Kern County Grand Jury. Believing Lilly had fled to Mexico to avoid arrest, CHP sought assistance from the FBI, resulting in a federal warrant for Lilly’s arrest on charges of Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.
District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer stated, “Lilly evaded accountability for far too long, but thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement who sought his whereabouts for more than a decade, the Alvidrez family can finally receive the justice they have long deserved. Although handling a case of this age is complex, the District Attorney’s Office was committed to fighting for Chief Alvidrez with the same dedication he showed to his community.”
Lilly’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2026, where he is set to receive a sentence of at least 15 years to life in prison.