BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Kern County jury has found Rafael Estrada was sane when he slit his wife’s throat at her parents’ home in east Bakersfield, then led responding deputies on a vehicle chase that ended miles away with him resisting arrest as he was taken into custody in a church parking lot.<\/p>\n
The jury’s decision on Wednesday means Estrada will be sent to prison, not a mental health facility.<\/p>\n
Last month, the jury deadlocked on a murder charge but found Estrada guilty of other felony counts, including child abuse. Sentencing is set for Sept. 18.<\/p>\n
The prosecution could retry him on the murder count. A hearing on whether he’ll be retried is also scheduled Sept. 18.<\/p>\n
Estrada killed Taylor Estrada, 32, in May of last year. She’d wanted a divorce and had been staying at her parents’ house on Monterey Street with her four children, two of whom witnessed the killing.<\/p>\n
Rafael Estrada showed up at the house uninvited and argued about taking the son he and Taylor Estrada shared in common home with him.<\/p>\n
While in a back bedroom, he pulled a pocketknife and stabbed his wife in the throat. Blood poured from the wound and she died at the scene.<\/p>\n
Rafael Estrada got in a pickup and led deputies on a chase that ended about 10 miles away in the parking lot of a church in the 9900 block of Ramos Avenue, off Taft Highway. He exited the pickup and was taken into custody after struggling against deputies.<\/p>\n