Bio

Teofilo Medina Jr. was born in 1943 or 1944. Before the 1984 murders, he already had a documented criminal history that included violent offenses and prior imprisonment. Court records show that he had a 1968 conviction for firing a shotgun in a bar and later convictions in 1977 for rape, kidnapping, and lewd conduct.

Before his California crime spree, Medina served time in the Arizona prison system for rape. He was released less than three months before the 1984 killings began. By the time of the murders, he was a parolee and registered sex offender.

Medina’s mental condition later became a major issue in court. His defense presented evidence of mental health problems, substance abuse, unusual behavior, and past institutional treatment. Some experts described him as mentally ill, while others believed he was competent to stand trial. A jury ultimately found him competent, and a later jury found him legally sane at the time of the crimes.

Murder Story

In October and November 1984, Teofilo Medina Jr. carried out a short robbery spree in Southern California. The crimes took place in Orange and Riverside counties and targeted gas stations, a drive-in dairy, and a market. During the spree, four young clerks were shot and killed.

The first victim was Horacio Ariza Jr., 20, who was killed on October 18, 1984, while working at a Santa Ana gas station. Money was missing from the cash register, and witnesses later described a car similar to Medina’s leaving the area.

Hours later, Craig Christopher Martin, 18, was found dead at an Arco gas station in Corona. He had been working the night shift, and the cash box had been opened. About $163 was missing from the station.

On November 4, 1984, Douglas Michael Metal, 23, was killed while working at a drive-through dairy. About $68 was taken. Investigators later found evidence at the scene that connected Medina to the crime.

The next day, on November 5, 1984, Victor Rea, 20, was shot and killed at a Santa Ana service station. About $166 was stolen. Prosecutors later linked bullet fragments from the killing to the same gun connected to Medina.

Medina’s crime spree ended on November 7, 1984, after he attempted another robbery and fired at two people who tried to follow his getaway car. The witnesses gave police his license plate number, which led officers to his home. Medina was arrested, and police recovered the gun that prosecutors later tied to the killings.

Medina was first tried in Orange County for the murders of Horacio Ariza Jr., Douglas Michael Metal, and Victor Rea. On October 17, 1986, he was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and other related crimes. His defense raised questions about his mental health, but juries found him competent to stand trial and legally sane at the time of the murders. He was sentenced to death on February 26, 1987.

He was later tried separately in Riverside County for the murder of Craig Christopher Martin. He was convicted again and received another death sentence in 1989.

Medina remained on California’s death row for decades. His case later reached the U.S. Supreme Court because of legal questions about competency hearings, but his convictions and death sentences remained in place. He was never executed. On March 22, 2015, Teofilo Medina Jr. died of natural causes while in custody at California Medical Facility in Vacaville.