A San Joaquin County grand jury returned an indictment against alleged serial killer Wesley Brownlee.
The indictment was unsealed Thursday, and Brownlee was arraigned on six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Brownlee also faces gun enhancements for personally using a firearm and special circumstances, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said.
Initially, prosecutors alleged Brownlee had killed five men in Stockton and two men in Oakland between April 2021 and October 2022.
However, he now faces six counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Juan Vazquez Serrano, 40; Paul Yaw, 35; Salvador Debudey Jr., 43; Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21; Juan Carlos Carranza-Cruz, 52; and Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54.
The death of 39-year-old Mervin Harmon was not included in the indictment.
The attempted murder charge is in connection with Natasha LaTour, a Stockton woman who is believed to be the lone survivor of the killings and the first person he targeted in April 2021.
“I have full confidence in (Deputy District Attorney) Elton Grau,” LaTour said. “He has my complete and total trust and support.”
After hearing six weeks of evidence, the grand jury also issued indictments for Brownlee being a felon in possession of a firearm and a felon in possession of illegal ammunition.
Freitas said Brownlee’s case had gone on too long, so the prosecution pursued the indictments in an effort to expedite justice for the victims.
“The people of San Joaquin County should never have to endure the pain inflicted by Wesley Brownlee’s alleged actions,” Freitas said. “This indictment and my county’s prosecution honors the memories of (the victims.)”
With the indictment, Freitas said the prosecution has moved past the preliminary stages and can proceed to the trial.
The DA’s office said it hopes to begin the trial early next year.
However, since the beginning of the case, Brownlee’s competency to stand trial has been a roadblock and remains unresolved.
In August 2024, Brownlee’s defense had tendered a declaration of doubt as to its client’s competence.
In November 2024, the court had difficulties reaching court-appointed doctor Silvia Torres, who was set to meet with Brownlee for examination.
Earlier this year, San Joaquin County Superior Judge Xapuri Villapudua said Brownlee had refused to speak to the doctor when she finally got in touch.
In California, proceedings can be suspended if a judge believes a defendant is mentally incompetent to stand trial. The case cannot continue until the defendant’s evaluation is complete.
Freitas said there will be several trials, not just on guilt but also on penalty and competency. He said that, with the indictment, prosecutors can now move forward and begin those trials promptly.
The charges and enhancements keep Brownlee eligible for the death penalty.
However, since March 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order halting all executions, creating a moratorium in California.
At a Thursday news conference following Brownlee’s arraignment, Freitas confirmed that his office will still seek the death penalty.
“We are not going to get into the politics right now,” he said. “The death penalty is still on the books and we are still able to seek that and obtain that sentence in our courts, and that is our mission in this case.”
Brownlee, 46, was arrested early Oct. 15, 2022, after a police surveillance team followed him. Police said he was in a car, wearing dark clothing with a mask around his neck when they found him.
Police Chief Stanley McFadden said investigators were able to identify Brownlee as a possible suspect because of tips submitted to the Stockton Police Department and Stockton Crime Stoppers.
Brownlee is set to return to court Jan. 26, 2026.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Alleged Stockton serial killer indicted on six counts of murder, attempted murder
Reporting by Victoria Franco, The Stockton Record / The Record
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