California Father Found Guilty of Killing Mother of His Two Young Children

A California father was found guilty of first-degree murder after prosecutors said he repeatedly stabbed the mother of his two young children while the children were inside the apartment and desperately tried to get him to stop.

Victor Farias Jr., 34, was convicted Friday in Kern County of first-degree murder, child abuse and resisting arrest in connection with the March 2026 killing of 30-year-old Yolanda Rojo. He now faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

A Family Trip Ended in Violence

According to prosecutors, Farias had gone shopping with Rojo and their two daughters earlier that evening. The family later returned to Rojo’s apartment at the Shadow Ridge Apartments in Bakersfield.

Just before 10 p.m. on March 25, police received a report of a domestic disturbance at the complex.

When officers arrived, they found Rojo on the floor suffering from numerous stab wounds. She still had a slight pulse and was rushed to Kern Medical, but doctors were unable to save her.

An autopsy later revealed the extraordinary extent of the attack. Investigators said Rojo suffered more than 90 injuries, including 69 sharp-force injuries to her head, neck and back, 23 stab wounds and multiple defensive wounds on her hands and arms. Three wounds to her head fractured her skull.

Children Ran for Help

Perhaps the most heartbreaking part of the case involved Rojo’s two young daughters, who were reportedly inside the apartment during the attack.

According to court documents, Rojo’s 6-year-old daughter attempted to call police, but Farias allegedly took the phone away.

Rojo then told her daughter to run to a neighbor for help.

The child and her younger sister managed to escape the apartment. A doorbell camera reportedly captured the older girl running toward a neighbor while screaming for Farias to stop.

The neighbor called police, bringing officers to the apartment shortly afterward.

The Kern County District Attorney’s Office later pointed to the children’s actions as a critical part of the case, saying their courage helped lead to justice for their mother.

Farias Fled After the Killing

After the stabbing, Farias reportedly left the area in a black Nissan Altima.

His escape did not last long.

The vehicle later crashed into a big rig on Highway 58. By the time law enforcement arrived, Farias had fled from the wreck and disappeared into the Tehachapi Mountains.

Authorities eventually located him in Tehachapi on March 26.

Prosecutors said Farias initially provided officers with a false name and resisted arrest.

His flight became another significant part of the prosecution’s case as investigators worked to reconstruct what happened inside the apartment.

Defense Argued the Killing Was Not Premeditated

During the two-week trial, prosecutors argued that the sheer number and location of Rojo’s injuries demonstrated that Farias intended to kill her.

His defense attorney acknowledged that Farias was responsible for the stabbing but argued that the killing should be considered second-degree murder rather than first-degree murder.

The defense maintained that Farias acted impulsively and without the premeditation required for a first-degree murder conviction.

Jurors ultimately rejected that argument.

They found Farias guilty of first-degree murder, as well as child abuse and resisting arrest.

A Mother Remembered, Two Children Left Behind

Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said Farias believed he could silence Rojo and conceal what he had done, but the evidence and the courage of Rojo’s children ultimately exposed the truth.

For Rojo’s family, the verdict marks a measure of justice, but it cannot erase the loss of a mother whose two young children witnessed a devastating act of violence.

Farias is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 2. If the court imposes the maximum punishment available for the murder conviction, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Source: Law&Crime, Kern County District Attorney’s Office, KBAK and KGET.