Accused Murderer Avoids Death Penalty in Double Homicide

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Ricky Ray Zuniga took a plea deal Thursday that sends him to prison for 40 years.

In exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge of murder, District Attorney Allison Palmer offered Zuniga a 40 year prison sentence and according to court documents, he accepted the deal.  He was originally charged with one count of capital murder of multiple persons and one count of capital murder by terroristic threat.

As we reported earlier, Zuniga was accused of participating in the murders of Jimmy Andrew Gonzales and Anthony Michael Martinez, both 28 years old.  In an interview at the police station, Zuniga said he, along with Raymond Alvarado, drove to Gonzales’ house on Rio Grande that night. Alvarado, the complaint said, told Zuniga he had intentions of stealing from Gonzales. Once the duo arrived, the two went inside and a fight ensued with Martinez. Sometime during the fight, Zuniga told police Alvarado brandished a firearm.

He asked Martinez “where his money was.” Shortly thereafter, Zuniga told police he heard gunfire and “got out of the house.”

Zuniga said he went back to Gamez’s truck that the two arrived in. Alvarado then got into the backseat of the truck, and Gamez drove them away from the house. Zuniga told police Alvarado had killed both Martinez and Gonzales.

Attorneys last Friday morning were discussing a defense motion to suppress Zuniga’s video interview taken at the police station the day after the shooting when District Attorney Allison Palmer informed the court that the San Angelo Police Department was unable to find the in-car video of the detention of Zuniga.  Three police officers testified Friday that they searched the servers for the video and haven’t been able to locate it since 2016. Under cross examination, officers said they had no explanation about how the video went missing.

Alvarado took a plea deal in June that sent him to prison without the possibility of parole.  A Tom Green County jury found Lerma guilty in June as well and District Judge Ben Woodward sentenced her to 27 years in prison.  Gamez is awaiting trial.

Zuniga signed the court document Thursday that sent him to 40 years in prison.  He was arrested and booked into the Tom Green County Jail where he will stay until he is sent to prison.