Trial Set for Hemet Man Accused of Killing Wife, Child, Raping Stabbing Ex-Girlfriend

MURRIETA, CA – Trial proceedings are slated to get underway today in the case of a convicted felon accused of killing his wife and 5-year-old daughter, as well as raping and stabbing his ex-girlfriend, in Hemet.
Johnny Lopez, 36, could face the death penalty if convicted in the November 2013 slayings of 36-year-old Joanna Angel Barrientos Lopez and his daughter, Mia.

Lopez is charged with two counts of murder, along with one count each of attempted murder, forcible rape, burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm -- with a special circumstance allegation of taking multiple lives in the same crime.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Monterosso is expected to hear pretrial motions today and outline a trial schedule. Jury selection may take several weeks or longer because it's a capital murder case.
Lopez is being held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta. He was arrested on Nov. 9, 2013, shortly after the attacks at two separate locations in the unincorporated east end of Hemet.

According to court documents, the defendant confessed to sheriff's detectives that he had carried out the killings to get rid of his "baggage" -- an apparent reference to the victims.

Investigators allege that on the night of Nov. 9, Lopez fatally shot his daughter, whom he'd sired in a prior relationship, then turned the gun on his wife, who walked into the room after hearing the gunfire.

Both victims were shot twice in the head with a 9mm pistol, according to investigators. They were later discovered in the living room of Lopez's single-story house at 26174 Girard Street.

After the shootings, the defendant drove to his ex-girlfriend's home at 41060 Sunset Lane, less than a mile away, and allegedly forced his way inside via a window. Carrying an ax and knife that he'd allegedly stolen from a nearby property, he subdued the 30-year-old victim, whose identity was not released, and sexually assaulted her, prosecutors allege.

"According to his confession, he used the knife to slit her throat," Deputy District Attorney Burke Strunsky told City News Service in 2014. When Lopez walked out of the house with blood on his hands, a neighbor called 911, and a sheriff's deputy arrived moments later.

"The deputy sees Lopez standing in front of a house across the street and approaches him, and the defendant takes off," Strunsky said.

The lawman deployed pepper spray to stop Lopez, who put up a fight, culminating in the deputy striking him with his baton, at which point the convicted felon surrendered, according to investigators.

The ex-girlfriend underwent surgery and ultimately recovered.

Lopez has prior felony convictions for illegal possession of controlled substances and recklessly discharging a firearm.

• Also see: Officials Warn Of 2 Possible Leprosy Cases At Jurupa Valley School

Previous case coverage:

• Trial To Begin For Hemet Man Accused Of Killing Wife, Daughter, Raping Ex-Girlfriend
• Hemet Man Faces Death for Allegedly Killing Wife & Child, Raping Ex-Girlfriend
• Charges Filed Against Man Accused of Killing Wife, Daughter, Stabbing Ex-Girlfriend
• Hemet Homicide Victims ID'd, Booking Photo of Suspect Released
• Slashing Attack Linked to Two Homicides, Police Question Suspect

--City News Service/Photo via RC Sheriff's Department