February 11, 2023 – The Madera County Sheriff's Office reported that earlier this week, a Madera Superior Court Jury found Francisco Cordova guilty of the first degree murder of his girlfriend Norma Lopez-Castillo.

This case stemmed from an incident in March of 2020 when Madera County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to their residence in Madera regarding a disturbance. The initial caller was one of Ms. Lopez-Castillo’s children who indicated that his father was bleeding and his mother was missing.

When Deputies arrived on scene, they located Francisco Cordova in a bathroom suffering from what was later determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Shortly after, Norma Lopez-Castillo was found with multiple gunshot wounds, deceased, in the master bedroom of the home.

A subsequent investigation conducted by the Madera County Sheriff’s Investigations Division determined that Francisco Cordova killed Norma Lopez-Castillo and then unsuccessfully attempted to take his own life with a firearm that was kept in the residence, all while their three children were in the home. After receiving medical treatment for his injuries Francisco Cordova was arrested and booked at the Madera County Jail for the murder of Norma Lopez-Castillo.

Sheriff Tyson Pogue states, “We are very pleased with the outcome of this case. I would like to highlight the dedication our of detectives and commend their thorough investigation which allowed a jury to return a guilty verdict. Thank you to the Madera County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance and commitment to this case. We would also like to thank the jurors who served on this trial for their service and integrity. Finally, I would like to once again extend my sincere condolences to Norma’s family and loved ones.”

* Original statement regarding this case can be found below:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2920860388001438&id=647021268718706&mibextid=qC1gEa

Source: Madera County Sheriff's Office