Two brothers were found guilty of murdering a man on his wedding night by beating him to death.
A San Bernardino jury found Rony Castaneda, 31, and his younger brother Josue Castaneda, 22, guilty of second-degree murder on February 9 for the violent killing of 30-year-old Joe Melgoza on his wedding day, December 14, 2019.
The brothers were also found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon for injuring the bride’s brother Juan Bustamonte.
Melgoza’s wedding reception was held at a family member’s home. The Castaneda brothers had no connection to the family or the party, but they lived nearby and likely heard the festivities and decided to join in.
The brothers crashed the wedding reception, which unfortunately resulted in the groom’s fatality on December 15, 2019 after the festivities.
The brothers were seen dancing and socializing all night at the party, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office. They left the wedding reception but returned later, but the victim and family members had no idea they were armed with baseball bats.
They stood on a trail behind the house and began antagonizing the groom, daring him to jump over the fence.
Melgoza and a few family members jumped over the fence, but the brothers attacked them with bats right away. Melgoza followed unarmed after one of the family members took a bat from the brothers, who fled to another house.
Chino Police Department officers responded to the reception and discovered an injured family member. They later discovered Melgoza’s body in the yard where the Castaneda brothers had fled.
Both brothers were seen fleeing with a bat that was never found before the police arrived.
Melgoza died as a result of blunt force trauma, according to the medical examiner.
Both brothers were arrested shortly after, but Josue claimed he was never at the reception. The police, on the other hand, discovered a photograph of him and one of the wedding guests in his front pocket. Snapchat videos also confirmed that the brothers were present at the reception.
On March 13, the brothers will be sentenced.
Melgoza left behind a new wife and a daughter.
