Adult Time for Adult Crime: Ralph David Cruz, Jr.

Cully Stimson / October 20, 2009

On November 9th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments challenging the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. In preparation for oral arguments, JLWOP: Faces & Cases will be an on-going series on The Foundry that will tell real stories about juvenile offenders who are currently serving LWOP sentences.

Defendant: Ralph David Cruz, Jr., 16.
Victims: Lucila Bojorquez, Brandon Esquer and Jenny Bojorquez.
Crimes: Three counts, first degree murder and Armed robbery.
Crime date: August 4, 2001 in Tucson, Ariz.

Summary
Ralph Cruz, Jr., shot and killed a mother and her two young children after the mother refused to give him her car. He then dumped the children’s bodies in the desert.

Facts
Lucila Bojorquez was the single mother of two children: six-year-old Brandon Esquer and his seven-year-old sister Jenny Bojorquez. On August 4, 2001, all three were in their car in a Tucson apartment complex parking lot, preparing to drive home.

Cruz, armed with a Glock .40 caliber handgun, approached them, pointed the gun at Lucila, and demanded that she give him the car. She refused. Cruz shot her once in the head and twice in the chest. Cruz then pulled her lifeless body out of the car, got in, and drove off, running over her bloodied body. (more…)