Murder and robbery charges were filed Thursday against three men, police say, are responsible for the death of a 71-year-old woman last month.
Court records show two of the men have extensive criminal records. One has a public rap sheet that started ten months ago when he turned 18. In 2007, one of the other defendants was arrested in connection with a gang murder, but was never charged.
26-year-old Maxamillon McDonald, 28-year-old Lawrence Slaughter and 19-year-old Christopher Patterson appeared before Judge Charles Brehmer Thursday afternoon.
All three men pleaded not guilty to first degree murder, robbery, and gang charges in connection with the death of 71-year-old Guadalupe Ramos outside the Foods Co on Haley Street.
According to new court documents, McDonald and Slaughter are on parole, and Patterson is a probationer under the state's prison realignment program. Patterson was released three weeks before the robbery.
Bakersfield Police say Slaughter's parole requires him to have a GPS monitor on his ankle, and that is how officers say they caught the three men.
Officers say they traced Slaughter's movements the day of the robbery and from there, found videos in three stores that show all three men together.
Police say when the men were at Foods Co, Slaughter and McDonald waited in a nearby car while Patterson ran up to Ramos and ripped a necklace off her neck, causing her to fall.
According to the Kern County Coroner's office, Ramos died of a heart attack caused by the robbery. "My mom had to die in this manner because of a chain? Nobody's life is worth dying over," said Angelica Ramos, Guadalupe Ramos' daughter.
Outside the courtroom, 17 News spoke to Ramos' daughter. "She was my best friend. My mom was everything I had to me. But, I hope they get the death penalty. They deserve it because they took my mom away from me," she continued.
Patterson was arrested for attempted murder last year, but charges were dismissed after police could not find a witness, according to the District Attorney's office.
In 2007, police arrested Slaughter in connection with a gang murder, but criminal charges were never filed because of insufficient evidence. According to court documents, police say all three men are East Side Crip gang members and robbery is one of the primary activities of this gang.
All three men are being held without bail. They are scheduled to be back in court September 19th.
