La Quinta man guilty of murdering estranged wife

Jose Valles Meza was convicted of first-degree murder for killing his estranged wife, Patricia Cesena, in La Quinta in 2019. A jury found him guilty after deliberating for two days, including special circumstances for lying in wait. Meza shot Cesena while she slept, believing she was having affairs. He fled the scene but was later arrested for speeding and drunken driving, where he made incriminating statements about witnessing a murder. A sentencing hearing is set for April 28, where Meza faces life in prison without parole. The couple's four children were present during the incident but were unharmed.