Killer of Camp Pendleton Marine Found Eligible for Parole

Correction: An earlier headline on this story erroneously said parole had been denied. It was approved by the state parole board but could still be rejected by the governor.

The following is from press releases issued by the Orange County District Attorney's office:

Despite opposition by the Orange County district attorney’s office, the Board of Parole Hearings determined Tuesday that an inmate convicted of murdering a Marine in 1980 is suitable for parole. Roy Garcia Garcia, 54, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced on Feb. 19, 1981, to 20 years to life in state prison.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jim Mendelson attended the hearing and argued that -- despite the inmate conforming to prison rules and regulations -- Garcia was still entirely devoid of any insight into why he murdered a fellow Marine. The parole board concluded Garcia still lacks insight but does not pose an unreasonable danger to society. The case now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown, who has the authority to accept or reverse the parole decision.

In February 2010, Garcia was similarly found suitable for parole but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed the decision.

Murder of Eugene Brunelle

On the evening of Aug. 2, 1980, then-21-year-old Garcia, who was a Marine at Camp Pendleton, entered a San Clemente liquor store to purchase alcohol for a group of underage Marines. Inside the store, the inmate encountered a fellow Marine, 22-year-old Eugene Brunelle, and got into a verbal argument with him over $10 the victim owed Garcia. 

After the initial argument, Garcia purchased beer, walked out of the store, and crossed the street to deliver the alcohol to the underage Marines. The inmate then returned to the store with his pocket knife open in his back pocket and demanded to speak with Brunelle. 

As they walked toward the back of the store, the inmate unsuccessfully attempted to stab Brunelle after the victim started to put his arm around Garcia. The inmate then stepped back and lunged at the victim’s chest with the knife, stabbing Brunelle in the heart. 

Brunelle was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead shortly thereafter. 

Lack of Insight and Threat to Public Safety

Since his last hearing, Garcia has still failed to gain appropriate insight into his life offense. The inmate has wavered between blaming his actions on his alcohol abuse and claiming his crime was committed in self-defense rather than taking full responsibility for the murder of a fellow Marine. 

While incarcerated, Garcia committed several prison rules violations including mutual combat, twice possessing illegal knives, and two assaultive stabbings. Despite his enrollment in some alcohol rehabilitation programs, Garcia still claims to be an alcoholic and has no relapse plan in place should he be released, which is concerning since he has blamed alcohol for his violent actions.

Due to the violent nature of his crime, his inability to follow rules in a controlled environment, and his lack of insight into his crime, Garcia represents a high risk of danger to society, and therefore, should not be released.