bloodrayne
05-29-2005, 02:20 PM
Man Who Drove Family Off Cliff Sentenced To Life Without Parole
California - A Foster City man convicted of killing his pregnant wife and 4-year-old daughter by driving the family van off a Moss Beach cliff two years ago was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Eddie Rapoza, a 38-year-old welder, took no responsibility for his family’s death as he addressed Judge Carl Holm of San Mateo County Superior Court, prosecutor Al Giannini said.
"He repeated his assertion that it was an accident," Giannini said. "He said, ‘I’m not a murderer,’ and the judge interrupted him and said, ‘Yes, you are.’."
Rapoza, who had long contemplated suicide, was intent on killing his family and himself when he sped the family’s Dodge Caravan down Bernal Avenue near Ocean Boulevard in Moss Beach the morning of Oct. 6, 2002, authorities said. He drove over 50 feet of ice plant and over the cliff, where the vehicle fell about 150 feet to the Pacific.
Raye Lynn Rapoza, 34, who was seven months pregnant, died at the scene, and the couple’s 4-year-old daughter, Tehani, died the following day. Rapoza was in a coma for a time but recovered and was arrested in his hospital room.
One of Rapoza’s attorneys, Jeff Boyarsky, said during the trial that Rapoza loved his family and would not intentionally harm them. But he was upset over his failing marriage and suspected that he was not the father of the baby his wife was carrying, Boyarsky said.
Raye Rapoza’s sister and a cousin spoke at Monday’s sentencing. "They went on at some length abut how the loss had impacted their lives. It was, as expected, very emotional," Giannini said. "We had somewhat thought he would accept some responsibility. But at the last minute, he returned to type. He was unable to offer the solace that even an apology would bring."
A jury found Rapoza guilty of two counts of second-degree murder involving his daughter and unborn child, and first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife.
Rapoza also was convicted of the special circumstance of multiple murders, meaning that Holm was obligated to sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole unless he found something improper about the verdict.
The district attorney’s office had decided not to pursue the death penalty because Rapoza had almost no criminal record and the deaths were part of his own suicide attempt.
California - A Foster City man convicted of killing his pregnant wife and 4-year-old daughter by driving the family van off a Moss Beach cliff two years ago was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Eddie Rapoza, a 38-year-old welder, took no responsibility for his family’s death as he addressed Judge Carl Holm of San Mateo County Superior Court, prosecutor Al Giannini said.
"He repeated his assertion that it was an accident," Giannini said. "He said, ‘I’m not a murderer,’ and the judge interrupted him and said, ‘Yes, you are.’."
Rapoza, who had long contemplated suicide, was intent on killing his family and himself when he sped the family’s Dodge Caravan down Bernal Avenue near Ocean Boulevard in Moss Beach the morning of Oct. 6, 2002, authorities said. He drove over 50 feet of ice plant and over the cliff, where the vehicle fell about 150 feet to the Pacific.
Raye Lynn Rapoza, 34, who was seven months pregnant, died at the scene, and the couple’s 4-year-old daughter, Tehani, died the following day. Rapoza was in a coma for a time but recovered and was arrested in his hospital room.
One of Rapoza’s attorneys, Jeff Boyarsky, said during the trial that Rapoza loved his family and would not intentionally harm them. But he was upset over his failing marriage and suspected that he was not the father of the baby his wife was carrying, Boyarsky said.
Raye Rapoza’s sister and a cousin spoke at Monday’s sentencing. "They went on at some length abut how the loss had impacted their lives. It was, as expected, very emotional," Giannini said. "We had somewhat thought he would accept some responsibility. But at the last minute, he returned to type. He was unable to offer the solace that even an apology would bring."
A jury found Rapoza guilty of two counts of second-degree murder involving his daughter and unborn child, and first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife.
Rapoza also was convicted of the special circumstance of multiple murders, meaning that Holm was obligated to sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole unless he found something improper about the verdict.
The district attorney’s office had decided not to pursue the death penalty because Rapoza had almost no criminal record and the deaths were part of his own suicide attempt.