Jury panels are set to begin next month in the 2022 serial killings case of Wesley Brownlee – a man indicted on six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in Stockton.
The jury in the case will be tasked with determining Brownlee’s mental competency to stand trial, which marks the first trial in the case after four years.
Court documents state the jury panels 1 and 2 are scheduled to start on Aug. 25 and the following day jury panels for 3 and 4 will follow.
The same court records show a jury trial in the case is scheduled for Sept. 1. A minute order from the July 18 hearing stated that the prosecution declared they were ready for jury trial.
Natasha LaTour, the alleged sole survivor of the series of killings, was present
at the hearing on July 18.
Following the hearing she said, “With respect to all parties involved, this case has never stopped moving, it's just now we're moving at a pace I happen to enjoy.”
She added, “Life is short, life is precious, I'm eager to wrap this segment up and go live happily ever after surviving."
The case has been stalleddue to the surrounding questions on Brownlee’s mental competency to stand trial. In August 2024, Brownlee’s defense had tendered a declaration of doubt as to their client’s competence.
Since January 2025, prosecutors and defense attorneys have discussed and argued at length if Brownlee was competent to stand trial.
According to LaTour, prosecutor Elton Grau said during the July 28 hearing that he had a witness list for the competency trial with over 80 people.
Grau also stated at the hearing that there have been physicians who have attempted to examine Brownlee and indicated that the defendant could have a condition that has been present for years. However, he said he plans to counter those statements during the trial.
Brownlee is accused of killing six people:
- Juan Vazquez Serrano, 40
- Paul Yaw, 35
- Salvador Debudey Jr., 43
- Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21
- Juan Carlos Carranza-Cruz, 52
- Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54.
He is also accused of attempting to kill LaTour.
The next hearing in the Brownlee case is set for Aug. 5.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Jury panels to begin in Stockton 2022 serial killing competency trial
