The verdict in the murder trial of Alberto Cruz is in.
Jurors took Thursday afternoon to make a decision in the case, finding the defendant guilty of Murder, according to our reporting partners at WNDU-TV. Cruz was facing trial in connection with the death of Alma Del Real. Her body was found near Culver in Marshall County in April of last year. That’s after Cruz allegedly led police to her location off a rural roadway near Culver Academies.
Court documents indicate Cruz and the victim attended a South Bend night club just prior to her disappearance. Romantic involvement may have been a factor leading up to her death, though accounts differ about the details of the incident according to prior reports.
Del Real’s body was found six weeks after she was first reported missing. WNDU reports prosecutors say the defendant was able to clean blood from his vehicle and change the tires in that time. Vehicle tracks at the site of Del Real’s body did not match those on Cruz’s truck.
The tape of Cruz’s confession to killing Del Real was played for the jury on Wednesday according to reporters at the scene. Details of the case continued to be discussed leading up to jury deliberation that began on Thursday.
A sentencing hearing has been set for June 17th.