Judge orders 2004 LaBella's Pizza murder trial to begin in February

A San Diego judge has ordered the trial of four men accused of killing a young man in 2004 to proceed as scheduled. The decision resolves a dispute over video evidence that was reported lost by Chula Vista police but has since been located.

The four defendants are charged with beating and stabbing 21-year-old Ryan Cunningham to death outside LaBella's Pizza. The case remained unsolved for more than two decades until the men were arrested earlier this year. Jose Roque-Garcia currently remains in custody, while the other three defendants are out on bail.

Defense attorneys for all four men had argued for dismissal, citing police negligence in handling visual evidence from the scene. Patrick Griffen, the attorney for Roque-Garcia, stated that nine separate video recordings lasting several hours were never secured by officers. He noted that these missing files compounded the issue of the primary surveillance footage that was initially reported lost.

Robert Eacret, the deputy district attorney, informed the court on Wednesday that the key video has been recovered. He described the footage as pixelated and of poor quality but confirmed it shows the interior lobby of the pizzeria. The judge ruled that the case can continue despite these technical issues.

The judge determined that sufficient other evidence exists to support the prosecution. This includes DNA results and testimony from an informant who identified the four men. The court also ordered that the faces of the suspects be blurred in public appearances.

Hannah Rangel, the victim's sister, expressed mixed emotions following the ruling. She said she was relieved the cases were not dismissed but frustrated by the investigation's history. Rangel noted that the case likely stalled because it was not a priority for law enforcement, leaving her with a difficult reality about the evidence that was never obtained.

Chula Vista police have not responded to five attempts by reporters to comment on the case or the specific videos in question. The trial is expected to begin in February 2027.