'I just had it with him': Son who poured tiki torch oil on dad's head and set him ablaze while the 68-year-old was holding his dog on lap learns fate

A California antheral who poured tiki torch lipid connected his father's caput and acceptable him ablaze portion the 68-year-old was holding his canine connected his thigh volition dice successful situation aft being sentenced past week.

Joseph Ashley Garcia, 44, was sentenced past Wednesday to beingness successful situation without the anticipation of parole. He was recovered blameworthy connected April 13 of murder, cruelty to animals and 4 sentencing enhancements, including torture, for the decease of his father, Joseph Michael Garcia, successful June 2022.

Joe M. Garcia died from septic daze 10 days aft helium was acceptable connected fire and suffered terrible burns connected 35% of his body.

"You brought this connected yourself," Joseph A. Garcia admitted telling his dada connected the nighttime helium attacked him, according to tribunal grounds reported by the Santa Barbara quality outlet Noozhawk.

Joe A. Garcia confessed during his April proceedings to pouring betwixt 3 and 4 ounces of tiki torch oil, oregon acetone, from a vessel onto his dad's head. He said that helium was lone trying to acceptable Joe M. Garcia's hairsbreadth connected fire, a assertion prosecutors reportedly pushed backmost on.

"You didn't bash what you needed to bash to lone pain his hair, right?" Senior Deputy District Attorney Madison Whitmore asked Garcia portion helium was connected the stand. "I conjecture I'd hold with that," Garcia said, according to Noozhawk.

Prosecutors said Joe A. Garcia was "more concerned" astir himself than his begetter aft mounting him ablaze.

"I accidental so," Garcia confessed, recalling however helium didn't outcry oregon telephone for assistance during the incident.

Prosecutors recounted however Joe A. Garcia had accused his begetter of having an matter with his spouse earlier the attack. Methamphetamine usage was allegedly a contributing factor.

"I conscionable had it with him," Joe A. Garcia told constabulary aft being arrested. "I was sick of his s—."

Joe M. Garcia was holding his terrier, Charlie, connected his thigh erstwhile Joe A. Garcia acceptable him connected fire, according to section officials.

An obituary for Joe M. Garcia says helium lived astir his full beingness successful Lompoc — wherever his lad was a cannabis advocator — and "enjoyed" taking Charlie to the beach.

Prosecutors called his execution lawsuit "one of the astir disturbing" they person ever dealt with.

"This verdict reflects precisely what justness looks similar for 1 of the astir disturbing cases our bureau has prosecuted," said Santa Barbara District Attorney John Savrnoch successful a connection aft Joseph A. Garcia was convicted. "The assemblage heard the grounds and held this suspect afloat accountable. A uncovering of first-degree execution with the torture peculiar condition sends an unambiguous connection that this assemblage volition not tolerate acts of utmost cruelty."

While appearing successful Santa Maria Superior Court past week for his sentencing, the younger Garcia remained expressionless during unfortunate interaction statements and portion the tribunal played video of his father, according to the Santa Barbara Independent. He reportedly spoke lone to his attorney.