ESCONDIDO, CA – A San Diego County man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for a particularly gruesome crime. Jose Romero, 35, of Escondido, was sentenced Wednesday to 31 years to life in prison for the brutal murder of Procopio Blanco Cervantes, 50, and the subsequent attempt to cover it up with fire.
On October 4, 2020, Romero stabbed Cervantes multiple times at a residence on Waverly Place in Escondido. But the violence didn’t end there. Romero then deliberately set multiple fires inside the home, a desperate and callous attempt to destroy evidence and conceal his crime. The scene was one of calculated brutality, investigators say.
ATF Certified Fire Investigators (CFIs) were brought in to painstakingly examine the fire scene, determining its origin and cause. Their expert testimony proved crucial during the two-week jury trial held in Vista Superior Court. The jury didn’t buy Romero’s defense, finding him guilty on August 1, 2023, of one count of murder, with a sentencing enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon – a knife – and one count of arson of an inhabited structure.
“ATF CFIs conduct fire scene examinations rendering origin and cause determinations and provide technical analysis of fire scenes to local law enforcement partners and prosecutors,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bombardiere. While the agency touts its role, the grim reality is a man is gone, and another will likely die in prison. The case underscores the deadly intersection of violence and arson.
Nationwide, fires claim a horrifying toll. In 2021, the United States saw 1.35 million fires, resulting in 3,800 deaths, 14,700 injuries, and a staggering $16 billion in losses. ATF, as the primary federal agency for investigating fire origins, takes these cases seriously, a mandate stemming from the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. This investigation was a joint effort between ATF, the Escondido Police Department, and the Escondido Fire Department.
Romero’s sentencing serves as a stark warning: attempts to conceal murder with arson will be met with a full investigation and, ultimately, a lifetime behind bars. Those with information regarding arson or violent crime are encouraged to contact the ATF Los Angeles Field Division, or their local law enforcement agency. Follow the ATF Los Angeles Field Division on Twitter @LosAngelesATF.
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