DA Totten noted that one week later, after Zavala Wilson’s Rosary at St. Francis Assisi Church, “Detectives located significant physical evidence” that identified the church parking lot as the murder scene, a tragic twist to an already tragic event.Hers had been a life full of promise: pretty and confident Zavala Wilson had graduated from Fillmore High School, where she had been an outstanding student, spirited cheerleader and was considered an all around good person and role model with a bright future as an educator.Puebla, a football player commonly known as Sammy and two years behind Wilson at Fillmore High School, was also popular and had been voted by his peers to be the school’s Prom King. But Puebla had a strange, hidden side: after his arrest it was found that Puebla had a secret cache of underwear stolen from women living in the neighborhood where he lived with his family.Now 20, Puebla’s shoe print was matched from where he dumped Zavala Wilson’s body and her blood was found on the clothing he wore to the New Year’s Eve party. DA Totten credited the work of Detectives Jose Rivera and Chris Dunn, Sergeants Melissa Smith and Bill Ayub, as well as the work of the VCSD’s Major Crimes Unit and Crime Lab for Puebla’s conviction.After a one-month trial, Puebla was convicted of first degree murder, attempted rape, and the special circumstance of felony murder during the course of the attempted sexual assault. Members of Zavala Wilson’s family urged the judge at Wednesday’s hearing to ensure that Puebla is never released from prison, a request strongly backed by Senior Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox.Puebla - who was strongly supported by his family and friends - will be transferred to a state prison May 11. His attorneys are reportedly planning to file an appeal.
Former Prom King sentenced to life without parole for brutal murder
May 06, 2005
Santa Paula News
The brutal murder of an admired Fillmore woman by a former high school Prom King, a crime that rocked the Santa Clara River Valley, was again the center of attention when the killer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe brutal murder of an admired Fillmore woman by a former high school Prom King, a crime that rocked the Santa Clara River Valley, was again the center of attention when the killer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday.Valerie Zavala Wilson, an aspiring teacher and former Fillmore High School cheerleader was only 19 years old when then-17-year-old Samuel Puebla murdered her early on New Year’s Day 2003, after he asked her for a ride home from a Fillmore party.District Attorney Greg Totten noted that Zavala Wilson was home for the holidays from her studies at San Jose State University when she was murdered during an attempted rape. Puebla first tried to sexually assault Zavala Wilson while in the car near his home; when she resisted he choked her into unconsciousness, but she awoke and was able to flee the car. Puebla caught up with her in the parking lot of St. Francis Assisi Church on Highway 126 and “C” Street.“He struck her in the head,” rupturing her eardrum and causing her earring to fly onto the pavement. “Puebla removed her clothing and attempted, unsuccessfully, to rape her,” noted DA Totten.As Wilson struggled to defend herself Puebla struck her repeatedly in the head, causing severe injuries, and then manually strangled her while leaning on her chest. Puebla dumped the nude body in a drainage culvert along South Mountain Road, discovered the next morning by a boy taking a shortcut from his nearby home.