Socorro Caro

Case overview

Socorro “Cora” Caro was sentenced to death for the murders of three of her sons, Xavier Jr., 11, Michael, 8, and Christopher, 5, in their Santa Rosa Valley mansion. Prosecutors said she was seeking revenge against her husband after their failing marriage. Caro shot the boys at point-blank range on Nov. 22, 1999. A fourth son, 13-month-old Gabriel, was unharmed and later resided with his father. Caro also tried to kill herself and survived a gunshot wound to the head.

During sentencing, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Donald Coleman affirmed a jury’s recommendation that Caro be executed and said the fatal shootings had been “willful, premeditated and committed with malice aforethought.” He also described the slayings as the “mass murder of innocent children” and said the weight of that factor was “quite simply enormous.” Caro sat stoically during sentencing while dressed in jail blues. Deputy Public Defender Nicholas Beeson supported her as she was later led from the courtroom.

The defense argued during Caro’s four-month trial that Dr. Xavier Caro actually killed his sons and then framed his wife for the crime. Caro later changed her plea to “innocent by reason of insanity.” Her earlier plea was “innocent” to the murder charges. The trial included a jury decision on guilt and a later issue of sanity, with jurors deliberating and then returning to determine if Caro was sane when the murders were committed.

Timeline

• Nov. 22, 1999 — Prosecutors said Socorro Caro shot and killed three of her sons, Xavier Jr., 11, Michael, 8, and Christopher, 5, at point-blank range while they slept; she then shot herself in the head in an attempted suicide and survived; Gabriel, 13-months old, was unharmed.
• Oct. 11, 2001 — A report described Caro taking the stand during the trial; jurors heard her testimony after roughly six weeks of testimony and her testimony lasted just 24 minutes before jurors were excused for the night.
• Nov. 6, 2001 — A jury convicted Caro on three first-degree murder charges in the shooting deaths of three of her four young sons; jurors deliberated five days before reaching the verdict and were to return to determine if Caro was sane when the murders were committed.
• Friday (year not specified in the provided text) — Judge Donald Coleman ruled against a motion for a new trial filed by Deputy Public Defender Jean Farley.
• April 5, 2002 — Caro was sentenced to death.
• Saturday, April 6, 2002 — A report described the sentencing outcome and the reasoning given by the judge.

The offence

Socorro Caro was accused of pulling the trigger on three of her four young sons as they slept. Prosecutors said she shot Xavier Jr., 11, Michael, 8, and Christopher, 5, in the head at point-blank range on Nov. 22, 1999, using a handgun. Caro then shot herself in the head in an attempted suicide but survived.

A fourth son, Gabriel, 13-months old, was unharmed and resided with his father after the shootings.

During sentencing, Judge Donald Coleman said the fatal shootings were “willful, premeditated and committed with malice aforethought.” He also said the murders occurred “in the sanctity of their homes” and described the children as “sacrificial symbolic pawns of a failed marital relationship.”

Prosecutors said Caro was seeking revenge against her husband for their failing marriage when she shot the boys at point-blank range.

The defense argued that Dr. Xavier Caro killed the children and framed Caro for the crime, including in her own apparent attempt to kill herself with a bullet to her brain.

Investigation and background

Caro’s marriage to Dr. Xavier Caro was described in court testimony during trial. She described her marriage and said she worked as an office manager at his medical practice in Northridge, where she kept track of office finances.

The prosecution contended that Caro secretly channeled office money to her aging parents, and said one reason Xavier Caro was thinking about divorce was the prospect that sparked a tragic rage on the night of Nov. 22, 1999.

The defense’s theory was that Caro’s husband framed her, both in the deaths of the children and in her apparent attempt to kill herself with a bullet to her brain. Caro told the jury of nine women and three men that she had been studying for a degree in nursing before Xavier Caro asked her to be his office manager.

A report included claims that Caro had violently attacked her husband or others on eight occasions prior to Nov. 22, 1999, and that she had used weapons and the element of surprise in those previous incidents, causing injuries including serious eye damage to her husband. In that report, Dr. Xavier Caro said he was ashamed and embarrassed. The same report discussed why he did not leave and why he did not seek help.

Trial

Charges and pleas

Caro was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. At one point, she pleaded “not guilty” and “not guilty by reason of insanity.” If convicted, she faced either a life term in prison or the death penalty.

The trial covered her testimony and responses to questioning by her attorney. She was not legally obligated to testify.

Caro’s testimony

A report described Caro taking the stand late in the afternoon during trial. She grasped the arm of Deputy Public Defender Nicholas Beeson and slowly made her way to the witness stand. When asked if she swore to tell the whole truth, so help her God, she “choked back tears before exclaiming ‘I do!’”

Caro’s testimony lasted just 24 minutes before jurors were excused for the night. She was to return to the stand today according to the report.

Under gentle questioning from her attorney, Assistant Public Defender Jean Farley, Caro described her marriage to Dr. Xavier Caro in 1984 and her job as office manager at his medical practice in Northridge. When asked for the birth dates of her children, she wept.

She described her work keeping track of office finances and told the jury she had been studying for a degree in nursing before Xavier Caro asked her to be his office manager.

The report also stated that twice during the lengthy trial Caro had been removed from the courtroom after prolonged, tearful outbursts, and the more recent outburst prompted a warning from the judge.

Jury deliberations and verdict

A report said jurors deliberated five days before reaching the verdict. The jury was to return to determine if Caro was sane when the murders were committed, which could take about a week. If found sane, the jury would then decide whether to recommend the death penalty.

Caro was convicted on three first-degree murder charges.

Sentencing

After the jury’s recommendation that Caro be executed, Judge Donald Coleman affirmed it and sentenced Caro to death.

Judge Coleman said the fatal shootings had been “willful, premeditated and committed with malice aforethought.” He also said: “The brutal murder of these three children occurred in the sanctity of their homes ... (they had become) sacrificial symbolic pawns of a failed marital relationship,” and: “The weight of this factor is quite simply enormous.” He further called the slayings the “mass murder of innocent children.”

Deputy District Attorney Cheryl Temple said the sentence was appropriate and stated: “She murdered three kids -- an 11-year-old, an 8-year-old and a 5-year-old. It was murder of the most callous type by a selfish and vindictive person,” Temple said.

Caro’s counsel flanked her as she sat stoically and she was dressed in jail blues. Caro broke down outside court when walking past her husband, Dr. Xavier Caro, seated in the courtroom gallery. She shouted: “How could you do this to us! How could you do this to us!” and later she added: “Look at him! He's smirking at me! He's smirking!”

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Coleman ruled against a motion for a new trial filed by Deputy Public Defender Jean Farley. Farley argued that jurors had talked about the case before deliberations began, saying: “The real evil that's to be guarded against is whether or not there was any improper influence or bias on the part of the jurors,” Farley said.

Judge Coleman said allegations of improper discussions could not be proved and doubted they would have influenced members of the jury, which was described as “10-woman, two-man.” He also said: “We had a very intelligent jury in this case, and I am satisfied that they were not misled,” he said.

Caro was to be transferred to the prison in San Quentin, while her death sentence was automatically appealed.

Appeals and outcome

Caro’s death sentence was automatically appealed. The provided text did not include a later appellate decision beyond stating that the sentence was automatically appealed.

Other details

People

• Socorro “Cora” Caro — defendant; wife of Dr. Xavier Caro; office manager at his medical practice; convicted of three first-degree murder charges and sentenced to death.
• Dr. Xavier Caro — Caro’s husband; prominent rheumatologist practicing in Northridge; defense alleged he killed the children and framed his wife.
• Nicholas Beeson — Deputy Public Defender who supported Caro during sentencing.
• Jean Farley — Deputy Public Defender; filed a motion for a new trial; questioned Caro during her testimony.
• Donald Coleman — Ventura County Superior Court Judge who sentenced Caro to death and ruled against the motion for a new trial.
• Cheryl Temple — Deputy District Attorney who said the sentence was appropriate.
• Howard Bragman — spokesman for Dr. Xavier Caro; later said the day had been grueling.
• Irene Zavala — member of the jail ministry who had known Caro for years and said they were going to back Caro “all the way.”

Key quoted statements

Howard Bragman said: “I'm glad to have the day behind me, is what he actually said,” and: “It was a very tough day.”

Bragman read a prepared statement that included: “There can be no joy in this decision, only some measure of resolution,” and: “There are only two reasons I have been able to endure this unimaginable nightmare: the first is the remarkable support that I have been shown by my family, my friends and my staff and patients. The second is my son Gabriel.”

Irene Zavala said: “We love Cora, and we're going to be backing her all the way,” and: “I just visited her last week and she had more faith than I have.”

Mental injury and memory

The sentencing narrative stated Caro said the injury caused brain damage that prevents her from remembering what happened the night of the shootings.