Perris man convicted of murder in deaths of Nuevo women

A Perris man was convicted Wednesday of three counts of murder in the stabbings of a Perris man in 2012 and two Nuevo women in 2013.

David Rey Contreras, 28, was found guilty by a jury after less than a day of deliberations, according to a press release from the Riverside County District Attorney's office. Jurors added enhancements on all three counts that he used a knife as a deadly weapon. The conviction included a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders. DA Mike Hestrin is seeking the death penalty.

The penalty phase of the trial will begin Tuesday in front of judge John Monterosso at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta. The same jurors will hear testimony and determine whether Contreras should be sentence to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Contreras was convicted in the Dec. 29, 2012 murder of Jose Apreza, 53, of Perris. Apreza was reported missing after he didn't return from walking his dog. His body was found in an open field near Evans Road and Orange Avenue in Perris. He had been stabbed about a dozen times.

Jurors also found Contreras guilty of the Feb. 4, 2013 murders of Maria Gonzalez, 51, and her daughter Consuelo Gonzalez, 25. They left their home about 5 p.m. that day to go for a walk. Sheriff's deputies later responded to the report of a stabbing on Central Avenue between Ramona and Rosary Avenues. Both women were found lying in the street with multiple stab wounds.

Consuelo Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene and Maria Gonzalez died on the way to a local hospital.