Ex-LAPD Officer Edgar Verduzco Pleads Guilty To Fatal DUI; Sentenced To 15 Years
Former Los Angeles Police Department officer Edgar Verduzco has been sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a devastating DUI crash that killed three members of a family. The crash occurred on September 26, 2017, on the 605 Freeway in Santa Fe Springs and claimed the lives of 19-year-old UC Riverside student Oscar Davila and his parents, 60-year-old Mario Davila and 52-year-old Maribel Davila.
Verduzco, now 34, entered a guilty plea on April 11, 2025, to three counts of second-degree murder and one count each of DUI causing injury and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more causing injury. The former officer has remained in custody since his arrest in 2018 and appeared before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Shelly Torrealba for sentencing on Friday.
In a tearful address to the courtroom, Verduzco expressed deep remorse for the crash that cut short the lives of an innocent family. “I know there are no words that can truly make this right,” he said. “I caused a terrible accident that took the lives of an innocent family, and I promise I will always keep their memory alive.”
Judge Torrealba acknowledged Verduzco’s statement, saying she believed his remorse was genuine and noted that he would have traded his life for those he took if given the chance. She expressed hope that he would become a “productive citizen” after serving his sentence.
The crash occurred while Verduzco was off duty, reportedly speeding and driving under the influence when his vehicle struck the Davila family’s car, causing it to burst into flames. The collision also involved a third vehicle, whose occupants sustained injuries but survived. According to investigators, Verduzco had been drinking at a bar prior to the crash and was driving at high speeds when the fatal collision occurred.
The loss of the Davila family was deeply felt in their community. Oscar Davila was a bright young college student with dreams of a successful future, while his parents were hardworking, devoted, and beloved by many. Their deaths sent shockwaves through their neighborhood and university community, prompting renewed attention on DUI prevention and accountability—especially among those sworn to uphold the law.
The fact that Verduzco was a law enforcement officer at the time of the crash added a layer of heartbreak and betrayal for many, particularly for the victims’ loved ones. “He knew better. He was trained to stop this kind of behavior, not be the cause of it,” said one family friend.
While the sentencing brings some degree of closure, the emotional scars remain. The Davila family’s relatives have spent years grappling with the senselessness of their loss and the pain of knowing it could have been prevented.
As Edgar Verduzco begins his prison sentence, the lives of Mario, Maribel, and Oscar Davila will continue to be remembered by those who knew and loved them—lives lost far too soon to a reckless and preventable act.
