Man Accused of Killing 13-Year-Old Met Her on Social Media, Strangled Her: Report

Courtesy of our partners at 17 News.

*WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT*

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — An Inglewood man accused of killing a 13-year-old Bakersfield girl convinced her to send him naked photos and meet up with him, raped and strangled her, according to a newly released court document.

Armando Cruz, 24, could face the death penalty if found guilty of murder with special circumstances and multiple other charges filed against him in the death of 13-year-old Patricia Alatorre.

Police said Patricia was last seen the night of July 1. Surveillance video showed her getting into a white pickup. The truck was found the next day in Inglewood, and Cruz was taken into custody.

Cruz has pleaded not guilty and is next due in court later this month. He’s charged with a total of 12 felonies.

The document says Cruz contacted Patricia on social media and convinced her to send him images of herself, and he sent her a nude photo of himself. He convinced her to meet with him to engage in sex acts despite knowing she was 13, and he traveled from Los Angeles to Bakersfield for the encounters, according to the report.

On the second occasion, he drove her around the block against her will as she screamed, the document says.

Cruz strangled Patricia as she continued to struggle and scream, according to the document.

Cruz then dumped Patricia’s body and set it on fire, according to the report. The document does not say where her body was found.