Healdsburg man, 70, denied parole again for 1981 murder

Manuel Avalos Flores was denied parole for the 1981 killing because he “is still strong enough to pull a trigger,” according to the District Attorney's Office.|
NICK RAHAIM
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A 70-year-old man from Healdsburg convicted of a 1981 murder was denied parole for the 16th time Tuesday during a hearing at San Quentin State Prison.

Manuel Avalos Flores shot and killed 23-year-old Ricoberto Arroyo outside of a bar in Windsor in January 1981 with a .38 caliber handgun, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. Flores held a grudge against Arroyo for his role in ending a previous romantic relationship Flores had in Mexico.

Deputy District Attorney Jamie Kandel appeared at the hearing in Marin County on Tuesday to oppose the release of Flores.

In denying parole the California Board of Prison Terms said Flores “lacks even the most basic level of insight into why he murdered an unarmed man” and while advanced in age “is still strong enough to pull a trigger,” according to the DA’s Office.

Flores will again be eligible for parole in April 2021.

-Nick Rahaim

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