LANCASTER – A 47-year-old Palmdale man who led deputies on a high-speed chase that ended in the death of a 2-year-old Lancaster girl was found guilty of murder Friday in a retrial, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
An Antelope Valley jury deliberated for three hours before finding Marvin Travon Hicks guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Madison Ruano, according to Deputy District Attorney Craig Kleffman.
On April 14, another jury found Hicks guilty of evading an officer causing injury, evading an officer causing death, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury; however, the jurors were hung (11-1 for guilt) on the second-degree murder charge, which prompted the retrial.
According to court testimony, Hicks was high on PCP and under the influence of alcohol when he fled deputies on Dec. 6, 2012. Hicks drove more than 100 mph through Lancaster, crossed into oncoming traffic, and ran five red lights before crashing his Toyota into Tina Ruano’s Lexus in the intersection of 10th Street West and Avenue I.
Tina Ruano was seriously injured and her daughter, 2-year-old Madison, was killed in the collision.
Hicks was treated at the hospital and released into police custody later that night; he has remained jailed since the incident.
Hicks will be sentenced on Oct. 10 and faces 21 years to life in state prison.
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Cat says
I want to thank this jury for convicting this man. I was on the other jury and I did vote to charge him with second degree murder. I was upset that one person decided he was not guilty but that is their right to stick to their belief. I am so glad this man will not be able to do this horrible act again. I have a granddaughter and kept thinking that I did not want this man back out on the streets. Again thank you.
Stacy says
I remember this day. He drove past us going north on Sierra Highway up the middle of the road nearly hitting 3 other cars and us. He continued at a fast rate of speed through the red light at ave K. The cops were pretty far behind him, as we didn’t see them right away. They were not following him so close that he was forced to drive like a lunatic. We found out shortly after that he had killed this little girl not far from where he nearly hit others. I am very glad he is going to prison.
aholee says
The police are just as guilty, when you high speed chase through a community, it’s a recipe for disaster. I would rather have him get away than to kill an innocent child.
Jay says
Hey awhole…To call this a police chase is completely inaccurate. This jackass was driving at dangerous speeds and running red lights well BEFORE any deputy ever caught sight of him. The deputies “chasing” him were no where near him when HE KILLED THAT CHILD. The accident would have happened with or without any police units within mile of him.
todd says
And you would probably critize the police had they let him drive away and kill someone. Damned if they do and damned if they don’t
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callitasitis says
We just had a 19 year old young man killed by a drunk driver in Palmdale. The police have their duty and we have our duty to call them when we see someone driving like their under the influence. The only person who is RESPONSIBLE is this drunk. At least he got his day in court. What did the victim get???
Sara Plate says
This man was already driving at high speeds and running red lights according to witnesses that that called 911 prior the police chase.
Bob says
I am sickened that there is a person out there who does not think this many was responsible for this girls death, in a second degree murder charge, which in California covers a killing caused by dangerous conduct and the offender’s obvious lack of concern for human life. This man was clearly guilty of that.
Whoever that juror was should be ashamed.