Additional Coverage:
- Man convicted of raping, strangling and killing woman to be released from California prison (themirror.com)
A man convicted nearly five decades ago for the brutal rape and murder of a woman in Nipomo, California, is set to be released from prison, despite strong objections from the local District Attorney’s office.
Alberto Tamez, now 75, was found guilty in 1974 of killing Genevieve Adaline Moreno, who was attacked outside the bar where she worked. Moreno’s body was discovered the following morning in a nearby eucalyptus grove, with the county medical examiner concluding she died from homicidal strangulation, alongside evidence of severe trauma and sexual assault.
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow expressed deep concern over Tamez’s impending release, labeling the crime as a “horrific, senseless act of violence.” Dow stated that his office vigorously opposed Tamez’s parole and appealed to Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the decision, but the governor declined to intervene.
Moreno was last seen working at the Old Blues Bar in the early hours of June 18, 1974. Her husband found the bar empty, with the cash register open and emptied, and Moreno missing. Deputies later found her body beneath the eucalyptus grove, showing signs of robbery, kidnapping, assault, and murder, with multiple bruises and lacerations documented.
Law enforcement identified Tamez as the sole perpetrator shortly after the discovery, noting bloodstains on his clothing and debris matching the crime scene. Tamez admitted to attacking Moreno, robbing the bar’s cash register, dragging her to the grove, and continuing the assault until she lost consciousness.
He was charged with first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, and rape by force, pleading no contest to first-degree murder and receiving a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
In April 2023, nearly 50 years after his conviction, Tamez petitioned to have his murder conviction vacated and sought resentencing. The Board of Parole Hearings approved his parole on December 30, 2025.
Dow reaffirmed the office’s commitment to honoring Moreno’s memory, stating, “She was an innocent woman doing her job, and she was robbed of her life, her dignity, and her future by a man who showed her no mercy.” He expressed disappointment with the parole board’s decision and the governor’s inaction but assured the public that his office will remain vigilant in protecting the community.
As of early May, Tamez remains incarcerated at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo County.
Support is available for survivors of sexual assault through the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which offers confidential assistance nationwide.