Jury finds Juan Alvarez guilty of murder in Metrolink crash

Juan Manuel Alvarez, 29, who caused a Metrolink crash in 2005 that killed 11 people and injured 180 others, has been convicted of murder, arson and a special circumstances allegation, which makes him eligible for the death penalty. He showed no emotion as the verdicts were announced. The full article is here.

—Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[R.Islas]

I know Juan Alvarez, he was like a brother to my brother.

We grew up in a very disfunctional home and and therefore my brother left the house at about 15 yrs of age. Juan Alvarez took in my brother into his home and lived with him until he grew up married and moved to Nebraska.

Juan has a good heart, and I am so certain that when he left his car in that railroad he NEVER meant to kill those people but he was going through so much and wanted to commit suicide. Sadly when he realized that he wasn't going to commit suicide he got out of the car, leaving the car there he thought that the train would just drag the car along without hurting all those good people.

I feel so sad for the families and will continue to pray for them. I also feel so bad Juan and wish that I could have been there to heal the pain that drove him to end his live but causing these people to die.

Psalm 62:1 My sould find rest in GOD alone, my salvation comes from him.

[R.Islas]

I know Juan Alvarez, he was like a brother to my brother.

We grew up in a very disfunctional home and and therefore my brother left the house at about 15 yrs of age. Juan Alvarez took in my brother into his home and lived with him until he grew up married and moved to Nebraska.

Juan has a good heart, and I am so certain that when he left his car in that railroad he NEVER meant to kill those people but he was going through so much and wanted to commit suicide. Sadly when he realized that he wasn't going to commit suicide he got out of the car, leaving the car there and thought that the metro would just drag the car along without hurting all those good people.

I feel so sad for the families that lost their loved ones and will continue to pray for them. I also feel so bad Juan and wish that I could have been there to heal the pain that drove him to end his life but causing these people to die.

Psalm 62:1 My soul finds rest in GOD alone, my salvation comes from him.

[james hatefield]

he should have been put to death. i dont care who he was. its what he did stupid.

[Larry Drew]

What did this guy think? Commit suicide by dragging other innocent people in? Death penalty is too easy for him. This guy should go to communist prison and learn to live.

[Antonis Xat]

What do you mean by 'communist prison', man? You better send him to Guantanamo if you wish to torture him.

[AD]

The man , Alvarez that caused the tragic train wreck does not deserve to live, or at least serving multiple life sentences.
He has already cost our society .. and should be removed from the world, or set free. His serving time is pointless. Whats the difference between 1 and 11111 life sentences anyway?
Wake up and smell the rat he is and have some coffee if you disagree.

[Bob]

If this retard wanted to kill himself, he could have easily used a gun or hooked himself to the exhaust of his car. People like him don't deserve to live and should be put to death immediately. I hope when they give him the lethal injection, he suffers a horrible death.

[Good Verdict]

R.Islas: You've GOT to be kidding me. Why the hell would he leave his car on the tracks? And watch what happened to his car as it got hit? The guy was an imbecile, intentionally malicious, and nothing in his past excuses that action. He got what he deserved; it only took too long, and I hope he fries.

[Joe]

"I hope when they give him the lethal injection, he suffers a horrible death."

You hope someone suffers a horrible death? That's a lot worse than what he hoped for when he screwed up. If he should be put to death, maybe you should too?

[nick]

everyone on here gunning for this guy to be killed...please shut up unless you lost someone on that train. You remind me of a bunch of mindless peasants clamoring for a beheading circa 1100. Perhaps you would prefer to return to that time, but i would suggest you think more clearly. If we continue to let blind anger and ignorance extend the use of capitol punishment, eventually it will come to YOUR doorstep. Mark my words, and remember why when 10 years from now they come for YOU. How many times has it happened over the course of human history?

honestly people, wake up and just be SAD when this kind of thing happens. Being a vengeful idiot like the several people who posted on here takes us all back a thousand years and promises a fascist future. We all want solutions, but the right ones...