Nearly four years after a crash in Wagon Mound claimed the lives of three people, including two young girls, the case against the alleged drunk driver has yet to go to trial, leaving the victims’ family in anguish.Daniel Lopez captured the last video of his 9-year-old daughter, Daniella, who had a passion for adventure and animals, just weeks before she was killed.”She loved everybody, her animals. She’s just a great person,” he said. Daniella, who was 9 when she was killed, especially loved fishing, a hobby that is now a bittersweet memory for her family, including her twin sister.In July 2022, a drunk driver speeding down the road crashed into a car, killing Daniella, Valerie’s 42-year-old sister Irene, and her 4-year-old great-niece Annalise. “I got a call saying that my daughter was in an accident, in a crash, and didn’t survive,” Valerie said. The crash occurred just blocks away from their home.Police identified Jesse Joel Blanco, 22 at the time, as the driver and charged him with three counts of homicide by vehicle while driving intoxicated and aggravated DWI, as well as other charges. His passenger, Dominic Armijo, was charged with evidence tampering for allegedly trying to hide alcohol after the crash.Daniella, Irene and Annalise are buried together in Wagon Mound’s cemetery, with Daniella’s headstone serving as a reminder of her love for fishing and butterflies. “It’s disgusting, and it’s devastating. It’s … very, very frustrating,” Valerie Lopez said. The case is being handled by the 4th judicial district attorney’s office in Las Vegas.Motions for continuances have been granted, and the defense is now alleging misconduct by the prosecution, claiming that the state secretly met with witnesses to alter their testimonies. “These are witnesses to things that happened before the actual crash,” KOAT legal expert John Day said. “So, these would be witnesses about things that were happening with the defendant before the crash took place. So, pretty important witnesses to a case.”The defense is attempting to bring the prosecutors in as witnesses, which could lead to a change of venue. “If the district judge decides that the prosecutors are now witnesses in the case and they can’t prosecute it, then yes, it could be sent out, would be sent out to another DA’s office or the attorney general’s office,” Day said. “And that certainly would be another frustration for the victims who have been waiting a long time for justice one way or the other.”Valerie Lopez expressed the family’s devastation at the prospect of further delays. “It’s devastating to us that we would have to wait longer now so that a new office can review everything and start all over again, relive this tragedy all over again, you now, for who knows how much longer,” she said. “But I’ll still take that route. Better than for them to totally dismiss the case.”Prosecutors deny the accusations of secret meetings.Day noted they erred by not recording their interviews. “You always want to record the meeting,” Day said. “You want to have other witnesses present so that if there is a dispute over what was said, you’ve got somebody to back you up.”Attempts to interview DA Thomas Clayton about the case were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the Lopez family continues to grieve as they await justice. “We can’t tuck her into bed. We can give her hugs. We can get her kisses, nothing, you know?” Valerie Lopez said. “It’s difficult, but I’m going to continue to do it, you know, until I can’t no more, you know?”A hearing is scheduled for Friday.
Nearly four years after a crash in Wagon Mound claimed the lives of three people, including two young girls, the case against the alleged drunk driver has yet to go to trial, leaving the victims’ family in anguish.
Daniel Lopez captured the last video of his 9-year-old daughter, Daniella, who had a passion for adventure and animals, just weeks before she was killed.
“She loved everybody, her animals. She’s just a great person,” he said.
Daniella, who was 9 when she was killed, especially loved fishing, a hobby that is now a bittersweet memory for her family, including her twin sister.
In July 2022, a drunk driver speeding down the road crashed into a car, killing Daniella, Valerie’s 42-year-old sister Irene, and her 4-year-old great-niece Annalise.
“I got a call saying that my daughter was in an accident, in a crash, and didn’t survive,” Valerie said.
The crash occurred just blocks away from their home.
Police identified Jesse Joel Blanco, 22 at the time, as the driver and charged him with three counts of homicide by vehicle while driving intoxicated and aggravated DWI, as well as other charges. His passenger, Dominic Armijo, was charged with evidence tampering for allegedly trying to hide alcohol after the crash.
Daniella, Irene and Annalise are buried together in Wagon Mound’s cemetery, with Daniella’s headstone serving as a reminder of her love for fishing and butterflies. “It’s disgusting, and it’s devastating. It’s … very, very frustrating,” Valerie Lopez said.
The case is being handled by the 4th judicial district attorney’s office in Las Vegas.
Motions for continuances have been granted, and the defense is now alleging misconduct by the prosecution, claiming that the state secretly met with witnesses to alter their testimonies.
“These are witnesses to things that happened before the actual crash,” KOAT legal expert John Day said. “So, these would be witnesses about things that were happening with the defendant before the crash took place. So, pretty important witnesses to a case.”
The defense is attempting to bring the prosecutors in as witnesses, which could lead to a change of venue.
“If the district judge decides that the prosecutors are now witnesses in the case and they can’t prosecute it, then yes, it could be sent out, would be sent out to another DA’s office or the attorney general’s office,” Day said. “And that certainly would be another frustration for the victims who have been waiting a long time for justice one way or the other.”
Valerie Lopez expressed the family’s devastation at the prospect of further delays.
“It’s devastating to us that we would have to wait longer now so that a new office can review everything and start all over again, relive this tragedy all over again, you now, for who knows how much longer,” she said. “But I’ll still take that route. Better than for them to totally dismiss the case.”
Prosecutors deny the accusations of secret meetings.
Day noted they erred by not recording their interviews.
“You always want to record the meeting,” Day said. “You want to have other witnesses present so that if there is a dispute over what was said, you’ve got somebody to back you up.”
Attempts to interview DA Thomas Clayton about the case were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the Lopez family continues to grieve as they await justice.
“We can’t tuck her into bed. We can give her hugs. We can get her kisses, nothing, you know?” Valerie Lopez said. “It’s difficult, but I’m going to continue to do it, you know, until I can’t no more, you know?”
A hearing is scheduled for Friday.
