Bay Area man pleads guilty to murdering girlfriend

A North Bay murder suspect arrested in San Rafael last year has pleaded guilty in the stabbing death of his girlfriend.

Hugo Ulises Avelino-Medina, 35, of Fairfield pleaded to second-degree murder last week for the crime in July 2021. He will be sentenced next month to 16 years to life.

Appearing before Judge Carlos Gutierrez, Avelino-Medina also admitted to using a knife to kill Erika Avelino, 36, of Fairfield.

Deputy District Attorney Shelly Moore led the prosecution, and Deputy Public Defender Jeannette Garcia represented Avelino-Medina, who remains in the Stanton Correctional Facility in Fairfield. He is being held without bail.

During his initial arraignment, he also was charged with intoxicated driving and a probation violation, with both offenses occurring at the time of his arrest on July 8, 2021, in San Rafael, according to jail records.

Events first unfolded around 11 a.m. in Fairfield, when police officers responded to the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue for a report of domestic violence. They found the victim’s body.

A preliminary investigation revealed Avelino-Medina was the suspect. He fled before officers arrived.

However, his vehicle was found in San Rafael and recovered by Fairfield police. The California Highway Patrol aided in the recovery.

With the help of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and San Rafael Police Department, Avelino-Medina was found and arrested at the intersection of Medway Road and Front Street in the Canal area of San Rafael.

He was later booked into the Solano County Jail in Fairfield.

By pleading, Avelino-Medina avoided the possibility of a 25-year-to-life sentence if found guilty of first-degree murder, with the likelihood of more time for enhancements or included offenses.

Avelino-Medina is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17.