Police called it one of the most disturbing scenes they'd ever responded to. The man responsible was found too mentally ill to be held criminally responsible.
The Incident
On April 28, 2009, Bakersfield, California, police were called to the home of Angelo Mendoza Sr. after a disturbance involving the mother of his 4-year-old son. Officers left after finding both father and son unharmed. Later that same day, neighbors called police again after discovering the boy severely injured inside the home. Mendoza, who used a wheelchair after being paralyzed in a 2005 stabbing, was found in the backyard.
The child suffered severe injuries during the attack, including permanent loss of vision in one eye. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and later placed with a relative.
The Insanity Plea
Mendoza was charged with aggravated mayhem, torture, willful cruelty to a child, and inflicting injury on a child. He had reportedly stopped taking psychiatric medication and was under the influence of PCP at the time of the attack — his second documented instance of child endangerment while using the drug, following a 2006 case involving the same child's mother. Two state psychologists found Mendoza was legally insane at the time of the attack, and a Los Angeles County judge accepted his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, committing him to a state psychiatric hospital.
What Happens Next
Under California law, a defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity can only be released after being formally restored to sanity and found by a court to no longer pose a danger — a process that typically requires years of treatment and evaluation. Experts at the time said it was likely Mendoza would remain hospitalized for the rest of his life.
FAQ
What happened to Angelo Mendoza?
He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state psychiatric hospital rather than prison.
What was Mendoza's condition at the time of the attack?
He was under the influence of PCP and had recently stopped taking prescribed psychiatric medication.
Could Mendoza ever be released?
Only if a court determines he has been restored to sanity and is no longer a danger to himself or others — a lengthy legal process.