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<h2 class="has-text-color wp-block-heading" style="color:#362828;font-size:16px"><strong>Two California brothers convicted of beating groom to death with a baseball bat as he tried to protect his guests and bride</strong>,<strong> hours after he said his vows </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color wp-block-heading" style="color:#362828;font-size:16px"><strong>Rony Castaneda Ramirez, 31, and his brother Josue Castaneda Ramirez, 22, were convicted of second-degree murder by a jury on Feb. 9, for the 2019 killing of Joe Melgoza </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color wp-block-heading" style="color:#362828;font-size:16px"><strong>Victim Joe Melgoza, 30, was beaten to death in Chino, California, just hours after marrying his fiancée Esther Bustamante Melgoza on Dec. 14, 2019 </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color wp-block-heading" style="color:#362828;font-size:16px"><strong>Police say the brothers did not know the groom, but lived nearby and showed up to the wedding reception uninvited </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color wp-block-heading" style="color:#362828;font-size:16px"><strong>Melgoza&#8217;s family said the groom confronted the wedding crashers after they got into a fight with some guests </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color wp-block-heading" style="color:#362828;font-size:16px"><strong>The Ramirez brothers allegedly left, then returned with baseball bats and attacked Melgoza on a neighboring property </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color wp-block-heading" style="color:#362828;font-size:16px"><strong>They brothers will be sentenced on March 13</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Esther-Melgoza-and-Joe-Melgoza-wedding-portrait-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432893" width="837" height="829"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Joe Melgoza and Esther Bustamante Melgoza said their vows on December 14, 2019 at their wedding in Chino, California. But hours later, the groom was attacked and killed</strong></figcaption></figure>



<p>Two brothers who crashed a wedding in California and <a href="https://konniemoments.com/2019/12/17/groom-30-is-beaten-to-death-with-baseball-bats-at-his-reception-by-pair-of-uninvited-brothers-who-crashed-the-wedding-party-as-he-tried-to-protect-guests/">beat the groom to death just hours after he said his vows </a>have been convicted of second-degree murder. <br>Rony Castaneda, 31, and his brother Josue Castaneda, 22, showed up uninvited at the wedding reception for Joe Melgoza and Esther Bustamante Melgoza on what should have been the happiest day in their lives, on December 14, 2019.<br>The brothers crashed the wedding that was being held in the backyard of Esther&#8217;s parents home in Chino, but then left before returning to the party where they attacked the groom with a baseball bat. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rony-Aristides-Castaneda-Ramirez-31-left-and-Josue-Daniel-Castaneda-Ramirez-right-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432905" width="839" height="546"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Wedding crashers: Rony Aristides Castaneda Ramirez, [left], and his brother, Josue Daniel Castaneda Ramirez [right], have been convicted of second-degree murder. They lived near the venue, came uninvited to the Melgoza wedding reception at Chino home of the bride&#8217;s family</strong></figcaption></figure>



<p>Joe Melgoza and Esther Bustamante Melgoza said their vows on December 14, 2019 at their wedding in Chino, California. shortly after, the groom was attacked and killed.<br>Just hours after the California couple exchanged their wedding vows, Melgoza was found suffering from a blunt-force trauma to the head, at around 2.20am on the morning of Sunday, December 14, 2019<br>He was rushed to Chino Valley Medical Center, where he died from his injuries, leaving behind his wife of just a few hours, Esther, and his daughter, who was 11 years old at the time.<br>The San Bernardino County District Attorney&#8217;s Office in a Wednesday press release, said two brothers who attended the wedding reception uninvited, only to be thrown after fighting other guests, were convicted of second-degree murder by a jury on February 9 for Melgoza&#8217;s death,<br>Rony Aristides Castaneda Ramirez, 31 and his 22-year-old brother, Josue Daniel Castaneda Ramirez were also found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon for injuries that Melgoza&#8217;s brother, Juan Bustamonte, suffered.<br>Sentencing for the Castaneda Ramirez brothers is scheduled for March 13.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432926" width="832" height="750"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Joe Melgoza was beaten to death in Chino, California, on December 14, 2019, &#8211; hours after marrying his fiancee Esther Bustamante </strong></figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Esther-Melgoza-and-Joe-Melgoza-wedding-portrait-with-their-daughter-2-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432907" width="842" height="578"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Just weeks after the tragedy, Melgoza&#8217;s new wife Esther posted this photo in January 2020 of her family with the caption: &#8216;Happiest day of our life! Rest in peace my handsome husband, I will keep you close to my heart forever. Love is eternal&#8217;</strong></figcaption></figure>



<p>Authorities say the brothers who crashed the wedding did not know Melgoza, but lived not far from the home of his wife&#8217;s family in the 13200 block of 17th Street in Chino, California, where the wedding reception was being held, and showed up at the celebration uninvited, reported KTLA5. <br>&#8216;They lived nearby and likely heard the festivities and went to the reception,&#8217; the District Attorney&#8217;s office said in a release. The brothers were later seen taking part in the reception, dancing and snapping photos with women who were at the party. <br><strong>Related Articles:</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Joe-Melgoza-murder-1.jpg?resize=174%2C131&;ssl=1" alt=""/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://konniemoments.com/2019/12/17/groom-30-is-beaten-to-death-with-baseball-bats-at-his-reception-by-pair-of-uninvited-brothers-who-crashed-the-wedding-party-as-he-tried-to-protect-guests/"><strong>Groom bludgeoned to death by complete strangers who crashed his wedding party on Sunday in Chino, California California the groom, Joe Melgoza,was beaten to death with [&#8230;]</strong></a></figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Esther-Melgoza-and-Joe-Melgoza-wedding-portrait-3-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432903" width="841" height="866"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Just hours after the California couple exchanged their wedding vows, Melgoza was beaten to death by a pair of wedding crashers</strong></figcaption></figure>



<p>The brothers left the party, but came back later using a trail behind the home, the DA explained. <br>The groom reportedly, was not aware the interlopers the wedding party chased away earlier had returned until they stood behind a fence and taunted him, telling him to jump to the other side.<br>&#8216;Once Melgoza and his family jumped the fence, the brothers began hitting them all with bats and fists,&#8217; the release said.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Esther-Melgoza-and-Joe-Melgozas-bride-and-groom-dance-at-their-wedding-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432904" width="839" height="545"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Screenshots from a cellphone video recorded at the reception show Joe and Esther dancing and having a great time at their reception, just hours before the horror</strong></figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Joe-Melgoza-with-his-brothers-at-his-wedding-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432908" width="835" height="607"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Happy groom Joe Melgoza is pictured with siblings at the wedding reception</strong></figcaption></figure>



<p> &#8216;A family member was able to pull a bat from one of the Castaneda brothers who ran into an unrelated residence. They were followed by Melgoza, who ran into the yard unarmed. A few minutes later the Castaneda brothers were seen jumping the fence out of the unrelated residence with a single bat, which was never found.&#8217;<br>The younger suspect Josue, told police he was never at the reception, however, a photo booth picture of him and Rony posing with a female guest was found in his front pocket after his arrest, according to the police re[port. <br>Snapchat video from that night also helped authorities nab the brothers for the killing. <br>&#8216;I commend my colleagues&#8217; dedication to this case and determination to seek justice for a family who endured such unimaginable grief during a time that should be filled love and happiness,&#8217; San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said. <br>&#8216;Although this conviction can never undo the pain caused by two individuals&#8217; actions, I hope it brings a measure of closure to the wife and loved ones of Joe Melgoza.&#8217;<br>Melgoza was described by his loved ones as &#8216;a loving son, brother, father, cousin, partner, family member and friend.&#8217;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Esther-Melgoza-and-Joe-Melgoza-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432916" width="836" height="622"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Melgoza and his then-fiancée married in a modest civil ceremony months before the wedding (left). He had sole custody of his 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship </strong></figcaption></figure>



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<p>&#8216;Although this conviction can never undo the pain caused by two individuals&#8217; actions, I hope it brings a measure of closure to the wife and loved ones of Joe Melgoza.&#8217;<br>Melgoza was described by his loved ones as &#8216;a loving son, brother, father, cousin, partner, family member and friend.&#8217; He had sole custody of his 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. <br>He had married his then-fiancée married in a modest civil ceremony months before the wedding. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Esther-Melgoza-and-Joe-Melgoza-wedding-portrait-6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432920" width="838" height="567"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Esther&#8217;s family hosted the couple&#8217;s reception in the backyard of their home in Chino, California. The Ramirez brothers brothers did not know the groom but lived near the wedding reception venue and arrived without an invitation </strong></figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Esther-Melgozas-family-home-in-Chino-California-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-432918" width="838" height="475"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>The Castaneda Ramirez siblings allegedly came uninvited to the Melgoza wedding reception at a Chino, California, home of the bride&#8217;s family in Dec 2019</strong></figcaption></figure>



<p>&#8216;He always had a way to make you smile. He was there for you at any time to give a helping hand. He was taken from us in such a tragic and horrific way,&#8217; A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/1ud7sdx49c?utm_source=customer&;utm_medium=copy_link-tip&;utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet">GoFundMe</a> created after his death reads.<br>Video recorded at the reception and shared with NBC shows a beaming Melgoza dancing with his beautiful bride and raising a glass with his guests, not knowing at the time the horror ahead. <br>&#8216;He leaves behind his daughter Lilly who will be in good hands with Joe&#8217;s family,&#8217; the GoFundMe notes.<br>&#8216;We are asking for your support at this time for Joe&#8217;s services and for his little girl Lilly. Isela, Joe&#8217;s mom is devastated, heartbroken and is having a hard time processing it all.&#8217;</p>

Murder conviction for unruly brothers who crashed wedding reception – then beat groom to death with a baseball bat as he tried to protect his guests – few hours after his vows
