Police Find Murder Plot Crumpled In Trash?! The Case Of Patrick De La Cerda

Patrick De La Cerda was fatally shot in an ambush at his home. The killer, Greg Bender, was the ex-boyfriend of Patrick's fiancée, Jessica. Bender used a ruse of a package delivery to lure Patrick to the front door, where he was shot multiple times with a high-powered weapon.

Patrick's father received calls from an unknown number about a package delivery. Patrick was found shot inside the front door, with his legs on the stairs, suggesting he was coming down to answer. Jessica received calls from Bender that morning, which she found alarming given his prior threats.

Greg Bender's ex-wife, Deara, found a notebook containing a meticulously detailed, handwritten plan for Patrick's murder. This plan included specifics on Patrick's address, how Bender would get there, the method of killing (initially a heroin/fentanyl overdose or suffocation, with shooting as an alternative), alternate plans, and methods to avoid detection, such as changing license plates and using burner phones.

Deara contacted police after seeing news of Patrick's murder, revealing she found the notebook in December 2017. During a search of Bender's home, detectives found the crumpled notebook in his office trash can, confirming Deara's account.

Despite a lack of DNA at the scene, investigators amassed significant circumstantial evidence against Bender. This included matching ammunition, a shell casing from the murder weapon found in his home, video footage of his car leaving his house an hour before the murder, and digital evidence linking a burner phone used in the ruse directly to him.

Two 300 Blackout ammunition shell casings were found at the crime scene. A gun safe in Bender's closet contained 300 Blackout ammunition. A gold 300 Blackout shell casing found in his drawer matched the gun used at the scene. A neighbor's security camera showed Bender's car leaving his house. A burner phone used to call Patrick's father was traced to Bender and only called his personal phone.

Jessica had an active restraining order against Greg Bender, which prohibited him from contacting her and required him to surrender his firearms. However, Bender violated the order by calling Jessica on the morning of the murder and never relinquished his extensive gun collection, including an AR-15.

Jessica received two calls from Bender on the morning of the murder, violating the restraining order. Jessica recalled seeing an AR-15 at Bender's house during their relationship. Patrick's family expressed anger that the restraining order and weapon surrender were not upheld, believing Patrick would still be alive if they had been.