A young Pomona couple who were just days away from welcoming their first child were bystanders killed during a high-speed police chase, and prosecutors have filed murder charges against the man accused of causing the crash.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified 25-year-old Jennifer Alejandra Loera-Zarco and 26-year-old Mark Anthony Trejo Saldivar as the couple who died in the crash on Wednesday.
Family members said that Loera-Zarco was pregnant, and the couple were preparing to welcome their child the following Friday.
On Friday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony complaint charging 31-year-old Marshall Campbell Judson with two counts of murder in her death, as well as a third count of murder in the death of the unborn child.
Judson also faces additional charges, including fleeing police in a vehicle causing death, assault on a peace officer and a firearm-related offense. He is being held on $6 million bail and is expected to appear at a hearing at the Pomona Courthouse on Monday, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Mark’s father Tony Trejo says the couple spent their final days preparing for the arrival of their baby.
“She had just finished installing the bassinet, cabinets and her baby basket,” Trejo said.
Mark, known to family and friends as “Tiger,” was working to build an assisted living unit at the family’s Santa Ana home, where he planned to live with Loera-Zarco and their newborn.
Earlier that day, after working on the ADU, Mark and Loria-Zarco went to get food at In-N-Out in Pomona, Trejo said. As the pair exited the drive-thru, police began a pursuit nearby. Moments later, Trejo said, the car collided with his vehicle.
Trejo said he didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Mark that day. Mark’s mother, Sandra Saldivar, saw him briefly before he left, and exchanged a quick hello and goodbye.
According to his father, Mark worked for the city of Pomona and also did freelance social media work. As a football player, he earned a full-ride scholarship to Vanguard University and later completed his master’s degree in Business Administration at Hope International University.
According to Trejo, Loera-Zarco worked as a student aide in the Pomona Unified School District, supporting children on the autism spectrum.
“Together, they were building a future and were excited to welcome their child into this world,” a relative wrote in a letter. gofundme Post. The loss of “a beautiful family” is described at a fundraiser organized by Mark’s mother.
