Visalia man sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend

A Visalia man was sentenced Monday to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend.

Andres Ybarra, 35, in September was found guilty of second-degree murder in the July 2016 killing of Ruby Lopez, 26, of Visalia.

The victim was found in the bed of the couple’s home, according to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office. Ybarra told officers that Lopez had overdosed on prescription medication.

An autopsy showed that the victim’s body had signs of strangulation — hemorrhaging in her neck and head and a broken bone in her neck. The cause of death was ruled as strangulation and blunt force trauma. The next day detectives arrested Ybarra at his job in downtown Visalia. He was interviewed and later booked in the Tulare County Jail for homicide.

Under current California law, Ybarra must serve 15 years before he is eligible for parole.