Euren Balbuena, 33, has been handed a sentence of 33 years to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, 31-year-old Zaira Patino-Trejo. The sentencing, which took place nearly four years after the crime, was marked by a dramatic courtroom altercation, as announced by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko on Thursday. The incident occurred during the reading of victim impact statements, highlighting the raw emotions surrounding the case of Euren Balbuena.
During the poignant victim impact statements, chaos briefly erupted. As the victim’s mother recounted the devastating impact of the crime, her husband, Zaira Patino-Trejo’s stepfather, reportedly lunged at Euren Balbuena. According to a spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office, the stepfather managed to land at least one punch before bailiffs intervened and separated the two men, as reported by the Ventura County Star. This outburst underscored the intense grief and anger directed at Euren Balbuena for his heinous crime.
The conviction of Euren Balbuena came on November 21, 2023, when a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder of Patino-Trejo, battery causing great bodily injury, and assault with a deadly weapon against her mother. The charges stemmed from a brutal attack that unfolded on February 27, 2020, in the couple’s Simi Valley apartment.
Details revealed a disturbing history of domestic violence within the relationship between Euren Balbuena and Zaira Patino-Trejo. On the fateful day, an argument escalated violently. Concerned about her daughter, Patino-Trejo’s mother, Ariadna Avetisyan, visited their apartment after being unable to reach her and noticing signs of abuse on her daughter.
Upon arrival, Avetisyan was met with resistance from Euren Balbuena, who refused to let Patino-Trejo leave. The situation turned horrific when Balbuena grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Avetisyan twice in the head before turning his rage on Patino-Trejo. In a gruesome attack, Euren Balbuena stabbed Zaira Patino-Trejo more than 30 times with multiple knives, resulting in her death.
Despite her own injuries, the victim’s mother managed to flee the apartment and find help from a bystander who called 911. Police swiftly responded to the scene and apprehended Euren Balbuena. He was officially charged with the murder of Patino-Trejo three days later, marking the beginning of the legal process that culminated in this week’s sentencing.
Zaira Patino-Trejo was remembered as a vibrant and promising young woman who worked as a client associate for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, according to the Simi Valley Acorn. Her life was tragically cut short by the violent actions of Euren Balbuena.
Supervising Senior Deputy District Attorney Melissa Suttner expressed the profound loss, stating, “Zaira Patino-Trejo was such a vibrant young woman with a bright future. We cannot replace her unimaginable loss, but we pursued justice for Zaira and her family. We hope that this sentence brings some small relief to her family, knowing that Euren Balbuena was held accountable for her brutal murder.” The sentencing of Euren Balbuena to a lengthy prison term aims to provide a measure of justice for Zaira Patino-Trejo and her grieving family after this devastating act of violence.
