Crime & Safety

Jury Sentences Convicted Serial Killer Joseph Naso to Death

Naso, 79, of Reno, Nev., was convicted Aug. 20 of strangling Roxene Roggasch, Tracy Tafoya, Pamela Parsons and Carmen Colon between 1977 and 1994.





By Bay City News Service

A Marin County Superior Court jury sentenced convicted serial killer Joseph Naso to death today.

The verdict was read at 3:45 p.m. in Department F in San Rafael.

Find out what's happening in Larkspur-Corte Maderawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Naso, 79, of Reno, Nev., was convicted Aug. 20 of strangling Roxene Roggasch, Tracy Tafoya, Pamela Parsons and Carmen Colon. Their bodies were found off of rural roads in Contra Costa, Marin and Yuba counties between 1977 and 1994.

The jury started deliberations at 10:15 a.m. today after Judge Andrew Sweet allowed Naso to reopen his closing argument, which he had completed Monday.

Find out what's happening in Larkspur-Corte Maderawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Naso addressed the jury for about six minutes and again asked them not to impose the death penalty. He would have faced life without parole if the jury did not recommend the death penalty.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. – Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.