Santa Barbara County Superior Court jurors who will consider the fate of a man charged with killing a Santa Maria woman 38 years ago learned that violent force was used in her strangulation.

Aloysius Winthrop James, 58, of Georgia has been charged in connection with the death of Ofelia Sandoval, 30, at the Town Center Hotel on the 200 block of North Broadway on Sept. 18, 1988. The hotel was demolished after being severely damaged in a 2013 fire.

He has been charged with first-degree murder plus faces a special circumstance, or sentencing enhancement, that the killing occurred during the commission of a rape.

James was arrested in Georgia two years ago and returned to California to face the charges. 

On Thursday, Dr. Manny Montez, a forensic pathologist, testified about findings from the autopsy, which was performed by someone else. Montez reviewed the pictures and reports. 

He testified that strangulation caused Sandoval’s death, saying evidence suggests a ligature or hand but that it favored a ligature.

“The manner of death is clearly at the hands or actions of another party. This is a homicide,” Montez said.

The woman had multiple external injuries on her neck and the rest of her body. The attack also broke the U-shaped hyoid bone, which is free-floating in her neck.

“This is a tremendously violent force because the hyoid bone is deep inside the neck,” Montez said. 

During questioning from Senior Deputy District Attorney Ann Bramsen, Montez testified about the differences between the forensic sciences in 1988 and 2026 regarding determining the time of death.

Nearly four decades ago, forensic pathologists used a victim’s liver temperature and potassium levels to establish a time of death, he said. 

“We don’t do either today,” Montez added. 

“Why not?” Bramsen asked.

“It turned out they were not reliable,” Montez said, adding that today’s procedures involve multiple factors to determine the likely time frame for the time of death.

That’s unlike portrayals in televisions and movies that suggest a more precise time is possible.

“We get burned all the time by television and movies,” Montez said.

He testified that the neck wounds — “a lot of marks, a lot of injuries” — indicate the possibility of ligature and manual strangulation.

“I can tell you the marks left on the side of her neck are suspicious for fingers,” Montez said. 

During cross examination, defense attorney Robert Sanger asked whether the strangulation victim could be responsible for the marks seen on Sandoval’s neck.

“If their hands are free, it’s not uncommon to find these kinds of marks,” Montez said. 

On Thursday afternoon, after Montez finished testifying, the prosecution rested.

A short time later, the defense team also rested without calling any witnesses after spending much of the trial trying to point out flaws in the case. 

Throughout the trial, the defense team has focused on a missing orange fabric belt they contend could be the murder weapon and possibly provide evidence of a different suspect.

They also noted apparent gaps in the investigation by the Santa Maria Police Department.

However, DNA evidence from James connects him to the crime, witnesses testified earlier in the trial.

Sanger moved for Judge Kristy Imel to acquit the defendant based on the evidence, contending that the prosecution didn’t prove the case.

Bramsen disagreed, arguing that there is more than sufficient evidence, including DNA, linking James to the crime.

However, the judge denied the defense motion contending that substantial evidence exists, noting that the jury’s function is to assess the case, including the credibility of witnesses. 

Closing arguments in the trial are to start Friday morning in Imel’s courtroom.