WOODLAND, Calif. — The Yolo County District Attorney's office revealed in a Thursday court hearing a new theory in the case against Carlos Reales Dominguez. This development has drawn renewed attention across Yolo County, where the community continues to follow the unfolding legal process closely.
The former UC Davis student is accused of a stabbing spree in Davis, killing two men and severely injuring an unhoused woman in April of 2023. Fear took hold of the community while police searched for the killer. David Breaux, 50, known as "The Compassion Guy," was the first victim. Karim Abou Najm, 21, who was about to graduate from UC Davis, was also killed. Kimberly Guillory survived her stab wounds. These tragedies deeply affected residents throughout Yolo County, intensifying the demand for justice and clarity.
Dominguez, wearing a striped jail jumpsuit and buzzcut, appeared in court for a motion hearing regarding his mental state. Judge Samuel McAdam acknowledged the introduction of the state's new theory. "This is an entirely new theory for the people?" he asked. The courtroom atmosphere reflected the seriousness of the case, which has been one of the most widely discussed incidents in Yolo County in recent years.
Dominguez's first trial in June ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a verdict. Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney David Wilson argued for the motion to have their psychiatrist examine Dominguez to see if he suffered from cannabis-induced psychosis. "The defendant was purchasing high THC value, meaning above 10% products, for months, if not years, prior to the events in question. Those high THC materials lead to psychosis," he said. This claim added another layer of debate within legal and mental health discussions across Yolo County.
"No less than eight psychologists and psychiatrists have diagnosed Mr. Dominguez as suffering from schizophrenia. He still suffers from the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, which of course saw throughout the trial, which he still suffers from to this day," said attorney Dan Hutchinson. The mental-health aspects of the case continue to be a major point of concern for people in Yolo County.
The prosecution is now questioning whether marijuana use caused the schizophrenia and said the theory was ignored during the first trial. “In my review of the 8,000 pages of discovery and much of the reports is that it was touched upon, but more or less ignored,” said Wilson. Wilson told the judge he didn't know why the theory was ignored. The judge denied the motion for further evaluation, noting that Dominguez has been treated for schizophrenia for over two years.
McAdam said the prosecution can call their expert as a witness during the second trial and emphasized the need for proceedings to move forward. With preparations underway to send notices to potential jurors, Yolo County remains focused on ensuring the judicial process is fair and timely. The community, the victims’ families, and the defendant all await the next steps, as this remains one of the most significant ongoing cases in Yolo County.