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Family Seeking Justice For 2004 Murder

The family of a woman killed in 2004 believes her ex-boyfriend got away with murder, and they are afraid it may happen again.

Daniel Karlsons, 33, was charged but found not guilty in the deaths of Elizabeth Morales, 18, and her brother Robert Morales, 25. Now he’s back in court, accused of killing Johnny Godinez, 28, in 2008.

Police found the bodies of the Morales siblings in a car in Desert Hot Springs in 2004, both shot in the head.

“Really mad at the person who did this because he was a good person, my dad,” said Karisma, Robert’s daughter. She and her family visit his grave once a week.

The family said Elizabeth Morales once dated Karlsons and that her brother died trying to protect her.

The family has only one goal: to see Karlsons behind bars.

“To be striped of that once we can deal with it and mourn and get through it. But now the family feels like we’re gonna get stripped of it again because he got out and did it again,” said Christina Alaniz, cousin of both Elizabeth and Robert

Karlsons acquittal means the facts of the 2004 trial won’t be brought up again for his new trial. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office said said they’ll remind the jury to only pay attention to the new evidence.

“There was no reason for him to be out and do it again if he gets out again what are we looking at? A dangerous threat to society walking around like a normal human being until he snaps?” said Alaniz.

Karlsons’ wife and former Indio court clerk Carol Avina Avina, 45, also faces murder charges.

Attorneys are still selecting the jury.

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