Victim’s Family Claims Justice Not Served In Guilty Verdict

Cathedral City gangster Daniel Karlson, 33, was found guilty of second-degree murder Thursday in the 2008 slaying of his close friend Johnny Godinez.

Members of the Godinez family spoke out on the verdict and why they say closure is a long ways away.

In a separate case, Karlson was acquitted of a double murder in 2004 which is why the Godinez family feared he would walk free again.

“I always think about him every moment, you know, he’s in my heart and its something that’s I never going to forget ever,” said Connie Felix, Godinez’ mother.

Felix said she visits Johnny’s grave every other Saturday — often with members of her family.

She still speaks to him about his daughter Genesis, 4, and how fast she’s growing up.

“She looks at his pictures and she looks at him, and you know, she has a sad face,” said Felix. “I know she misses her daddy.”

Genisis was 2 years old when Karlson shot her father Johnny Godinez, 27, to death in Thousand Palms after a gang party.

Karlson and Godinez were childhood friends, according to family members.

But Felix cautioned her son against hanging out with Karlson after he was found not guilty in the 2004 murders of Robert Morales, 25, and his 18-year-old sister Elizabeth.

“There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for this guy,” said Felix. “That’s why I don’t understand (why) he turns around and does this.”

“He always defended him against everybody and always tried to help him out (and) give him a hand in whatever he needed,” said Sonia Escalera, Godinez’ girlfriend of nine years. “How could you even do that for some person that did everything for you. How could you do something so low.”

Godinez is described as a fun-loving guy, hard worker and productive member of society.

“He always kept me laughing and had jokes for days,” said Escalera.

Felix said he was responsible and always provided for his daughter.

“He’s not going to be able to see her grow,” she said. “He’s not gonna be able to see her kids when she has kids.”

Johnny’s father Jose, brother in-law Juan, nieces and of course his mother said Godinez was one of a kind.

“He will never be forgotten,” said Felix. “I will always remember him.”

The Godinez family said Karlson will be sentenced Dec. 3.

Karlson’s crime was also enhanced because he used a gun and he’s a member of a criminal street gang.