Crime Figure. Corona was a serial killer who was serving 25 concurrent life sentences for 25 counts of first-degree murder. In 1971, the bodies of twenty-five farm workers were found buried in orchards along the Feather River near Marysville in Sutter County, Califoirnia. The victims, who were all men, had been seen with Corona or had been hired through his labor contracting business. At the time, the number of murders set a record in the United States. Corona was tried in Colusa County, found guilty in January 1973, and was sent to state prison the following month. Later that year at a medical facility, he barely survived a stabbing attack which cost him the sight in his left eye. Corona remained the most prolific known serial killer in U.S. history until August 1973, when Dean Corll's crimes were discovered in Texas. In 1978, Corona’s conviction was overturned by an appellate court and he won a new trial. In 1981, he was admitted to Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as a safe-keeper commitment until the proceedings were moved to Alameda County. In 1982, he was again convicted of all 25 murders and sentenced to 25 concurrent life sentences, and began serving his sentence on Dec. 23, 1982 at Corcoran State Prison. Corona was denied parole eight times after hearings in 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2011 and 2016. He was not eligible to have another parole hearing until 2021. He died of natural causes.
Crime Figure. Corona was a serial killer who was serving 25 concurrent life sentences for 25 counts of first-degree murder. In 1971, the bodies of twenty-five farm workers were found buried in orchards along the Feather River near Marysville in Sutter County, Califoirnia. The victims, who were all men, had been seen with Corona or had been hired through his labor contracting business. At the time, the number of murders set a record in the United States. Corona was tried in Colusa County, found guilty in January 1973, and was sent to state prison the following month. Later that year at a medical facility, he barely survived a stabbing attack which cost him the sight in his left eye. Corona remained the most prolific known serial killer in U.S. history until August 1973, when Dean Corll's crimes were discovered in Texas. In 1978, Corona’s conviction was overturned by an appellate court and he won a new trial. In 1981, he was admitted to Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as a safe-keeper commitment until the proceedings were moved to Alameda County. In 1982, he was again convicted of all 25 murders and sentenced to 25 concurrent life sentences, and began serving his sentence on Dec. 23, 1982 at Corcoran State Prison. Corona was denied parole eight times after hearings in 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2011 and 2016. He was not eligible to have another parole hearing until 2021. He died of natural causes.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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