September 14, 2007

Blossom Valley boy’s buried body found

By Sean Eastwood
Special to the Times

It was an emotional press conference as San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis revealed the details of San Jose’s 19th homicide of the year - the death of six-year-old Oscar Jimenez, Jr.

Filing a complaint against the child's mother for possible child abduction by the father, Oscar Jimenez, Sr., Katherine Ji-menez, the boy’s mother, was asked in court where her son was. She responded by telling the court her son was dead.

Oscar Jimenez, Jr.

Jimenez confessed that Samuel Corona, her boyfriend at the time, beat the boy to death in February at a rented home on Hayes Ave., across the street from Oak Grove High School's sports practice field.

Corona allegedly beat the boy after the six-year-old boy apparently threatened to hurt Corona’s 1-year-old son. What exactly the boy said has not been made public. According to police, Corona told Jimenez, “Say goodbye to your son.” He then allegedly punched and kicked the boy to death in front of her.

Davis said Corona and Jimenez put the body in a sleeping bag and drove to Phoenix, AZ, where they buried the boy in a plastic bag in the courtyard of a rented town home. Days later, Corona covered the young boy's grave with cement. Oscar's decomposed body was later found in the 5000 block of North 39th St. in Phoenix.

“You can't help but look at this picture and ask yourself why we live in a world where a little 6-year-old boy gets beaten to death,” said Davis, who did his best to remain composed during the press conference.

Corona was arrested in Phoenix and will attend an extradition hearing. Corona's arrest came after members of Phoenix's Gang Enforcement Unit began a manhunt during the first week of September. According to court documents, Corona has a long criminal history in Arizona dating back to at least 1992, including assault charges.

Jimenez is in custody in San Jose on parental abduction charges, for which she could receive a three-year prison sentence, if convicted.

Oscar Jimenez, Jr. attended Carson Elementary School. Grief counselors arrived at the school to help students, teachers and parents cope with the loss.

Anyone who has information on the slaying is encouraged to call detectives Mike Brown or Paul Kelly at (408) 277-5238.