Family of woman murdered in 2016 seeking justice after suspect receives bail, arrested again
Athena Jreij
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The family of Jamie Maher, a 30-year-old Indio woman who was killed in 2016, is now speaking out after the man arrested for her murder was released on bail and recently arrested in Indio.
“When this monster shot my daughter seven times, including once in the face while she begged for her life, he left a permanent hole in my heart,” Valerie Silveira, Maher’s mother said.
Marcos Cruz Gaeta Jr., a 45-year-old Indio man, was arrested in 2019 for Maher’s killing and plead not guilty to several charges including murder, with a trial date set for 2026.
However, Gaeta was granted and posted bail in 2024, releasing him from the Southwest Detention Center in August of that year. The family says that release allowed Gaeta to commit more crimes after he was arrested in early November for possession of narcotics and firearms, according to Indio Police.
Gaeta has plead not guilty to Maher’s murder but Silveira questions why he was released in the first place.
“He didn’t kill someone else, but I’m thinking that 21 pounds of meth could kill a lot of people, and those guns that he had. It’s not fair that he’s been able to do all sorts of shenanigans and tactics. He’s been a menace in jail. He’s been a menace on the streets. It is time to get this trial over,” Silveira said.
Court records show Gaeta plead guilty to felony child abuse charges in 2011 and felony burglary charges in 2000.
Looking for answers, News Channel 3 reached out to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office who said bail is set and decided by judges. Gaeta qualified for bail because his homicide charge did not have a special circumstance, which can include intention, gang relation, and prior convictions.
According to the DA, his bail was set at $2 million to reflect the severity of his crime, which is higher than the minimum of $1 million for homicide.
News Channel 3 also dug into how Gaeta was able to pay the $2 million bail. We found the county paid him and a man named Alfonso Vega Aguilar $2.95 million for a jail assault in June of 2024, just two months before his release.
Gaeta is scheduled for a felony settlement conference at the Indio Larson Justice Center Thursday. News Channel 3 will be in attendance and have continuing coverage then.