HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – February 24, 2022- On February 23, 2022 a San Benito County Superior Court jury reached a “guilty” verdict in the homicide case of Christopher Jacobs (32 years old).
On December 30, 2020, fire and police personnel were called to a report of a vehicle collision that occurred off Monterey Street near the downtown of Hollister. They located the driver of the vehicle Christopher Jacobs (pictured) who was still in the car and unresponsive. Christopher was transported to the hospital but later died from his injury. During the course of the investigation officers discovered Christopher was the victim of a stabbing that occurred in the downtown area of Hollister. Apparently, after being stabbed, Christopher drove away from the assailant and only got a few blocks away before crashing his vehicle.
Hollister Police Officers, Detectives T. Torres and A. Melgoza investigated this case. The investigation included the review of the downtown cameras that captured part of the crime and led investigators to identify the suspect in this case. The case was tried by the San Benito County Deputy District Attorney Joel Buckingham.
On February 23, 2022, the San Benito County Superior Court jury returned with a “guilty” verdict against Manuel Campa related to the crimes committed against Christopher on the evening of December 30th, 2020 marking a closure to this case.
With the receipt of the guilty verdict, the Jacobs family and those effected are finally provided justice and are able to now, hopefully, bring a sense of closure to this chapter of their lives. The Jacobs family has tragically lost the presence of a bright young man with a great deal of promise who was taken too soon.
The Jacobs family has now been provided the moment they have awaited since the loss of Christopher. The Jacobs family has held themselves with grace and respect that the justice system would ultimately prevail, and, it did.
The Hollister Police Department and the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, United Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), California Department of Justice, and the Santa Clara County Medical examiner’s Office as this verdict was made possible with their combined assistance.
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Prepared by: Sergeant M. Paddy
Approved by: Carlos Reynoso, Chief of Police
20-2934
