Salinas neighbors say accidently released inmate and murder victim were friends

A statewide manhunt is underway for a man charged in a homicide case. On Friday law enforcement began are looking for an inmate, who was accidentally released from custody on Thursday night. Now the search for 36-year-old Antonio Miranda Martinez continues. On Friday, NewsChannel 5 spoke with neighbors and family members.

They said they’re still mourning the loss of 47-year-old Juan Pedraza, shot and killed on Towt Street in March, 2014. They’re also upset to hear the man accused of his murder, was accidentally released by the Monterey County Jail.

“Antonio was my neighbor and so was the guy who was murdered. To me they seemed like two good guys, I never saw that they got into any type of problems. They didn’t give us neighbors any problems at all,” said a neighbor who asked to remain anonymous.

Neighbors said they never suspected any trouble between Martinez and Pedraza. They say the two lived across from each other until Martinez moved out.

“He lived here for two years but he left. I thought they were friends. I don’t know what happened,” the neighbor said.

But we did learn neighbors knew Martinez had a criminal background. According to court records, Martinez was charged with felony burglary in 1997 and spent time in jail for attempted murder in 2009.

Martinez was set to go to trial on Monday for homicide charge. But because prosecutors needed more time on the case, the Monterey County District Attorney’s office said the original case was dismissed and the exact same charges were immediately refiled. The sheriff’s department says there have been paperwork problems in the past, but won’t say what the error was this time. So now all law enforcement, including Border Patrol, are on the lookout for Martinez.

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do to make sure he doesn’t leave the country. He was released from the jail at that time he can travel around just like anybody else,” said Commander John Thornburg.

It’s unclear where the mistake lies, but neighbors and family members said they’re disappointed. So far, Martinez has pleaded not guilty to the homicide charge. Neighbors said the night of the shooting, Pedraza’s roommates packed up and moved out.