Defense has until Friday to request 2nd autopsy in Pasco shooting

The attorney for a Sunnyside man charged with killing a teen outside of a Pasco dance club has until Friday to decide if he wants a second autopsy, otherwise the teen’s body will be released to his family.

Superior Court Judge Vic VanderSchoor imposed the deadline Tuesday in the case of Enrique Alcaide, despite arguments from lawyer Richard A. Smith that he can’t make a decision until he sees the final autopsy report.

An eight-page preliminary report from the forensic pathologist concludes that Eduardo Angon Del Villar’s death was “a homicide due to gunshot wounds,” according to Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant.

Del Villar, 19, died Aug. 30 at Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco after a fight in La Tropicana’s parking lot. The autopsy showed he was shot four times in the back and leg.

Toxicology results, which are standard in the autopsy process, often take eight to 12 weeks from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab. The forensic pathologist typically does not finalize the report until those results are back.

Meanwhile, Del Villar’s body has been held at a Tri-City funeral home for five weeks since the Yakima attorney said he may want an independent autopsy.

“If the state is arguing that they want to destroy that evidence prior to us getting this other information … we’ll leave it to the court. We think we should have that information prior to the court making a decision,” Smith told VanderSchoor.

Alcaide, 22, is charged in Franklin County Superior Court with first-degree murder. His 28-year-old uncle, Santos Flores-Alcaide, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and possession of a stolen gun.

Shelley Ajax, who represents the uncle, also received the preliminary autopsy findings but reportedly has not requested another autopsy.

Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel told the court last month that Del Villar’s family wants to make funeral arrangements and move on with the grieving process.

Sant argued Tuesday that prosecutors expedited the preliminary report and now want to honor the request of Del Villar’s parents.

He also noted the defense needs to make a decision soon before the body is too deteriorated.

Alcaide’s trial is tentatively set for Nov. 4, though Deputy Prosecutor Dave Corkrum told the court the attorneys most likely will ask to reschedule the date.

This story was originally published October 6, 2015 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Defense has until Friday to request 2nd autopsy in Pasco shooting."