Major case update! 🚨 Long-time fugitive, David Lilly, entered a plea of...

Major case update! 🚨

Long-time fugitive, David Lilly, entered a plea of no contest today and was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2011 death of Kern High School District Chief of Police Steven Alvidrez (pictured).

The case was handled by Chief Deputy DA Gina Pearl.

At approximately 11:30pm on June 17, 2011, Lilly was driving heavily intoxicated on northbound Highway 99 near Pond Road at speeds of 90-100mph, while serving all over the road. Steven Alvidrez, then Police Chief of the Kern High School District, and his wife were on a motorcycle traveling north to visit family in Visalia, California. Lilly approached the motorcycle and caused a high impact rear-end collision. Both victims were thrown from the motorcycle. Steven Alvidrez died on scene and his wife suffered significant injuries.

Lilly fled the scene to a family member’s residence and immediately began repairing the front-end damage to his vehicle. After approximately six weeks, investigators with the California Highway Patrol determined Lilly’s involvement. By this time, Lilly fled to Mexico, where he remained a fugitive for nearly fourteen years. In January of 2025, Lilly was extradited to the United States on a murder warrant.

DA Zimmer commented; “Lilly evaded accountability for far too long, but thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement who sought his whereabouts for more than a decade, the Alvidrez family can finally receive the justice they have long deserved. Although handling a case of this age is complex, the District Attorney’s Office was committed to fighting for Chief Alvidrez with the same dedication he showed to his community.”

Lilly faces 15 years to life in prison at sentencing on February 19, 2026.