Ex-Power Ranger involved in sword slaying should be in jail, victim's family says

PALMDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- The family of a man who was fatally stabbed by former red Power Ranger Ricardo Medina Jr. with a sword in their Green Valley home earlier this year is outraged prosecutors have declined to file charges.

Joshua Sutter, 36, was killed in the 3800 block of San Francisquito Canyon Road on Jan. 31.

The victim's sister, Rachel Kennedy, says the incident was clearly murder and that Medina should be in jail.

"There's something wrong with this story," Kennedy said Wednesday after seeing her brother's autopsy report for the first time.

"I just kept looking at the injuries, and I just kept thinking of how much he must have suffered," said Sandra Vasquez, Sutter's former girlfriend.

The two men were involved in an argument, which escalated into a fight. Medina told detectives that he retreated to his bedroom with his girlfriend, but that Sutter barged in. That's when Medina allegedly grabbed a sword that he kept by his bed and stabbed Sutter in the stomach.

The autopsy report shows Sutter sustained 10 sharp force injuries, including multiple hand injuries consistent with defensive wounds and a stab wound through the abdomen.

Kennedy doesn't believe Medina's claim that it was self-defense.

"Who grabs a sword and stabs someone through their stomach and out through their back? This is murder!" she said.

In February, the district attorney refused to file charges and requested further investigation from the sheriff's department.

"I want to say I am very, very, very sorry for what occurred. I'm very happy to be out of jail and my heart goes out to the Sutter family. Thank you," Medina said following his release.

Investigators say the autopsy report is among the new evidence they'll soon present to the district attorney.

"We have to protect the integrity of the investigation, so its not over. It's just the D.A. wanted more information to consider. When we get that information, we will give it to them," said Lt. Victor Lewandowski.

"I want to see him charged with murder," Kennedy said, adding that her family plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Medina.

Eyewitness News reached out to Medina's attorney, Allen Bell, on Wednesday night. Bell said the soonest he would be able to comment would be Friday.

Medina played the Red Lion Wild Force Ranger in 2002, according to IMDB.