By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
An El Dorado County woman has pleaded guilty to murdering her husband and attempting to kill her co-defendant, the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office says.
Patricia Presba, 48, entered the guilty pleas in El Dorado Superior Court last week. She is scheduled for sentencing March 5.
According to prosecutors, Presba and her lover, Jaime Ramos, 22, killed her husband, Ron Presba, 54.
Firefighters battling a wildland fire along Highway 193 near Kelsey found Ron Presba's body June 25, 2008, inside a charred sport-utility vehicle in a ravine. A month later, Patricia Presba vanished from the couple's Garden Valley home. A friend found the front door of the home open and covered in blood. More blood later was discovered inside the house, authorities said.
A day after Patricia Presba was reported missing, a Utah Motor Vehicle Enforcement officer was looking for stolen vehicles at a Salt Lake City motel and found a vehicle sought in connection with Presba's disappearance.
Investigators found Presba and Ramos inside the motel. When the two were arrested, Ramos had three gunshot wounds and Presba had stab wounds to her arms. Both later were extradited to El Dorado County.
In July 2009, Ramos pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, but his sentencing was delayed pending his testimony in Presba's trial, which was to have begun last week. Ramos is scheduled for sentencing on March 15.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 773-6866.
Previous coverage:
Man pleads guilty in killing, will testify against victim's wife - Aug. 1, 2009
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