Victim in April 4 Cabazon Attack Dies

A woman allegedly attacked by a Banning man in early April in Cabazon died Wednesday, authorities said. Sheriff's detectives were seeking a murder charge against the man, who was already behind bars on suspicion of attempted murder and rape.

Mary Sanchez, 43, of Cabazon, "succumbed to her injuries as a direct result of the physical assault" about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sgt. Sean Bahash of the sheriff's Cabazon Station said.

The suspect in the case, Joseph Jimmy Blancarte, 47, remained behind bars Thursday at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. He was held on suspicion of five felonies and six misdemeanors, according to inmate records and sheriff's Cpl. Courtney Donowho. His bail was listed at $1 million.

Prosecutors will review information about the death of the alleged victim and determine whether to file any new charge or charges, a District Attorney's spokesman said Thursday afternoon in a phone interview.

Blancarte pleaded not guilty April 25 to attempted murder and forcible rape, a Riverside County district attorney's spokesman said.

Sanchez had been hospitalized since the alleged attack on April 4. She was found unconscious with massive head trauma about 7:20 a.m. that day in the 14000 block of Citrus Avenue in Cabazon, Bahash said.

Deputies and CalFire personnel rendered aid to the woman, and she was taken to a hospital where she underwent surgery, Bahash said.

Blancarte left Riverside County after the alleged attack and he was arrested April 6 at the Greyhound bus station in Modesto, Bahash said.

Cabazon detectives brought Blancarte back to the Pass. He was known to Banning police and the sheriff's department from prior arrests for public intoxication, Bahash said.

Blancarte was arrested five days before the alleged attack in Cabazon for misdemeanor disorderly conduct involving drugs or alcohol, according to Bahash and inmate records. He was arrested March 30 and released March 31.

Anyone with information about this case was urged to call Investigator Martin Alfaro of the sheriff's Central Homicide Unit at (760) 393-3500 or the sheriff's dispatch center at 1 (800) 950-2444.