Manteca Murder Convict Found Dead In Cell

MANTECA (CBS13) -- The man convicted of raping and murdering a Manteca high school student was found dead in his jail cell, and his cellmate is the only suspect in his death, authorities said.

The inmate sharing a cell at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione with 44-year-old Ty Lopes allegedly killed him earlier this week. The circumstances and motive for the alleged murder have not been released.

Lopes was convicted in 2002 for rape and murder of 18-year-old Renee Ramos, who was found strangled in a shallow grave at a construction site that would eventually become the Manteca Home Depot.

Renee's boyfriend, Jacob Silva, was also convicted in the crime, but Lopes was the man who actually took her life, according to the victim's mother, Donna Ramos.

"Deep down I think he was an evil person, more than her boyfriend," she said.

Ramos said she was stunned to learn of Lopes death but feels no regrets about his fate.

"It felt like karma, you know," Ramos said. "It's just one less prisoner we don't have to worry about anymore."

Lopes never admitted to killing Renee, but Donna said the evidence against him -- including an eyewitness account -- was overwhelming.

Silva is serving a life sentence behind bars at a Salinas-area prison.