Stanislaus prosecutor honored statewide for work on triple-murder case
When Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Thane Nored got the news, he was sitting in court. An email from the California District Attorneys Association had landed in his inbox, letting him know he’d been named Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year for 2025 in the category of rural/medium county.
“I was floored,” Nored said. “Truly humbled and honored. I didn’t even know I was going to be nominated. It completely came out of the blue.”
The recognition followed a grueling eight-month capital trial that consumed much of 2024: the case of Richard Tyrone Garcia, a Ceres man convicted of a 2012 triple homicide.
The trial was among the most significant in Stanislaus County in recent memory. Garcia was convicted of murdering 16-year-old David Siebels, 19-year-old Alyxandria Tellez and 31-year-old Edward Joseph Reinig. Jurors found him guilty of three counts of first-degree murder with gang special circumstances, then in December recommended the death penalty.
For Nored, the lasting memory wasn’t just the verdict, but the families’ reactions.
“One of the most memorable moments for me was the penalty phase,” he said. “Seeing the reaction after everything happened, the relief in their faces. Although it will never make them whole, hopefully this helped them to heal a little bit. That’s something I’ll always remember.”
Nored prosecuted the case alongside longtime deputy DA Marlisa Ferreira, who retired earlier this year. Ferreira had been tied to the Garcia case for more than a decade, while Nored joined in 2023 to help shoulder the massive workload.
The trial involved more than 17,000 pages of discovery and required months of preparation. Nored said Ferreira took many of the witnesses she had known for years, while he handled much of the gang evidence and law enforcement testimony.
“It was a tremendous undertaking,” Nored said. “She and I were working on it close to full time from early 2024. Without her and the rest of the team, none of it happens.”
He credits the Modesto Police Department, Ceres police, the gang task force, investigators and paralegal staff for their work. “It’s cool for me because my name’s on the plaque, but everybody else deserves this,” he said. “This was truly a team effort.”
District Attorney Jeff Laugero praised Nored’s dedication in a statement: “Our office is honored to announce that Deputy District Attorney Thane Nored has been named California District Attorneys Association 2025 Prosecutor of the Year. This recognition reflects not only his exceptional skill in the courtroom, but also his steadfast dedication to public safety, integrity, and justice for victims of crime.
“Throughout his career, DDA Nored has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to seeking justice, compassion for victims, and respect for the rights of all involved. His work embodies the mission of our office: to protect the community, uphold the rule of law, and ensure justice with integrity.
“DDA Nored, along with Co-Prosecutor of the Year retired Chief DDA Marlisa Ferreira, worked tirelessly and at great personal sacrifice for nearly a year to attain the conviction for which they have been recognized and bringing justice to the three murdered victims and their families in this completely senseless tragedy.
“I am deeply appreciative of all of our Prosecutors and their dedication to this community. Throughout this country there are dedicated Prosecutors engaged in protecting the public, and when our own are recognized for their efforts, it is a moment of great pride, humbleness, and appreciation.”
From Turlock to the courtroom
Nored, 41, grew up in Turlock. He studied criminal justice at Stanislaus State before transferring to Long Beach State. After law school, he initially worked in private practice before becoming a prosecutor in Merced County in 2015, where he gravitated toward gang cases.
By 2019, he was assigned to the gang unit in Merced, and when he moved to the Stanislaus County DA’s Office, he continued to specialize in violent crimes. Today, he also serves as a liaison to the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit and to the Turlock Police Department.
“I was always drawn to the bigger, heavier cases,” he said. “But the real draw is the people — the victims and families. When you have those long nights, those are the people you keep in your head. That’s why you do what you do.”
The work takes a toll. To decompress, Nored said he leans on family and friends. Years ago, when he lived in Southern California, he surfed to escape the pressures of the courtroom.
Asked what keeps him motivated case after case, he pointed to the simplest of gestures. “When somebody comes up and shakes your hand and says thank you, that’s the true motivator,” he said. “That’s why I didn’t get much sleep last week. That’s why I keep doing this.”
Nored has more cases ahead, including another trial in the Garcia matter scheduled for 2026. For now, he’s grateful for the recognition but focused on what comes next.
Asked to sum up his philosophy of justice, he didn’t hesitate: “Doing the right thing when it’s called for,” he said.
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 6:30 AM.
