California Man Sentenced to 47 Years for Killing Best Friend, Hiding Body in Trash Can
RAMONA, CA — A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to 47 years to life in prison after fatally shooting his best friend while he slept, hiding his body in a trash can, and stealing his belongings, including his car and designer sneakers.
Murder of Eduargo Aguilar Alba
According to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Sean Joseph Hawksworth shot Eduargo Aguilar Alba, 26, in the head on October 20, 2023, inside Alba’s home on 16th Street in Ramona.
After the killing, Hawksworth stuffed Alba’s body into a trash can, ransacked the apartment, and stole valuables including:
- Alba’s Chevrolet Camaro
- Designer sneakers
- Clothing and other property
Detectives later found Alba’s property inside a storage unit rented by Hawksworth, later transferred into his brother’s name.
Cover-Up and Drug Activity
Authorities said Hawksworth returned to the crime scene multiple times after the murder, attempting to cover his tracks while continuing his drug-dealing activities “as though nothing had happened.”
Conviction and Sentencing
In May 2025, a jury convicted Hawksworth of:
- Murder
- Residential burglary
- Grand theft
- Being a felon in possession of a firearm
On September 23, 2025, San Diego Superior Court Judge Patricia Cookson sentenced him to 47 years to life in state prison.
District Attorney Summer Stephan said:
“This was a willful, deliberate and premeditated murder. I hope today’s sentence brings a measure of closure and justice for the victims left behind in the wake of this violent crime.”
Victim Remembered
Alba’s parents described their son as a quiet young man with a big heart.
“This person who took his life was supposedly his best friend, because they were always together,” his father told KNSD-TV San Diego. “I don’t know why he would do this.”
During the sentencing hearing, Hawksworth offered a statement of regret:
“Eddie was my friend. I never foresaw this happening when I met him. I never wanted this to happen.”
This case has left the Ramona community shaken, underscoring the devastating consequences of betrayal and violence within close relationships.
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