State Supreme Court again denies appeal for man convicted of killing Ja’Naya Thompson

The man convicted of the 2014 rape and murder of a 5-year-old Gulfport girl has been denied a rehearing in the case.

Alberto Julio Garcia asked the court to set aside his guilty plea and re-hear his appeal, saying the court did not take into account his diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and did not object to his expert witness’ qualifications.

The court issued a one-sentence ruling saying the motion filed by Garcia was denied.

The state Supreme Court in June denied a second post-conviction relief request by Garcia, who was sentenced to death in 2017 after confessing to raping and hanging to death 5-year-old Ja’Naya Thompson.

The child was reported missing after disappearing outside her family’s apartment. She was found dead a day later in an abandoned trailer.

Judge Lisa Dodson sentenced Garcia. He appealed and the decision was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2020.