Jerry Nick Vulich, a 68-year-old resident of Fresno, California, passed away on October 23, 2020. He was a farmer and maintenance electrician, known for his dedication to his work and his family. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Nick and Margaret Vulich, and is survived by his wife, Sharon Vulich, his daughters, Crystal Vulich and Nicole Vulich, his sister, Darlene Wright, his grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no public services were held at the time of his passing.
The circumstances surrounding Jerry's death were tragic and involved a family dispute that escalated to violence. On the morning of October 23, 2020, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office received a report of a possible shooting. Deputies responded to the scene near the corner of W. Manning and S. West Avenues, where they found Jerry's brother, Norman Vulich, walking along the road. Upon searching the property, deputies discovered Jerry's body behind a barn, with gunshot wounds indicating he had been shot and killed.
Norman Vulich, 57 years old at the time, was arrested and charged with the murder of his brother. He was booked into the Fresno County Jail with bail set at $1.5 million. The investigation revealed that the brothers had a disagreement over farming practices, specifically the removal of grapevines to switch to almond trees, which led to the fatal altercation. Norman was accused of shooting Jerry twice in the back with a shotgun and attempting to hide the body.
In addition to the criminal charges, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Jerry's family. In March 2024, a Fresno County jury awarded $2.77 million to Jerry's wife, Sharon Vulich, and their two daughters for both economic and non-economic damages. The jury found that Norman acted with malice, oppression, or fraud on the day of the incident. The criminal case against Norman Vulich is ongoing, with the family seeking justice for the loss of their loved one.
