A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted a former Chelsea resident of stabbing his roommate to death, killing him, in an altercation early last year, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Jurors convicted MARVIN RUANO GARCIA (D.O.B. 4/28/85) of voluntary manslaughter for stabbing 50-year-old Israel Vasquez 30 times – including 10 times in the neck – before dumping him head first into a trash barrel and heading off to work on the morning of Jan. 5, 2010.

The verdict came after about four full days of deliberations and about a week of testimony. Garcia faces up to 20 years in state prison when sentenced on May 5.

Chelsea Police responded to the area of 122-124 Grove St. in Chelsea shortly before 7:00 to find Vasquez’ body in a trash barrel. A blood trail led from that scene to 96 Grove St., where Vasquez and Garcia both lived. With State Police assigned to Conley’s office, they soon identified, located, and interviewed Garcia, who stated that the victim had attacked him during a verbal altercation. He was taken into custody that evening.

Katherine Moran was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Garcia was represented by attorney John Tardif.