A man has received his sentencing after being found guilty of the murder of his pregnant partner just before she was due to give birth. Jose Soto-Escalera, aged 48, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in relation to the death of 23-year-old Tania Wise, who was only a week away from delivering a baby boy named Josiah.
DNA evidence confirmed that Soto-Escalera was the biological father of the unborn child. Prosecutors revealed that he committed the crime to conceal his extramarital affair with Tania from his wife. Consequently, he has been given the death penalty for the double homicide.
In August 2018, Tania’s body was discovered in a ditch in northern St. Lucie County, Florida, showing signs of severe head trauma and a slashed throat, either of which could have been fatal.
During the investigation, authorities found exchanges between Tania and Soto-Escalera, unbeknownst to his wife. The victim had informed him of her pregnancy and requested money for an abortion.
Soto-Escalera agreed to provide $500 for the procedure, but Tania did not undergo it. Instead, she gave the money to someone else, enraging Soto-Escalera who felt deceived. This led him to inquire about obtaining an illegal firearm, as revealed during the trial.
Records showed Soto-Escalera’s presence at the location where Tania’s body was later found. Additionally, he had conducted online searches related to discovering deceased individuals in wooded areas.
The jury recommended Soto-Escalera’s capital punishment, with eight jurors in favor and four against. The judge concurred with the jury’s decision, deeming the death penalty appropriate for both victims.
In a separate case, a murderer who took the lives of four family members, including a five-year-old boy, penned a remorseful letter before his scheduled execution.
Richard Djerf, an inmate in Arizona, is set to face lethal injection for the murders of the Luna family more than three decades ago. He expressed regret for the suffering he caused, stating his hope that his death may bring some solace to the victims’ loved ones.
Djerf, aged 55, remains scheduled for execution on October 17, following the tragic deaths of Albert Luna Sr, Patricia Luna, Rochelle Luna, and Damien Luna.
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