A judge sentenced a man to 15 years to life on Tuesday for killing his ex-girlfriend, whose body has never been found.
Eduardo Magana, 48, was convicted by a Chula Vista jury of second-degree murder in the death of Alexis Berenice Guadarrama Orozco, 33.
Prosecutors said Guadarrama Orozco met Magana at the Star Motel in Otay Mesa on July 15, and all communication with her family stopped afterward. Investigators later obtained video showing Magana loading “a large, heavy object” into his car trunk early the next morning. Authorities arrested him three days later in Los Angeles County.
During sentencing, the victim’s sister, Isabel Cisneros, read statements from multiple family members, each begging Magana to reveal where he hid Guadarrama Orozco’s body.
“He did not allow me to mourn her. He did not allow us to say goodbye to her,” Cisneros said.
Judge Timothy Walsh imposed the maximum sentence and condemned Magana’s actions as “horrific, calculated, and perverse.” He said Magana not only killed the victim “senselessly,” but also inflicted ongoing pain on her family by denying them closure.
Last month, the District Attorney’s Office renewed its plea to the public for help finding the victim’s remains.
District Attorney Summer Stephan said, “While this killer is being held accountable, Alexis Berenice’s family and friends deserve the closure of laying her to rest.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
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