In 2018 Rita Gutierrez-Garcia vanished after celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Four years later Juan Figueroa Jr. used to be delivered to justice. Where is he now?
In March 2018, 34-year-old Rita Gutierrez-Garcia used to be out with buddies in Longmont, Colo. celebrating St. Patrick's Day when she vanished. According to CBS News, her stays had been in any case found 4 years later "east of Longmont in Weld County" when a man through the identify of Juan Figueroa, Jr. informed police where he buried her. Without id, government had to make use of DNA evidence to establish it used to be the body of Gutierrez-Garcia. Where is Juan Figueroa, Jr. now? Dateline has the story.
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Juan Figueroa, Jr. will be in jail for a very long time.
Currently, Figueroa is serving a 48-year sentence for the kidnapping and homicide of Gutierrez-Garcia, at Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility. The Longmont Leader reported that Figueroa "pled guilty to second degree murder and first degree kidnapping." His plea deal stated that Figueroa can serve his sentence similtaneously with a 93-year sentence he was once already chipping away at when he used to be charged with the murder of Gutierrez-Garcia. His other sentence was for the sexual attack of an unidentified Longmont girl.
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The plea deal additionally came with particular stipulations. Figueroa had to provide a "written confession and video taped interview" as well as supply "information assisting in the location and recovery of Gutierrez-Garcia’s remains." Diane Romero, Gutierrez-Garcia's mom, read a transferring sufferer impact statement at the sentencing. "My god says forgive as he has forgiven us, but I believe God also knows I am a human and forgiveness is something difficult and nowhere near in sight," she stated. "Now I have some sort of peace knowing she is no longer missing."
What took place to Rita Gutierrez-Garcia?
Figueroa struck up a conversation with Gutierrez-Garcia the night he killed her. In his confession, Figueroa said he was interested in her but she didn't reciprocate, turning him down. Later on in the evening when Figueroa noticed Gutierrez-Garcia by means of herself, he regardless that he'd give it another check out. At this level she called him a "weirdo" and consistent with Figueroa's personal admittance, he snapped.
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Figueroa punched Gutierrez-Garcia which knocked her unconscious. He then dragged to his truck where he "assaulted her and strangled her to death," by means of the Longmont Leader. While being sentenced, Figueroa tried in charge native police for his movements citing the indisputable fact that they pulled him over earlier that night for drunk using, but never arrested him. "Why didn’t that cop arrest me that night," he asked. "I wouldn’t be here looking at murder charges."
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The pass judgement on overseeing Figueroa's sentencing made certain to point out that best Figueroa was once responsible for his actions that night. "You killed a beautiful, innocent woman who had the bad luck running across you," the judge informed him. "There’s no rational explanation...You receive a reduced sentence; Rita’s family gets some knowledge about what happened to her. Is that justice? Under the law, sure. Is it deserved, 48 years? Absolutely."
In flip, Figueroa addressed Gutierrez-Garcia's family. "To the victim, I’m sorry. To all of yous, I’m really sorry," he stated tearfully. "I have a mother. My mom’s the only one who raised me my whole life. I’ve never had a father and I love my mom dearly. I’m sorry I took Rita from yous. I really am."
For more in this story, song into Dateline Friday March 10 at 9:00 p.m. EST on NBC.
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