Man pleads guilty in ‘07 massacre
Anastacio Miranda Sanchez
Anastacio Miranda Sanchez pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of capital murder and one count of first-degree murder in a 2007 family massacre in Woodbridge.
In court, Sanchez admitted to killing 24-year-old Rosario Europa Martinez, 28-year-old Juan Manuel Rios and 25-year-old Gerardo Lopez Garcia on Dec. 9, 2007.
Sanchez also pleaded guilty to shooting two others — all as they slept following a toddler’s birthday party at the house the day before.
Sanchez’ estranged girlfriend, Judith Martinez, and the three children she had with Sanchez, were also in the house during the 8:30 a.m. shooting at 16613 Grandview Ave.,
Prince William County police Detective Ben Grantham testified in court Thursday.
Prosecutors said they believe Judith Martinez was the intended victim that morning, but her sister Rosario was one of those killed.
Grantham said Sanchez confessed to entering the unlocked house, going upstairs and shooting t Martinez in the chest with a Glock 26mm semi-automatic pistol.
According to testimony, Sanchez then told Juan Manuel Rios — who was in bed with Martinez — that “you shouldn’t have gotten involved in my life. You knew this was coming,“ and shot him once as he tried to get out of bed.
After being shot, Juan Manuel Rios begged Sanchez to leave, but Sanchez shot him several more times and killed him too, Grantham said.
During the investigation, Sanchez told Grantham that Judith’s family was trying to get him out of her life by “drawing a line” between them.
Another victim, Gerardo Garcia was in a bedroom across the hall when he heard the shooting. He opened the door to find Sanchez with the gun.
Sanchez turned the pistol on Garcia and the two struggled for possession of the gun, Grantham said.
Garcia tried to shut the door and briefly caught Sanchez’ hand between the door and the door jamb, but Sanchez broke free, shot through the door, hit Garcia in the chest and killed him, Grantham said.
A surviving victim, Franco Cruz, heard the shooting as he slept in the basement. When he came up to investigate, he was shot in the shoulder.
Cruz feigned death and Sanchez left him lying in the hallway, according to testimony.
The fifth victim, Rafael Guevara Rios, was also shot once when he awoke and went to investigate the gunshots.
Despite being wounded, Guevara Rios took the empty pistol from Sanchez and Sanchez ran from the house, Grantham said.
Guevara Rios told police, after calling 911, that he knew the pistol was empty because the slide was locked in the back position.
Judith Martinez told police that she had seen the shooting and also identified Sanchez as the shooter, Grantham said.
She also told police that Sanchez would probably go to his sister’s house in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Police found him there five hours later, according to testimony.
In addition to the murder charges, Sanchez also pleaded guilty to two counts of malicious wounding.
Sanchez, who also goes by the name Anastacio Sanchez Miranda, faces two life sentences plus 58 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 5.
Commonwealth Attorney Paul Ebert said he did not seek the death penalty because the family didn’t ask for it.
“One of the reasons we seek the death penalty is for the solace of the victims,“ Ebert said.
Manassas Bureau Chief Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.
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Reader Reactions
The murderer will spend the rest of his life in prison. 2 life sentences plus 58 years is no walk in the park. There is no time off for good behavior.
So why the personal attacks on Mr. Ebert? Why is Do making up more confabulations? Do the right thing, can you provide any documentation for that tall tale you have spun?
vmj… bravo! Some of us actually went to 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW D.C. and paid respect instead of wasting time commenting here with fanatical agendas, harrasing others, and participating in supporting the proliferation of CHILD EXPLOITATION!
Good evening PWC and LOOK OUT Criminals It’s Friday night and We’re Fighting Back! Including the online freak offenders.
drzeus: Encore!
“Commonwealth Attorney Paul Ebert said he did not seek the death penalty because the family didn’t ask for it.“
This is outrageous. Let’s reexamine why we even have a death penalty.
Solace for the victim’s family, though not a factor I’ve ever heard of being given actual weight, is ONE consideration I guess. What about the many other legitimate reasons to simply exterminate vermin like this?!
Rehabilitation: There is zero chance that this guy could ever be a productive, contributing member of society again? Oh that’s right, he was never a legal citizen to BEGIN WITH. Just another leech that dragged our community down from the start, now taking down others with him.
Cost? Now we have to bear the expense of supporting this ugly cucaracha for the rest of his worthless life, which is going to be a lot more than 12 years, the cutoff point in which it becomes less expensive to sustain a life sentence.
Deterrence? What kind of message does this send to all the other illegal murdering thugs in this county? Go ahead and slaughter people in this county. It’s okay. Our spineless prosecutor will let you off with a piddly prison sentence. Worse, what if this little turd escapes from prison one day and murders someone else? It happens.
I’ll take it one step further. Why even have a death penalty if those entrusted to prosecute capital crimes don’t have the balls to ask for it?
Some of us subscribe to many other news forums and areas of interests NOT merely this one which leads us to believe that those commenting so frequently as seen in just about every article across the board (no matter the topic) and ALL day long not only do not have a life but are locally stalking others for the mere pleasure of harassing. It will come to an end ... One example (in fact) begins with a ph.
Blue,
I’m not following your statement. Ebert wouldn’t get a guilty verdict “notch on his belt” if he pursued capital punishment? Why not?
The American taxpayer will still be supporting this criminal illegal alien the rest of his life now!
This criminal got off light because the Mexican Consulate was involved in his defense and negotiated with the Commonwealth’s Office by asking for a “Cultural Mitigation Specialist” for Mr.Miranda so that they can spend taxpayers money to send individuals into his home town in Mexico to find out what his childhood might have been like for him and if his upbringing might have contributed to his unlawful actions. WOW, we have foreign countries assisting with a mass murderer in getting him off a capital murder charge.
Did Mr. Miranda give any thought to the slaughter of those innocent victims and the resulting 12 felony charges? I don’t think so, he fled the scene of the crime.
Not every article in this on-line paper allows for comments to be posted. It appears to me and I may be wrong that if it is a national or AP item there is no option to comment. So I will say it here I’m sorry for the guard and hope the best for his family. I just clicked on the Michael Jackson story and as I said there is no option to comment. So I’ll say it here “accused child molestor dies, parents can sleep easy”
Checking the news on the Holocast museum shooting and the people mournings, I find NO posts. Yet, count the postings here on this topic.
Proves the posters are into hate.
Bring out the ropes!!! Lynch him a la Southern and Va. style.
Somebody get that “sp*ic”.
Kill the immigrant.
——Cries of a typical southern hatemonger. Please note the hateful language in the postings.
By the way, it is alleged Ebert did not do his job. We have seen posting on Arizona’s sheriff who goes after immigrants. The posting alleged that when the fed govt does not do its responsibilities, then the state should take over and do it. Well, if Ebert did not do his job or duty, who then should take over and do it?
A LYNCH MOB?????? Why yes!!!
Vengence is mine saith the Lord. Whump and Thump!!! Whump and thump!!!
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