A Pinal County jury found a man guilty of shooting down two teen girls in Casa Grande in 2022.
Terrance Santistevan, 21, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder on Thursday. The killings of Leslie Cota, 18, and Danielle Murrieta, 17, occurred three years ago.
On April 24, 2022, Casa Grande police responded to the Sonoran apartment complex and discovered Cota dead in the backseat of a car. Murrieta was found lying behind the car and rushed to the hospital, where she died. They had been shot several times.
Police discovered that Santistevan, the suspect they were looking for, was involved in a human smuggling operation with another suspect, Dominic Leos. Prosecutors allege that Santistevan sought revenge after not receiving the money he believed Leos owed him.
On the night of the murders, Santisteven went to the apartment complex to find Leos. Leos, Cota, and Murrieta were in the parking lot about to leave for dinner when Santisteven pulled up next to them and opened fire.
Santistevan fired more than two dozen rounds from a 9mm Glock handgun that had been modified to operate as an automatic weapon. According to investigators, he attempted to shoot Leos but instead hit Cota and Murrieta.
Santistevan fled the state but was apprehended by deputy US marshals in Pflugerville, Texas, a few days later.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, and he could face life in prison.
Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller issued the following statement on Friday:
“Justice has been served in our community. While nothing can undo the loss of the two young lives tragically taken, yesterday’s verdict ensures that the person responsible will be held accountable. I am grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence, and I hope this outcome brings some measure of closure to the families and loved ones of these young women. Human smuggling is modern day slavery that needs to be eradicated from our Country. My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to ensure all those involved in human smuggling will be held accountable.”
