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Death Sentence Looms for Man Who Tortured Wife, Strangled Family
21 Oct
Summary
- Man convicted of murdering wife and two daughters by strangulation.
- Jury voted to sentence him to death for two of the three murders.
- A judge will issue the final sentencing ruling on Nov. 2.
A Florida man, Alberto Sierra, faces a potential death sentence for the heinous 2012 murders of his wife and her two daughters. A jury recently voted to recommend the death penalty for the strangulation deaths of his wife, Gladys Machado, and her 6-year-old daughter, Julia Padron.
The jury fell just one vote short of recommending death for the murder of 3-year-old Daniela Padron. Sierra, who confessed to the murders in August, had kidnapped Machado and her daughters at knifepoint after an argument.
He proceeded to torture his wife before strangling her and then strangling both daughters, one of whom was forced to witness her sister's death. Sierra then sexually assaulted the bodies of his wife and the 6-year-old.
Officials discovered the bodies three days later. A final sentencing ruling by the judge is expected on November 2, following a plea of guilty to multiple counts including murder and sexual abuse of a corpse.
