Pregnant Mistress Murdered, Boyfriend Sentenced to Death

In a tragic case, a Florida man named Jose Soto-Escalera has been sentenced to death for the 2018 murders of his pregnant mistress, Tania Wise, and their unborn child.

Soto-Escalera, 49, was convicted last month of two counts of first-degree murder by a St. Lucie County jury. The jury's recommendation of the death penalty was upheld by Judge Lawrence Mirman during Soto-Escalera's sentencing hearing on October 10th.

Authorities initially had another suspect in mind, but the investigation shifted after a former co-worker of Wise's told investigators that Wise had been having a sexual relationship with Soto-Escalera for money. The co-worker said Wise had called Soto-Escalera, who was married, to ask for $500 for an abortion, and he became angry when she did not get one.

Further evidence against Soto-Escalera included his internet search history, which showed he had searched for "dead body in woods" and "wooded area dead body" around the time of the murders. Witnesses also placed a truck similar to Soto-Escalera's near the crime scene.

Soto-Escalera had initially denied any relationship with Wise, but eventually confessed to having sexual relations with her on one occasion. He maintained his innocence in her murder, but the jury ultimately convicted him of the brutal killings.

Tania Wise, who was 23 years old, was found dead in a ditch with severe trauma to her head and throat. Post-mortem DNA testing confirmed that Soto-Escalera was the father of her unborn son, whom she had planned to name Josiah.