Adones Betances: Man who stabbed sister's BF to death and set him on fire sentenced to life without parole

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

BRONX, NEW YORK: A Bronx man has reportedly been sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing an 18-year-old who had dated his younger sister and subsequently setting the victim on fire.

In 2020, Winston Ortiz, 18, reportedly was stabbed and then immolated with gasoline in his apartment building by Adones Betances, who was 22 years old at the time.

Betances was swiftly apprehended by the police within less than 24 hours after the brutal murder of Ortiz. He was promptly charged with murder and manslaughter and was escorted out of the 44th Precinct in handcuffs.

What happened in the courtroom?

According to CBS News, during the sentencing hearing on Thursday, March 21, the victim's family recounted the anguish they've endured since 2020.  

The victim's mother Joan Tamarez said, "My son had only love for others." 

For four years, Tamarez has agonizedly awaited this moment. The harrowing memory of her son's brutal murder haunts her daily. 

Judge Jeanette Rodriguez-Morick stated, "Winston did not die immediately, despite having his skin burned off. He was still alive when officers arrived. He provided them with critical information, including that it was Adones Betances who had done this to him." 

Betances's attorney attributed his actions to his upbringing in an environment with lead paint exposure. "His ability to make decisions, to make choices and to... have compassion for other humans has been implicated by his exposure to lead," the attorney stated. 

"In all my years doing this work, I have never seen such a horrific conduct by any defendant in this county," remarked District Attorney Darcel Clark. 

Betances received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Following a three-week trial, Ortiz's family reminisces about him as a caring older brother deeply involved in his church community. 

His mother shared a portion of an assignment he wrote before his death. "'Love your enemies because they can become your friends,'' she recited. 

How did neighbor react after hearing 'loud screams' at William Ortiz's home?

William Ortiz was discovered deceased on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, in an apartment building located at the intersection of Woodycrest Avenue and West 165th Street in the Highbridge area.

Shortly after, a neighbor named Joseph Romero recounted, "I heard screams, very loud screams, Like a horror movie, it was crazy. It was something unnatural" as per CBS News.

Romero described the noise as unforgettable, compelling him to vacate his apartment, unaware of the circumstances.

"I checked to see what was happening, but I didn't see anyone on the first floor, so I was confused where the sound was coming from," he explained.

Investigators revealed that 18-year-old Winston Ortiz, found in the hallway on the fifth floor, had been stabbed three times, soaked in gasoline, and then set ablaze.

A nearby neighbor heard the screams and extinguished the flames engulfing Ortiz's skin with water.

Subsequent footage captured firefighters and paramedics responding to the scene, with Ortiz ultimately transported to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.