Arizona man who killed elderly woman before eating meal and washing up in her home gets two life sentences

HOUSTON, TEXAS: A 24-year-old Arizona man has received two life sentences for the horrific murder of a 75-year-old grandmother in her Sharpstown home in 2019.

Marco Cobos pleaded guilty on Friday, December 1, to stabbing Etta Nugent at least 13 times in a premeditated attack. He then callously did chores and ate a meal in her home as she lay dead, as reported by Law&Crime.

Marco Cobos admitted to murder and aggravated robbery charges

Cobos admitted to murder and aggravated robbery charges in exchange for two life terms. This plea deal means he will spend at least 60 years behind bars before being eligible for parole. He has also waived his right to appeal the conviction or sentences, prosecutors announced.

"This brutal murder was both senseless and premeditated, and this was the right result because we were able to get justice without the family having to go through a painful and traumatic trial," said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

She stated the decades Cobos will now serve in prison are "hopefully the rest of his life."

Marco Cobos was living out of his truck when he broke into victim's home

The horrific attack occurred after a chain of events brought Cobos to Houston in May 2019. He had stolen a truck in Arizona and drove to Texas expecting to meet someone he'd connected with online.

When that failed to happen, Cobos began living out of his truck in Nugent's quiet neighborhood.

Concerned residents contacted authorities about the suspicious vehicle. But Cobos remained parked there for several days.

On May 19, he finally approached the 75-year-old Nugent, walking upto her door to ask for water and to charge his phone. She declined to let him inside and sent him to a different neighbor for help instead.

Cobos soon returned and forced his way into Nugent's home. He stabbed the grandmother at least 13 times with two knives over the course of hours. One weapon came from her own kitchen. Nugent sadly died from her extensive injuries.

Showing a shocking lack of remorse, Cobos proceeded with everyday activities inside the home after the vicious attack. He did laundry, showered, drove to get a hamburger, and then ate his meal in the same room as Nugent's body. Cobos stole valuables from the house before checking into a nearby motel to sleep.

Etta Nugent was remembered by her loved ones as kind, gentle and generous

The next day, Cobos boldly came back to the murder scene to move his truck and avoid detection. But Nugent's adult son had already discovered her and notified police. Detectives detained Cobos for driving the victim's stolen vehicle.

He quickly admitted to the merciless killing. Cobos revealed she had told him she was a mother and grandmother with a sick husband. But he continued his unrelenting assault.

"This case is truly horrendous and is the worst possible nightmare for anyone who has an elderly parent living on their own," said Assistant District Attorney Lynn Nguyen.

"You don’t want to believe that something like this could happen in our community, but when it does, we do everything possible to seek justice for the victim and their family."

Nugent worked as a church secretary in Houston for 25 years. She was remembered by loved ones as kind, gentle and generous. They said her dedication to faith, family and friends never wavered. Her relatives added that making sense of such an "unexplainable" tragedy seemed impossible.