Desiree Sanchez: Oklahoma woman sentenced to life for killing her 19-year-old disabled sister-in-law

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA: An Oklahoma woman is sentenced to life in prison for murdering her 19-year-old disabled sister-in-law before she stuffed her body in a box and moved it to different locations so she could continue to collect the victim’s social security benefits. 

On Wednesday, January 10, State District Court Judge Thad H Balkman ordered Desiree Sanchez, also known as Desiree Fransen, to serve a life sentence in prison for the slaying of Maggie Sandoval, court records show. 

When was Desiree Sanchez found guilty?

A jury in November found Desiree Sanchez guilty on one count of first-degree murder and one count of unlawful removal of a body.

Balkman followed the jury’s sentencing recommendation in sentencing Desiree Sanchez to life on the murder charge plus an additional five years on the unlawful removal charge.

What are the other charges Desiree Sanchez is facing?

Desiree Sanchez is already serving a three-year federal prison sentence after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy and aggravated identity theft for continuing to collect Sandoval’s federal social security benefits.

Sandoval, who authorities said had the cognitive abilities of a child, was the half-sister of Desiree Sanchez’s husband, Octavio Juan Sanchez.

Octavio Sanchez is serving a four-year federal prison sentence for stealing his sister’s social security benefits and is awaiting his trial on murder and unlawful removal charges in his sister’s slaying.

When was Maggie Sandoval killed?

According to the authorities, Sandoval was killed between February 17 and April 18, 2018, per a probable cause affidavit filed in the case.

Desiree Sanchez and her husband allegedly wrapped Sandoval’s body in “a lot of layers” of plastic, at one point even having one of their children assist them, telling the child they were just wrapping a present, Oklahoma City NBC affiliate KFOR reported.

They then hid the body, moving it around between Sandoval’s apartment and their home. Facebook messages showed the couple discussing their crimes, including moving the body around within their house due to the smell, cops said.

The chilling texts between Desiree Sanchez and her husband 

KFOR reported that messages between the couple showed they planned the murder, referring to Sandoval as “fat garbage” and “trash,” then claiming they needed to “get rid of her.”

In one message, Octavio Sanchez directed Desiree Sanchez to tell the police he did everything when he believed the cops were at the apartment complex due to the smell, according to documents. In another message, however, he threatened to kill her too, if she reported him.

The couple thought Maggie Sandoval was haunting them

“In one conversation Octavio (Sanchez) tells Desiree (Sanchez) that (Sandoval) was not letting him get to his phone to contact her,” authorities wrote.

“Desiree (Sanchez) replied that (Sandoval) is only messing with him because she was not there. Desiree (Sanchez) confirmed with Octavio (Sanchez) that (Sandoval) was haunting her too. Desiree (Sanchez) told Octavio (Sanchez) that (Sandoval) knows what she did and that is why she is haunting them.”

When did the authorities find the remains of Maggie Sandoval?

Officers said they found the remains in the basement of Miguel Angel Munoz, 44, on May 13, 2021, after getting a tip. He was charged with accessory to murder in the first degree and is awaiting trial.

“Munoz informed investigators that Octavio (Sanchez) stated he and his wife, Desiree (Sanchez), killed a child molester. Munoz quoted Octavio (Sanchez) as saying, "Desiree (Sanchez) started it and I had to finish it."

Federal investigators said that the killer, Sandoval’s representative payee for social security benefits, did not report the woman dead, allowing the couple collected $30,912 for themselves.

They also used the dead sister’s identity to apply for $3,200 in stimulus money from the IRS during the immediate fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.