The tragic death of Sheila Lomes: Arizona man gets 50 years for stabbing estranged pregnant wife 38 times
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: A 36-year-old man, Gilbert Villareal has been sentenced to prison for 50 years for the brutal murder of his wife and their unborn child at a Phoenix apartment complex in 2012.
Restraining orders preventing Villareal from contacting the victim's family, including his now-adolescent son, have also been imposed, extending for five lifetimes. Authorities noted that Villareal entered a guilty plea to two counts of second-degree murder, classified as class one serious felonies.
What happened in 2012?
Shortly after midnight on March 26, 2012, Phoenix Police officers rushed to a horrific scene near 32nd Avenue and Beardsley Road.
Witnesses recounted hearing a woman's distressing cries and frantic pounding on a neighbor's door, pleading for help.
Officers found 22-year-old Sheila Lomes lifeless on a balcony, having sustained 38 stab wounds. Subsequent investigations revealed that Lomes was pregnant with a girl.
Lomes and her husband, Gilbert Villareal, had been living separately for several months before the tragic incident occurred.
Villareal and Lomes shared a 2-year-old child, and authorities noted a history of domestic abuse. Following Lomes's tragic death, Villareal fled to Mexico.
Villareal remained elusive until 2016 when he was apprehended for stabbing a woman in the neck. Following his conviction for this crime, he was sentenced to prison and subsequently extradited to Arizona.
Gilbert Villareal sentenced to 50 years in prison
According to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Villareal pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder related to the deaths of Lomes and their unborn child. Despite the guilty plea, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison, as reported by FOX10 PHOENIX.
Villareal is also prohibited from contacting Lomes' family, including his son, as part of the legal restrictions imposed.
"Finding a way to bring this defendant back to the US to face his crimes was a particularly challenging process. Our lawyers and support staff were relentless in their efforts to ensure he was located and returned here," Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said.
"Remember, a two-year-old child witnessed this awful crime. I hope that one day, when he is old enough to understand, he will recognize there were dozens of people on his side, fighting for justice," he added.
