Posted on 10/16/2025 12:03:37 AM PDT by Morgana
A Florida man was sentenced to death for murdering his 9-months pregnant secret lover just days before she was set to give birth.
Jose Soto-Escalera, 49, was convicted in 2018 for the murders of 23-year-old Tania Wise and their unborn son.
On Friday, Judge Lawrence Mirman sentenced Soto-Escalera to death after he was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder.
Wise was just one week away from giving birth to what would have been her second child, Josiah, when she was killed after reportedly refusing to get an abortion.
Her body was discovered in a ditch on the side of the road with her head bashed in and her throat cut on August 24, 2018.
The jury voted eight-four in favor in favor of the death penalty, before Judge Mirman agreed with the decision.
Soto-Escalera's lawyer, Tom Burns, argued that he had suffered a difficult childhood and been bullied. The attorney pushed for a life sentencing by noting his good behavior whilst behind bars, Law & Crime reported.
Judge Mirman argued that 'the aggravating factors' in Wise's death, and the death of the soon-to-be-born baby, 'outweigh the mitigating circumstances' of Soto-Escalera's good behavior and history.
Lead prosecutor, Assistant State Attorney Donald Richardson, told Treasure Coast Newspapers that the evidence in the case was 'conclusive' and further told that 'there was no question as to his guilt.'
'As for the penalty, the case was so egregious that I'm not surprised at the [decision] itself. I mean, the facts were truly extreme,' Richardson added.
Her mother, Elizabeth Bedolla, told the outlet: 'I'm not going to say that I am super happy because it doesn't change anything. But justice needed to be done.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Girl was a “dancer” at a club. Pimping herself out with her killer for money. Guy a complete evil mindless impregnator( had 4 kids). Both were cruising for an almost predictable bruising.. Feel bad for the victims kid.
I used to do some work on annulments for a Catholic archdiocese. At a seminar I attended, we learned about the machismo cultural attitude. It is thinking that a man can cruelly dominate his wife, and go out with the guys and have affairs because he is the man. It is antithetical to a loving Christian marriage, needless to say. If that attitude has been there from the time of the wedding, it can be grounds for annulment if the marriage.
My observation was that this attitude shows up where a man lacked a proper fatherly role model. He was sent North to America from a poor home as a teen, often illegally. Upon arrival, whichever relative that he was supposed to connect with didn’t parent him. He just hung out with the other feral guys and greedily “looked out for number one”. Gaining control of a woman with a good income was affirming to his manhood and helpful to support his bad habits.
Back when Trump said, “They don’t exactly send us their best,” I agreed. At least as to men following the machismo pattern.
He murdered her and their baby. Sorry, I have no more words🤮
Convicted in 2018, and finally sentenced today? I don't get it....
“”Convicted in 2018, and finally sentenced today? I don’t get it...””
I don’t either and can’t believe no one picked up on it before you did...glad I didn’t step on your reply - I read them all first! I try to remember to do that!!
Too bad he didn’t get prison for 40 years first. Hell is going to burn.
Expect the left to do everything it can to get him out of the death penalty.
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