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40-year-old Roidan Durruthy Mendoza was sentenced to serve a lifetime behind bars without the possibility of parole. According to court records, Mendoza pleaded guilty to one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon in August.
The original incident happened back in August of 2023. Marillorky Tamayo Cruz was reportedly dating the culprit, Mendoza, before the time of the murder. Cruz had confided in friends that she had been experiencing a cycle of violence and abuse, and she was planning on leaving the suspect.
Cruz had allegedly left Mendoza and was staying at her mother’s apartment at the Destinations Spring Valley Complex.
The former couple had recently appeared at a local family court hearing, where a judge awarded Cruz with possession of the family home. The judge additionally ordered Mendoza to begin making child support payments. According to the court order, Mendoza only had a few weeks to pack up his belongings and leave the home.
Immediately after the hearing, Mendoza allegedly left the courtroom and headed straight to the family house. Once there, he decided to cut the gas line to the stove and pack up all his clothes. Then, he went straight to Cruz’s mother’s apartment. Cruz claims he did this in order to switch vehicles with his wife.
When Cruz arrived at the apartment, he shot at the apartment’s doors and locks 11 times and broke through. While shooting through the door, he hit an ex-boyfriend of the victim’s sister and the victim’s mother. He headed straight to a bedroom where he found Cruz and shot her in the forehead twice.
Cruz’s 14-year-old daughter witnessed her mother’s shooting and bravely grabbed a knife. She started stabbing the suspect multiple times. Mendoza wrestled the knife away from the youngster and stabbed her in the back.
During his hearing, Mendoza claimed he never wanted to hurt anyone and was threatened, attacked, and provoked into acting violently by the ex-boyfriend, who was shot in the attack. He also claimed that he lost control and did not want to stab or shoot anyone.
Nevada is a death penalty state, which means it is possible to be sentenced to death if you are convicted of first-degree murder. The second most severe penalty you can receive under the law is a lifetime behind bars without the possibility of parole.
If you believe you could potentially face murder or homicide-related charges, then don’t hesitate to secure a reputable attorney as soon as possible. Without a legal advocate, you could wind up facing the most severe penalties possible under the law. The right attorney can help you unpack exactly what happened, go over the specifics of your charges, outline the evidence that prosecutors have against you, and work towards developing the best possible defense strategy in your situation.
Schedule a free case review with our team here at LV Criminal Defense now by leaving your contact details on our online form.
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