A Pinal County Superior Court judge has sentenced Terrance Santistevan to two consecutive natural life terms in the Department of Corrections, without the possibility of release, for the brutal murders of two teen females.
The 21-year-old’s sentencing took place following a jury conviction on two counts of First-Degree Murder last month.
According to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, on April 24, 2022, Leslie Cota, age 18 and Danielle Murrieta, age 17 were brutally killed by Santistevan. The murders took place in Casa Grande and were investigated by the Casa Grande Police Department.
Santistevan and another individual were both involved in a human smuggling operation.
When Santistevan wasn’t paid the money he believed he was owed, he sought revenge, murdering Leslie and Danielle, instead of his intended target. Santistevan fired off more than two dozen 9mm rounds using a Glock handgun modified with a switch to make it fire as a fully automatic weapon.
“These were calculated, cold-blooded murders stemming from a human smuggling operation,” said Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller. “The defendant showed a complete disregard for human life in pursuit of revenge. Today’s sentence ensures this violent individual will never again be free to harm another person.”
County Attorney Miller highlighted comments from a victim impact statement, “There is no victory in the loss of two innocent lives. Nothing about this moment is victorious when two beautiful girls were taken from this world in the most horrific way. This isn’t victory, this is merely the bare minimum one should expect for a remorseless individual that has shattered families and left us with nothing but memories to replay and the heartache of a lifetime. He took everything from these girls and now he should be reminded of the lives he stole and the pain he caused, because that’s the only form of real justice we will be able to receive. Let today be a reminder to you to never take a moment for granted.”