A man has been sentenced to death after being found guilty of murdering his pregnant lover just before she was scheduled to give birth. Jose Soto-Escalera, aged 48, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder related to the death of 23-year-old Tania Wise, who was close to her due date of delivering a son named Josiah.
DNA evidence confirmed Soto-Escalera as the baby’s father. Reports indicate that he committed the crime to conceal his relationship with Tania from his wife. The tragic incident occurred in August 2018 when Tania was discovered in a roadside ditch in northern St. Lucie County, Florida, with fatal head injuries and a slashed throat.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered communications between Tania and Soto-Escalera, unbeknownst to his wife. The victim had informed Soto-Escalera about her pregnancy and the need for funds for an abortion. Despite agreeing to provide $500 for the procedure, Tania did not undergo the abortion and gave the money to another person, enraging Soto-Escalera.
Phone records placed Soto-Escalera at the location where Tania’s body was found. Additionally, he had searched online for phrases like “dead body in woods” and “wooded area dead body.” Following the jury’s recommendation, Soto-Escalera received the death penalty for the murders, with the judge concurring that it was a just sentence for both victims.
In a separate case, Arizona prisoner Richard Djerf, who is set for execution for the murder of the Luna family over 30 years ago, has written a letter expressing remorse for his actions. Djerf, 55, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection on October 17 for the deaths of Albert Luna Sr, Patricia Luna, Rochelle Luna, and Damien Luna.