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'Young Man Died Over A Gold Necklace'; Killer Gets Life
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Published: May 14, 2008
TAMPA - A 21-year-old Lutz man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the shooting death of a Marine who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jonathan Sanabria was trying to rob Cpl. Miguel Angel Suarez of his gold chain.
Circuit Judge Ronald Ficarrotta seemed to be at a loss for words before he passed sentence today.
He asked Sanabria whether he had anything to say.
"Nope," Sanabria answered.
"This was a horrible crime committed senselessly," Ficarrotta said. "A young man died over a gold necklace."
In Florida, there is no parole.
Assistant State Attorney Kristen Over told the jury Tuesday that Sanabria saw Suarez walking near Himes and Sligh avenues and decided he wanted Suarez's gold chain. He walked behind Suarez and pistol-whipped him.
Sanabria didn't expect Suarez to fight back – but he did, Over said. Sanabria fired a warning shot, but Suarez kept coming. He fired again, striking Suarez in the head at close range. Instantly, Suarez fell flat.
Later that night, Sanabria showed up at a female friend's house. He said he was in trouble and asked her to help him soak the gun in bleach to remove any DNA. He scraped a screwdriver in and out of the barrel to prevent any ballistics tests, Over told the jury.
Sanabria watched a television news report about Suarez's murder and told the girlfriend he was the killer.
Sheriff's detectives would find Sanabria's DNA under Suarez's fingernails. Sanabria confessed.
Assistant Public Defender Kenneth Littman asked the jury not to rely on the statements of Sanabria's girlfriend, since she did not witness the crime. He also asked them to remember that Sanabria gave two statements to detectives – first saying he did not kill Suarez.
The jury returned a guilty verdict in less than two hours.
Suarez, 25, was a 2000 graduate of Jefferson High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2002 and served 16 months in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was killed while spending time at his parents' home awaiting orders to return to Iraq.
Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( Valman ) on May 14, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why did he not get the death penalty? If ever it was called for, this is it. This POS will not be rehabbed in prison, just living out his useless life at taxpayers expense. Maybe we will get lucky and one of the other prisoners will shorten the duration of his stay.
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Posted by ( Carioca ) on May 14, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
bring back old sparky for this jacka$$
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Posted by ( baton619 ) on May 14, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This guy is a piece of ----
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Posted by ( rambler ) on May 14, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
they should use that gold necklace to hang him
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Posted by ( beaches1956 ) on May 14, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Senseless killings happen all the time. Why not execute the executioner? Seems only fair to me. A life for a life!
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Posted by ( chrisl319 ) on May 14, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm not a huge fan of the death penalty, but this scumbag deserves it. Or drop him over in Iraq or Afghanistan!
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Posted by ( Lunatic_Fringe ) on May 14, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Let's dress out Jonathon with as much gold jewelry as we can find and then leave him in the worst part of the Bay Area at 2:00 A.M. tonight.
BTW...where is the worst part of the Bay Area?
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Posted by ( petepuked ) on May 14, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Im suprised this POS didnt say he tried to rob him but he fought back and had to shoot him in self defense.
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Posted by ( Publius ) on May 14, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Whether you agree with the war or not, this POS had no business killing a brave young man who volunteered to serve his country while his slimeball killer was back at home. I salute Suarez and all those like him who answered their country's call and I condemn the human excrement like Sanabria, who collectively weren't worth the sweat off of Suarez's ba**s. I hope Sanabria meets his well-deserved fate in prison.
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Posted by ( watttt ) on May 14, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ten minutes in a cell with this POS, that's all I ask.
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Posted by ( lorrab ) on May 14, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
animals that kill like that, should be put to death, and soon, end of story.
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Posted by ( flea ) on May 14, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's so sad, but he was safer in Iraq
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Posted by ( crysntrin ) on May 14, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
how tragic and stupid
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Posted by ( mim ) on May 14, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
JUDGE FICARROTTA YOUR HONOR, I tatolly commend you for not flying off that bench and wailing into this thug! You are a better man than most! I think your lack of words did much more!!!
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Posted by ( mim ) on May 14, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I say we send this JERK-OFF TO IRAQ!.Hell, He likes to Kill any way... only problem is.. there's no gold chains to steal!!! He's a gonner for sure! I hope this f#@$$%$ dies a very painful death. WOW!This is so unlike me!
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Posted by ( ceibert ) on May 14, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
WTF is this country coming to? And if CPL. Suarez would of gotten ahold of this thugs gun and killed him, then Suarez would probably be going to jail. My deepest sympathy goes out to Suarez's family and friends.
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Posted by ( psb5218 ) on May 14, 2008 at 6:29 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( tallguy007 ) on May 14, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I say turn him over to the MARINE'S!!!!
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Posted by ( 1madvet ) on May 14, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Lunatic, It's south St. Pete.
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Posted by ( ssgtsgirl4life ) on May 14, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Miguel...You were loved by many and will be remembered by even more....Rest in peace and Semper Fi. As for the coward who took your life may he live a life of hell. Everyone angry about him not getting death....belive me his life in prison will be worse than immediate death. All will know he killed a hero for "nothing". May he enter hell thru a gate guided by Marines.
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Posted by ( MamaMagic ) on May 14, 2008 at 9:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Prime example of the mentality "I want it, so I'm gonna have it", brought about by our current instant gratification society.
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Posted by ( Oops ) on May 14, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
"Nope" says it all.
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Posted by ( javierelbum ) on May 15, 2008 at 11:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This guy was and still is my cousin! I miss him very much, and so does his friends and family... The guy that did this has my same last name. Isnt that friken crazy? This Sanabria guy jonathan has to be let back out! So that we can show him how precious life really is... We can give him all the gold he wants and show him, how much of an a** he is.. I only want one night with him out on the streets and he'll be done! Guaranteed. That's for you Migue! Te amo primito.. Con todo mi alma!... (R.I.P) muah....
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