A 12-person jury in Miami-Dade holds the fate of Alberto Sierra, a 42-year-old Cuban who pleaded guilty to murdering his ex-wife and her two young daughters in November 2012.
According to a report from Local 10 News, the jury began hearing evidence in the case this Tuesday and will have to decide whether to sentence Sierra to life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Sierra pleaded guilty in August before Judge Marisa Tinkler Méndez of the Miami-Dade Circuit Court for the death of Gladys Machado, 29, and her daughters Julia Padrino, six, and Daniella Padrino, three.
The accused acknowledged committing three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of kidnapping, two counts of abuse of a corpse, and one count of armed burglary.
Independent media and court records from Miami-Dade County identify Sierra as Cuban and note a criminal record for drugs, weapons, and violation of probation; he had been released from prison just five months before committing the crimes.
The opening statements of the sentencing phase began on Tuesday, when the lead prosecutor, Abbe Rifkin, showed the jury a plastic grocery bag and stated, "This is the death instrument that was used: a bag from Sedano's just like this one."
According to the accusation, Sierra first suffocated Machado with that bag, then led Julia out of the room where he had confined her and killed her in the same manner; Daniella, who was sleeping and just days away from turning four, was attacked while still in bed. "He violently woke her up by suffocating her to death," said Rifkin.
The prosecution also alleged that Sierra sexually assaulted Machado and Julia after they were dead, and that he injured Machado's face "so that she would never be beautiful for another man." Rifkin described the crimes as "particularly abominable, atrocious, and cruel."
Another report from Local 10 News stated that on Wednesday, the lead detective at the crime scene, Aura Jean Rosello, guided the jury through photographs showing the condition of the bodies, which were found three days after the murders inside a closet in the master bedroom of the home in northwest Miami-Dade.
Rosello described that Machado had his arms tied behind his back and, when asked what was on his face, replied: "Ants." She also stated that the victim had "Alberto Sierra" tattooed on his left shoulder blade.
The defense did not deny the "horrendous" nature of the evidence, but requested the jury to consider the mitigating circumstances, including a traumatic brain injury that Sierra allegedly suffered in a childhood car accident, which, according to his lawyers, permanently affected his personality and cognitive abilities.
When the judge reminded him in August that he was facing the death penalty, Sierra replied curtly, "Yes, ma'am. Fourteen years have passed, so..."
The case also has a background that worsens the profile of the accused: the Department of Children and Families had investigated Sierra because Julia told a teacher that her stepfather had bitten her, but the police concluded it was while "playing" and no charges were filed.
Under the modified Florida law of 2023, unanimity is not required to recommend the death penalty: it is sufficient that eight out of the 12 jurors vote in favor. The jury will continue to hear testimony and evidence in the coming days before issuing their recommendation.
Related videos:
Filed under: