GREELEY, Colo.—A former Colorado man whose estranged wife disappeared 15 years ago was found guilty Thursday of murdering her.
After deliberating seven hours, a Weld County jury convicted John Sandoval, 45, of first-degree murder. He was then sentenced to the mandatory term of life in prison with no possibility of parole.
For years, the Greeley police investigated the disappearance of Kristina Tournai Sandoval, who was 23 when she disappeared Oct. 19, 1995. She told people she was meeting Sandoval that day to finalize their pending divorce and discuss money he owed her.
Kristina Sandoval told others that she feared meeting her husband, authorities said.
Sandoval acted oddly after his wife’s disappearance, police said. Some of her personal items were found at his home. And her car—with her wallet and cell phone in the glove box—was found four blocks from his home.
Prosecutors previously refused to file charges because Kristina Sandoval’s body wasn’t found. In 2001, a judge ruled there was enough evidence to believe she was dead and a death certificate was issued.
Last year, Sandoval was extradited from Las Vegas and charged with first-degree murder. Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said the passage of time had weakened the likely defense that Kristina Sandoval just left.
Sandoval’s attorneys argued that there were no fingerprints, DNA, blood or weapon or other physical evidence tying him to the murder. Public defender Ken Barker accused investigators of “tunnel vision.”
Prosecutor Matt Maillaro said during closing arguments that all the evidence and circumstances pointed to one inevitable conclusion.
“Why focus on the defendant?” Maillaro asked. “How could they not focus on this defendant?”
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Information from: Greeley Daily Tribune,
