A 48-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole last year at their Thornton home.
Stefan Stoian was convicted Thursday of in the June 2015 shooting death of his wife, 45-year-old .
An Adams County jury deliberated less than three hours before reaching its verdict following a trial this week, according to prosecutors.
“This was a tragic case,” District Attorney Dave Young said in a statement. “The defendant calculated his plan and shot his wife in the back of her head while she slept. Nothing we do here can bring back Maria to those who loved her. We hope that this verdict gives the family a sense of justice and that they can take some measure of comfort from that.”
Maria Stoian was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head by Thornton police officers summoned to the couple’s family home in the 7500 block of East 121st Place.
“The couple’s 16-year-old daughter called 911 after finding her mother dead in bed, a blood-soaked pillow covering her head,” the Adams County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
The release says prosecutors presented evidence during the trail that showed the married couple’s relationship had been deteriorating and Maria Stoian had begun an affair. Both worked for the U.S. Postal Service.
, Maria Stoian is survived by not only her daughter, but also a son. The death notice says she was from Romania where she grew up and graduated from college.
“Maria lived a very fulfilling life and shared many good memories with her family and friends,” the notice said.
Stefan Stoian in Nevada where authorities say he had checked into a hotel room using a fake name.
