A man has been sentenced to death for murdering his pregnant lover just before she was set to deliver their child. Jose Soto-Escalera, aged 48, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the case of 23-year-old Tania Wise, who was close to giving birth to a son named Josiah. DNA evidence confirmed Soto-Escalera as the baby’s father. Prosecutors revealed that he killed Tania to keep his extramarital affair a secret from his wife. The tragic incident occurred in August 2018 when Tania’s body was discovered in a ditch in northern St. Lucie County, Florida, showing signs of severe head injuries and a fatal throat wound.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered communication between Tania and Soto-Escalera, with the latter unaware of his husband’s affair with the younger woman. Tania had informed Soto-Escalera about her pregnancy and asked for money for an abortion, which he agreed to provide but she did not receive. Instead, she gave the money to another person, enraging Soto-Escalera. Phone records placed him at the scene where Tania’s body was later found. Additionally, searches for terms like “dead body in woods” were traced back to his online activities.
After a jury recommendation, Soto-Escalera was sentenced to death, with the judge concurring that the punishment was fitting for the crimes committed. In a separate case, Richard Djerf, a prisoner in Arizona, who is facing execution for killing four members of the Luna family, including a young boy, wrote a letter seeking forgiveness before his scheduled execution date. Djerf expressed remorse for the pain he caused and acknowledged the gravity of his actions. Despite his apology, he is set to receive a lethal injection on October 17 for the murders that took place over 30 years ago.