New Mexico man convicted of raping and murdering 6-year-old girl
03/28/2022 11:01 am PDT
LOS LUNAS, N.M. (TCD) -- A 24-year-old man was convicted of raping and murdering a 6-year-old girl in his second trial related to the case.
The 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced Friday that a jury found Leland Hust guilty on all the charges against him. According to The Albuquerque Journal, the jury reached the verdict for child abuse resulting in death and criminal sexual penetration fo a child under 13 in about six hours.
In 2021, a jury found Hust not guilty of first-degree murder but deadlocked on the other two charges that he was convicted of in this second trial, according to KRQE-TV.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Ariana "Jade" Romeo was found dead Aug. 11, 2018. She was found partially naked and had blood all over her body. Romeo and her mom lived in a home with seven other people, including Hust, and his DNA was reportedly found on Jade's body.
District Attorney Barbara Romo reportedly embraced Jade's mother Stephanie Romeo after the verdict and said, "I’m happy that Stephanie can have some closure and little Jade can rest in peace now. You can’t give up on a 6-year-old girl who was brutally raped and murdered."
Rio Rancho Police arrested Hust Oct. 5, 2018.
According to KRQE, Hust could face up to life in prison for the child abuse charge and up to 18 years for the rape charge.
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