Calif. man convicted of killing girlfriend and their two sons because she was 'ruining his life'
12/15/2022 11:38 am PST
ORANGE, Calif. (TCD) -- A 42-year-old father was convicted of fatally stabbing his 31-year-old girlfriend and their two young sons, both under 2 years old, approximately a decade ago.
According to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, on April 12, 2012, Arlet Hernandez Conteras brought her two sons, 16-month-old Fernando Hernandez Limas and 2-month-old Emanuel Hernandez Limas, to Shazer Fernando Limas’ home. The two reportedly got into an argument, and police were called to the home.
The District Attorney’s Office said, "Sometime on April 13 or 14, Limas stabbed Contreras and killed the two young boys."
On April 14, Limas reportedly called his new girlfriend to tell her that he had injured his hand during a fight while out with friends.
The bodies of the three victims were left in a balcony closet for approximately 10 days, the District Attorney’s Office said. During that time, Limas reportedly went out to dance clubs, rented limos, and had company over to his apartment.
The prosecutor alleges that Limas said, "I hate her. I wish she did not have these kids. Arlet is ruining my life. I wish she was gone," KTTV-TV reports.
Limas and Contreras reportedly had an "on-again, off-again" relationship, and the victims had been living with Limas in his two-bedroom apartment on and off as well.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Limas was able to bleach out the blood stains from his carpet and move around furniture to conceal any signs of the killings.
Limas rented a U-Haul in someone else’s name and dumped Contreras’ body inside a large chest. The body was later found dumped in a Los Angeles County gutter on April 25, 2012, the District Attorney’s Office said. She had been stabbed 48 times.
The children’s bodies were never located, but after dumping Contreras’ body, Limas allegedly drove an additional 100 miles. It is believed that he disposed of his young sons’ bodies during that time.
Limas reportedly ended the lease on his apartment following the fatal attack. The District Attorney’s Office said the apartment building management team contacted police to report the strong odor and blood spatter in the home.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Orange Police officers were able to arrest Limas after a high-speed chase on the 405 and the 5 freeways.
On Wednesday, Dec. 14, Limas was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder. The District Attorney’s Office said he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2023.
In a statement, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said, "He killed his entire family and threw them away like trash."
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