Sergio Reyes, 39, acquired a 20-year jail sentence and was added to the intercourse offender registry for the 2004 killing of 15-year-old Elena Lasswell.
Reyes was arrested in July 2024 after being extradited from Mexico. He later pled responsible to second-degree homicide in Aug. 2025.
Through the sentencing, household and associates of Lasswell urged the decide to impose the utmost sentence of 20 years.
The household spoke concerning the lasting ache and heartbreak brought on by Lasswell’s demise, describing the profound influence of her absence over the previous 20 years.
Those that knew Lasswell remembered her as a brilliant, inventive little one whose life was tragically lower quick.
Lasswell was killed inside her house close to twenty third Avenue and Thomas Highway in July 2004. An post-mortem revealed she died from strangulation and blunt drive trauma to the pinnacle.
Lasswell had been lifeless for a number of hours when her brother discovered her, The Arizona Republic beforehand reported.
Reyes was reportedly recognized by means of DNA and witness testimony and was indicted by a grand jury on Dec. 10, 2023, in response to the court docket paperwork.
“This defendant tried to run and conceal, however in Maricopa County, the reality will catch as much as you and so will regulation enforcement,” mentioned County Legal professional Rachel Mitchell.
This text initially appeared on Arizona Republic: Man pleads responsible to 2004 homicide of Elena Lasswell