Juan Velazquez was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the murder of a child. According to court documents Juan Velazquez would confess to the abuse and murder of a twelve year old girl and the abuse of a three year old girl. Juan Velazquez would be convicted and sentenced to death.
Juan Velazquez 2021 Information
ASPC Eyman, Browning Unit
PO Box 3400
JUAN VELAZQUEZ 189628
Florence, AZ 85132
United States
Juan Velazquez More News
In August, 2001, Juan Velazquez moved in with Virginia Venegas and her two young children, 3-year old Isabella and 12-year old Liana. On September 26, 2002, Venegas called 9-1-1, reporting that Liana was missing. The Phoenix Police Department responded and a massive search for Liana began. Venegas and Velazquez told the police that Velazquez had gone to a local laundry mat earlier, and had left the arcadia door open. Ms. Venegas was busy in the kitchen and assumed Liana had gone with Velazquez. When Velazquez called home from the laundry mat, they realized Liana was missing. While the police were searching for Liana, her father arrived. He observed bruising on Isabella’s head and took her to a nearby hospital. Among other injuries, Isabella had a skull fracture, swollen bruises on her face, and bruising on her chest and back. Phoenix Police detectives interviewed Velazquez and arrested him the next day, September 27, 2001. He admitted tripping Liana several times, causing her to hit her head and finally lose consciousness. He further admitted holding his hand over Liana’s mouth to keep her quiet, knowing that she could not breathe, and to squeezing her around the rib cage. He also admitted that he had been abusing both for approximately a month. On September 28, 2001, divers found Liana’s body in a canal, weighted down by a cement block which Velazquez had tied to her with wire. She had been killed by a blow to the head.
Juan Velazquez Other News
A West Valley man was sentenced to death Friday for the 2001 death of a 21-month-old girl.
The family of Juan Velazquez burst into sobs and wails and cried out “mijo” — Spanish for “my son” — as the verdict was read, ending a 12-week trial in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix.
Velazquez, 26, admitted to police he killed Liana Sandoval on Sept. 25, 2001, by continually sweeping her feet out from under her and causing her to strike her head against the floor.
Members of Liana’s family declined to speak, and Velazquez’s family was not available for comment.
Velazquez was the live-in boyfriend of Liana’s mother, Virginia Venegas, who is also charged with first-degree murder and is awaiting trial.
Velazquez tied an 18-pound chunk of concrete to her with wire and threw her into a canal.
The murder also resulted in a $2.5 million judgment last month against the Department of Economic Security and two Child Protective Services caseworkers who were found negligent by a jury.
Jurors in the civil trial were told that the caseworkers concluded allegations that Velazquez was beating Liana and her 6-year-old sister were unsubstantiated.
