Jury gives death sentence in deadly Phoenix home invasion
PHOENIX -- A man convicted of a deadly home invasion robbery was sentenced to death Tuesday, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Mike Peter Gallardo, 52, was sentenced to death for the 2005 murder of 20-year-old Rudy Padilla. According to a police report, Gallardo broke into Padilla’s family home in December 2005 to commit burglary when the victim’s parents were not home. Gallardo reportedly tied Padilla’s hands and feet and placed a pillowcase over his head, then shot him in the head. Padilla’s father came home later in the day and found his son shot to death. "The victim was an honors student whose life was cut short by this horrible attack.” County Attorney Andrew Thomas said in a news release. “This murderer received the sentence he deserved.” Phoenix Police arrested Gallardo in December 2006 and he was indicted on first-degree murder, burglary, and kidnapping charges. Gallardo was found guilty on June 10 and the same jury later determined that aggravating factors made him eligible for the death penalty, according to the release.
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