A Man from California, Jose William Lara, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of Desiree Thompson, a mother of four.
Thompson’s body was discovered buried in Lara’s backyard after almost a decade of being missing.
Thompson left her home in California City on January 7, 2012, to visit a friend. She last spoke to her mother at around 8:30 p.m. that evening.
The case remained a mystery for years until a father and son came forward with information about her disappearance.
These informants revealed that Lara had confessed to them about what he had done back in 2012.
Their assistance provided crucial leads for law enforcement, ultimately leading to the resolution of the case.
During the trial, it was alleged that Lara had bragged to a close friend at a soccer game about killing Thompson.
Prosecutors claimed that Lara had encountered Thompson while she was walking home and convinced her to accompany him to his California City residence.
According to court testimony, Lara told his friend that he had brought Thompson home, offered her a beer, and then violently attacked her, slamming her head against a refrigerator before fatally stabbing her.
Subsequent evidence presented at the trial showed traces of Thompson’s blood in Lara’s bedroom.
Lara’s defense attorney, Mark Stamper, argued during the trial that Thompson’s husband was responsible for her murder, citing a domestic violence dispute earlier that day.
The sentencing of Lara brought some closure to Thompson’s family, who expressed their anguish over the evil act committed against their loved one.