Miami

Life Sentence for Miami-Dade Man Who Killed Wife

A Miami-Dade man convicted of killing his wife who was missing for two years before detectives found her body was sentenced to life in prison Friday.

Jesus Maqueira, 58, was given the life sentence in the killing of Raquel Calderin at a hearing before Miami-Dade Judge Richard Hersch.

"I certainly believe that this verdict is warranted," Judge Hersch said. "There is an evilness and maliciousness to this gentleman that is disturbing."

But before he was sentenced, Maqueira continued to insist he didn't' kill Calderin.

"Not even one proof that I killed anybody," he said through an interpreter.

Two months ago, a jury found Maqueira guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Calderin, who disappeared after leaving for the day from her job at Gloria Floyd Elementary School in Kendall in 2012.

Two years later detectives found her decomposing body, under water near the Everglades, in the SUV she had been driving. Maqueira and Calderin had been married for 20 years but were in the process of getting divorced. They had three children.

At Friday's hearing, prosecutors read a letter in court written by one's of the couple's daughters.

"I have struggled and suffered these last three years," the letter read.

The lead homicide detective in the case also testified during the sentencing hearing.

"They found enough evidence to convict him and I think that justice was served," Miami-Dade Police Det. Juan Segovia said.

And even though Maqueira's mother did not speak on camera, she said thorough tears that no matter what he is still her son.

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