TORRANCE, Calif. — A 52-year-old man was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in state prison after pleading guilty to fatally stabbing his elderly mother five years ago.
Rudy DeCasas pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. He was immediately sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
On Sept. 20, 2014, DeCasas killed his 69-year-old mother Rafaela DeCasas at his Torrance apartment.The victim was stabbed 19 times. DeCasas, along with his brother, had been taking care of his mother who had numerous health issues, the prosecutor said.
The defendant’s wife had just returned home from work when she discovered the victim’s body in a bedroom. DeCasas also was found in the apartment–he tried to kill himself by slashing his own throat but survived, the prosecutor added.
A Torrance police officer said DeCasas confessed to the killing, saying, “I just couldn’t stand her anymore.”
