TAMPA, Fla. – The State Attorney’s Office filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Kyle Sanchez, who faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of his girlfriend.
Sanchez is accused of stabbing the victim approximately 65 times at his Tampa home on June 19.
Dispatchers initially received a 911 call from the victim, who was heard pleading with Sanchez, saying, “Please stop, you’re killing me.”
Twelve minutes after that call, Sanchez contacted dispatchers and admitted to killing her. Law enforcement officers arriving at the scene reported that Sanchez was covered in the victim’s blood. An examination found stab wounds across the victim’s entire body.
Under Florida law, prosecutors identified three aggravating factors required to pursue the death penalty: the murder was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner; the capital felony occurred during a kidnapping; and the crime was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.
“Hearing the victim beg for her life on that 911 call is truly heartbreaking. It is a devastating reminder of the fear and suffering she endured in her final moments,” State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a released statement. “After a thorough review of the evidence, we will ask the jury to sentence the defendant to death for this crime. We will stand with her family and friends every step of the way as we work to hold the defendant fully accountable.”
Assistant State Attorney Chinwe Fossett of the office’s Major Crimes Unit is serving as the lead prosecutor on the case.
Sanchez is scheduled to appear in court on August 6 for a status review.
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