Monstrous monsters sent to jail forever

A judge in North County sentenced two people to life in prison without possibility of parole on November 19.

Louis Ray Perez, 49, and Dorothy Grace Marie Maraglino, 40, were both declared guilty of the kidnap, torture, and murder of Brittany Killgore in April of 2012.

A third defendant, Jessica Lynn Lopez, 28, was also found guilty at the conclusion of the same trial, however, her attorney asked for a delay in her sentencing so that she could file motions.

When asked after the hearing, Lopez attorney Sloan Ostbye declined to state exactly what motions she expected to file. The next hearing for Lopez is set for January 15, 2016.

Many of the jurors and alternates who heard the evidence came back to San Diego’s North County Superior courthouse for the sentencing. The trial began in September.

Before sentencing was announced, convicted murderer Perez read a prepared statement to the court. For approximately two minutes he expressed thanks to unnamed family and supporters, and said he was grateful for prayers. In the last few moments of his remarks, he declared that the last portion was directed at prosecutor Patrick Espinoza and the judge, K. Michael Kirkman. Perez then read a passage from the Bible, “Lamentations 34, to crush under one’s feet the prisoners of the earth, to deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High, to subvert a man in his trial, the Lord does not approve.”

A person from the district attorney’s office read statements from the family of Brittany Killgore, who was 22 when she was murdered three and a half years ago. Those family members did not travel to California for the sentencing.

Part of the statement from Michelle Wrest, Killgore’s mother, fumed over the three defendants pointing fingers at each other, blaming the other, during trial. “As if they are victims!” The bereaved mother was present in court during the weeks of trial; she watched and listened to Perez as he gave testimony in the witness box for two days. Wrest declared them all “Liars!” and expressed amazement that they had tears for each other and for themselves “but none for Brittany!”

“I will never get over my daughter’s brutal murder,” Wrest declared. “I am glad the three monsters responsible will spend the rest of their lives in prison.”

In the last part of her statement, Wrest directed comment toward Dorothy Maraglino, asking, “Was it worth it? Was it worth taking my daughter’s life and losing your daughter?” This seemed to catch Maraglino by surprise: her expression changed and she looked startled. Wrest continued, “ I hope each day in prison is miserable until you draw your last breath.” And her last comment was: “May God grant you forgiveness because I cannot.”

A statement from Killgore’s nine-year-old brother was read: “I miss her and I want her back.” He remembered that his sister used to play video games with him.

Killgore’s father, Darryl Wrest, commented on the “Monstrous disregard for humanity and God’s creation” shown by the killers.