A Riverdale man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison for fatally stabbing his mother-in-law more than 50 times in April 2010, the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office said.
Ranulfo Vargas, 25, got into a fight with Cristela Bermudez Leon, 40, over past due rent, prosecutors said. Vargas strangled and stabbed Leon, using multiple knives in the attack.
On March 25, a jury found Vargas guilty of second-degree murder.
Vargas came to the United States illegally and married Leon’s daughter, who was 15 at the time of the marriage.
The couple and their two young children lived with Leon at the time of the killing. Vargas will be deported after he has completed his sentence, authorities said.
• Matthew Cella can be reached at mcella@washingtontimes.com.
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