A construction worker who went on a shooting rampage when his girl-friend moved out, killing her and six others, including two police officers, was sentenced Friday to 146 years in prison.
Ricky Abeyta, 29, who testified in his own defense at his trial, called the Jan. 26. shootings either self-defense or accidental. It was the state's largest mass slaying.Trouble began when Abeyta came home to find his girfriend moving her things out of the mobile home they shared in Chimayo, 100 miles north of Albuquerque. She and relatives were slain, including a 6-month-old baby. Two law officers were killed upon arrival at the scene.
Abeyta testified he didn't know how the baby or his mother were slain.
"Help us keep this bloodthirsty, vicious murderer behind bars," said Bonifacio Vasquez, brother of two victims.
Abeyta was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Ignacita Sandoval, 36; her sister, Cheryl Rendon, 25; her daughter, Maryellen Sandoval, 19; Maryellen's boyfriend, Macario Gonzales, 21; and Maryellen's 6-month-old son, Justin.
He also was found guilty of killing State Police Officer Glen Huber, 35, and Deputy Sheriff Jerry Martinez, 30.